Quotes

A question about divorce

It is perhaps the contrast between the concessions allowed by the Law and its basic rigorous demand that led Mark to place this incident in a context concerned with the demands of discipleship: those who follow Jesus are those whose aim is to do the will of God, not to look for concessions….

Jesus blesses the Children

Mark’s inclusion of the story at this point has been seen as topical, a narrative about children following naturally after one on marriage and divorce. For him, however, its importance is more likely to lie in the sayings about the Kingdom in vv. 14 and 15: once again, he has used a story which is linked to his basic theme of the meaning of discipleship.

The story is a reminder that the Kingdom is given to those who are content to receive it as a gift without laying claim to it, and a warning to those in the community who claim the right to exercise authority over others.

…The Kingdom belongs to them [children] because they have nothing on which they base a claim, but are content to receive the Kingdom as a gift; their attitude is akin to what Paul describes as ‘faith’, which humbly receives God’s grace. This is why children are said to show the appropriate attitude—not because they are presumed to be innocent or without sin.

By linking Jesus’ words about entering the Kingdom with his action in blessing the children, Mark reminds us that to come to Jesus is to be confronted by the claims and benefits of the Kingdom; his blessing is a symbol of the joy which the Kingdom brings.

Foster on the disciplines

Picture a long, narrow ridge with a sheer drop-off on either side. The chasm to the right is the way of moral bankruptcy through human strivings for righteousness. Historically this have been called the heresy of moralism. The chasm to the left is moral bankruptcy through the absence of human strivings. This has been called the heresy of antinomianism. On the ridge there is a path, the Disciplines of spiritual life. This path leads to the inner transformation and healing for which we seek. Me must never veer off to the right or the left, but stay on the path. The path is fraught with severe difficulties, but also with incredible joys. As we travel on this path, the blessing of God will come upon us and reconstruct us into the image of Jesus Christ. We must always remember that the path does not produce the change; it only places us where the change can occur. This is the path of disciplined grace.