Day Two - January 8, 2013
Mark Chapter Two

As I read through this second chapter of Mark, I am struck by all the questions Jesus must face.  He simply doesn't meet the expectations of the religious elite of His day.  Just listen to these:

You want to forgive sins ... Who do you think you are?
You're eating with "sinners" - Why don't you hang out with the right people? 
Your disciples don't fast like John's disciples do ... Why don't you act religious enough?
Your disciples don't follow all the Sabbath regulations ... Why don't you comply with our rules?

I chuckle about the arrogance of the Pharisees questioning everything about Jesus - not at all realizing who they're actually talking to at the moment.  It's such a large dose of irony. 

It's the armchair quarterback telling Peyton Manning how to play the game - magnified by a million. 

But like every other chapter, the mirror of God's Word doesn't take long to show me that I can be the armchair quarterback.  It makes me ask ... What "religion" or "rules" do I create that I expect Jesus to conform to?  In the days of the Pharisees, Jesus had to confront their judgmental and unforgiving spirits?  Do I have that "inner" Pharisee in me that wants to lay the hammer down on some - while all along excusing my own "mistakes."  Or in our day when political correctness has it's own remake of elitism, do I line up and repeat the creed of being "nice" and never challenging anyone over anything? 

In either case, I fear that I have no reason to chuckle over the arrogance of the Pharisees until I learn to laugh at how quickly I can put their sandals on my own feet - sandals that sadly feel like a perfect fit.
Maybe it is MY sins that need to be forgiven, my attitudes that need to be reshaped, and my religious rules that need to be challenged. 

The Good News - Jesus is One who can do all of the above.

What do you think?