What Did Jesus Teach About Traditions? (And What Does It Mean for Our Relationships and Grudges...)

You may listen to the 10 minute audio script right here on the website by clicking on the Pod Player for the episode title below.  You may listen as you read also. If you prefer to


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What Did Jesus Teach About Traditions? (And What Does It Mean for Our Relationships and Grudges...)

A question to ponder as we start today is this: Do you have any traditions in your family or among your friends that are very meaningful to you?  Do you have a tradition that is so important to you -- if someone in your family or friend group breaks the tradition it affects you emotionally?

Some things that come to mind for me are family traditions around holidays especially Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter. For example, I’ll share that for the past 8 years or so,  I’ve been the one to host Thanksgiving at my home, and my sister’s family came along with my parents and their children and my children every year.  Well, last year – suddenly my sister and her family had a change in plans, and then my own young adult daughter decided to work on Thanksgiving rather than come home on that day, because she could earn overtime pay for the entire shift.  And for awhile, I was hurt. I was very disappointed. I was even angry and judgmental. How could they be so uncaring? So disrespectful? I birthed that girl!  I stayed that way, bitter and disappointed and judgmental for about a half hour or maybe an hour.

Now I know, some of you who are listening are thinking and would say to me, “Sherry, that’s silly. Just calm down. It’s life, it’s not personal. Just be understanding and be thankful for the times you do have together”. Others of you who are listening I know are saying, “Yes. I understand. Except I would have been very upset and I would have remained upset or held a grudge for a long time….maybe even months or years."

And I understand both sides now. I stayed that way for about a half hour or so, because by that point in my life maturity, I knew what Jesus would say or do, because I had studied the passage we are talking about today. I’d studied it several times.  However, a decade or so ago, I probably would have held a grudge for a long time. Maybe even months…or maybe even a year.

Oh friends, those tiny grudges ….they block relationships. We think they are no big deal, but they block growth in our relationships with our friends and our family members; and they also block growth with God and our ability to draw near to Him.

 Ok – now for our example in the life and teachings of Jesus. Today’s scene is found in Mark 2.  it is also found in Luke 5, and in Matthew 9. But I’m reading from Mark 2 verses 18-19.

“Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting,” –

 Oh I need to interrupt, I want to make a point here, that this fasting at this time was a tradition. It was not actually in the Torah or in the law that they had to fast at this time. It was a tradition. Back to verse 18.

“and people came and said to him (they said this to Jesus), 'Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast? But your disciples do not fast?'

Now in Matthew it tells us that some of these people that came and asked this, some of them were actually some of John’s the Baptist's disciples, so they were saying, “Why are we fasting, and you and your friends aren’t?”

 So again – I’m going to read it all together now –

 “Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and people came and said to him 'Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast? But your disciples do not fast?'

And Jesus said to them, 'Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and they will fast on that day.'”

Ok Jesus - for us today - we need a little background on the meaning of this metaphor.

In my research for this passage, I learned quite a bit about Jewish wedding feasts during the time of Christ. What happened, when a Jewish couple got married, they didn't leave and go off on a fancy honeymoon like we do today. They stayed at home; they typically had a big event at home; they had an open house where all the closest friends and family of the bride and groom could come. They held this open house for a whole week and they had feasting laid out. And there was understood to be an exception during such a week – if it was a regular fasting day or a fasting time, they didn't have to fast during the wedding week. The bride and groom and all their friends and family – anyone who was participating in the wedding celebration – they didn't have to fast.

So when Jesus was responding to this criticism that He and his disciples weren't fasting while the Pharisees and John's disciples were – he indicated – this was a very special time. He and his disciples being together was a time to celebrate. The fact that God had come near was a time to celebrate, and so they would not be following tradition at this time because they were enjoying their time together, and that was more important.  That was more important – the relationships over the tradition.

After reading the passage today, we see how Jesus overlooked tradition for the sake of relationships. And this is not the only time Jesus demonstrates this. There are many other instances where Jesus indicated that relationships – especially our relationship with Him is more important than all these traditions.

But let's search our hearts today. The closing challenge for today, or the instruction, is to really think about your habits or your thoughts –

Maybe, just maybe, we tend to act like the critics in this story. Maybe there are times we are nursing grudges or a critical spirit towards other believers amongst our friends and family - when instead we should be appreciating them, appreciating the time we do have with them,  and finding ways to grow spiritually with them. Letting go of grudges and bitterness against others for small slights, or for not meeting our expectations – letting go of these is a form of forgiveness.

I recommend that everyday if necessary, in the past I have had times I’ve had to do this everyday – I'm just being open here.  I am getting better in this area, I believe, but I used to struggle with this a lot.

So I would pray this prayer; and it really helped to let the grudges go, so I could put relationships first, including the relationship with God.  If this is something you struggle with too, then here is a prayer you may wish to pray as often as needed:

God, search me...

I want you to bring to mind the grudges and the bits of bitterness that are in my heart

Bring those to mind...

(Then when they start coming to you in your mind, you continue to pray...)

God I give this to you.

God I want you to pull this bitterness out of me

I know it is not your will for me to be bitter

Whatever bitterness I have against this person or that person

Pull it out of me

I do not want the grudge to be in me, I don't want to be like that.

If that is something you struggle with – I encourage you to pray that every single day, until the bitterness cannot even take root anymore!

With His Grace, 

-Sherry


————————————


If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today

If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ. or one of her shorter study books also found at https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans

The author also posts on Facebook and interacts with her readers at http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks

And interacts with her readers at the following Facebook group: Sherry's Ministry Mall Group You are invited to join this group!

Author's other books can  be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans


What Did Jesus Say About His Family?


“What Did Jesus Say About His Family?” 

 You may listen to the 9-10 minute listen right here on the website by clicking on the Pod


Player for the episode title below.  And of course, if you prefer to simply read the message, just keep scrolling past the past the podcast player to find your traditionally written blog post. 


Click here and enter email to be notified as soon as the next post or episode is released 




New Blog Post: What Did Jesus Say About His Family? 

 

What did Jesus say about His family members?

 

And also – another important question - What is your host’s favorite teaching of Jesus?   As you may have noticed, I try to start these audios off with a Focus Question, and so today, my focus question is a lot on Jesus and a bit on myself. What is my favorite teaching of Jesus? Well, And when I say my “favorite scene” I mean that it is one of my favorite of Jesus’s teachings because it speaks directly to us about how Jesus views his followers and what Jesus says gives me so much comfort and rest and even joy. 

OK, so I want to set this up – because it is truly so special to me, and I hope it becomes special for you too.  It's a really short scene. Not too much information is given or is happening in this scene, there is a little background, but not to much.  The focus in this is on what Jesus said. And I often wonder, “Why did they even put this scene in?” I think maybe because it made the people who were following Jesus feel so important and so comforted – just as it can for us today.



Anyway,  I am so happy that Mark  felt that what happened here was significant enough to write down and to pass it down so that it can be shared with us today… two .thousand years later. 

 

There is just a little background. In our teaching last week, we looked at one of Jesus’ first miracles when he healed the leper. He also performed more miraculous healings, and so word got out all over the area about him. So Jesus would get swamped by people when he walked through the towns. Some of the people were coming to him for healings or just to see him and hear him. Others were coming to accuse him of being a mad in the head or even of being possessed. And Jesus could  be invited into homes in order to get a break from the crowds. This scene takes place - Jesus has just gone inside a home with his disciples and others, and he was continuing to teach in there. But there were crowds still outside all around the home, many of them wanting to get in. Then we are told that Jesus’ mother and his brothers came, and they were outside the home. In Matthew it tells us a little more specifically that his mother and brothers could not get inside because of the size of the crowd outside.


So here is the passage, or the scene as I sometimes call it.  It is from Mark 3: 31 to 35.

 

“And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him and called him.--”

 

“And a crowd was sitting around him (around Jesus). And they said to him, 'Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.' And he answered them, 'Who are my mother and brothers?' And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, 'Here are my mother and brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.'” (Mark 3:31-35)

 

Jesus said, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Who? And looking at those who sat around him –

 

His disciples were there. But Mark tells us that there were also others there around Jesus too. He said, “Here are my mother and sisters and brothers!” And he was pointing to the people that were listening to him, who were staying close to him, who were learning from him, and following him. And then he says, “Whoever does the will of God; he is my brother and sister and mother.”


I also want to add that I chose to read the verse in Mark, because it clearly documented in the Greek that the prompt from the people was “Your mother and brothers are here;” however the final response from Jesus included brother and sister, and mother.  In Mark, both words are there in the greek Jesus said whoever does the will of God is my adelphosand adelphi and mother.

So Jesus just said himself – “these people are doing the will of God. They are here. They are my brothers and sisters and mother. My family.”

 

And I love this, because it is Jesus himself explaining who he considers to be his family. And what are these people doing? This is still very early on in Jesus’ ministry. These people aren't going out and proclaiming him yet. They're not working to build new churches yet. All they are doing at this point is learning and following.  They are merely learning and following and Jesus says….Look…they are my brothers and sisters and mother – they are in the will of God.


Learning…..Gospel Life Learning – that is the whole motivation and purpose of why I began writing over 10 years ago, blogging shortly after, and now creating these “Blog Script” audios. Recently I refined defined in words,  the purpose of Gospel Life Learning ministry, and it is to provide resources to help readers and listeners draw near to God and to have resources to share His nearness with others. 

 

Learning and following…

 

That is the will of God….

 

Learning and following…

 

Learning what he has to say, and then

 

allowing that learning….and that relationship to change you

 

and

 

allowing it to prompt you in the ways you go about each of your days.


 

So we will close with just one reflection today.....

 

How would you describe your relationship with Jesus today?


Are you his sister, or his brother?

 

Or is he just someone that you know about or heard about…or learned about sometime ago?

 

Or is he just someone you learned about and followed – maybe when you were much younger or in a prior phase of life, but you let a whole lot of distance creep in.


I just want to remind you....he's still near. He's still near. He doesn't leave us; we get busy and wander off. He doesn't forget about us; we forget about him. And all it takes, all it takes if there is distance growing in your relationship with the Lord. All it takes is, turning back....listening to and learning from him again, knowing what he wants us to know, and allowing that to change us.

 

With His Grace, 

-Sherry


————————————

Enjoyed this blog post and/or Blog Scripts episode? Be notified when the next one posts by clicking here to be notified.

If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today

If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ. or one of her shorter study books also found at https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans

The author also posts on Facebook and interacts with her readers at http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks

And interacts with her readers at the following Facebook group: Sherry's Ministry Mall Group You are invited to join this group!

Author's other books can  be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans

July Updates! Announcements...

Updated: 7/26/2022


So many exciting announcements today. Announcements first and then today’s post and episode are below the announcements.


First, Now you can read Gospel Life Learning on the blog or you can listen to each episode “on the go” through the fully launched “Blog Scripts” Podcast or at the Youtube channel. If you are enjoying what you are learning from this blog and/or the audios, then Subscribe to  

the Gospel Life Learning email list and you will be notified when a new episode has been uploaded. Each episode is planned to be just 10 minutes or less; each one will be sequential, and each will be focused on a teaching of Jesus with additional background into the history, culture, and/or the underlying Greek language. Be notified when a new post or episode in the series is ready by clicking here and entering your email.

 

Second, The GLL “Blog Scripts” podcast is launched with this week’s teaching on “What Dud Jesus Say About His Family?” And the three previous episodes. At this time the podcast is available at Apple podcasts, Spotify, and PodBean, and will soon be available on Google Podcasts. Just search for Gospel Life Learning in any of those popular apps, or go directly to these links online:

 

Podcast Website on PodBean:  https://gospellifelearning.podbean.com/

 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gospel-life-learning/id1636076043

 

Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/0k3GciShAlfhbqcnQKIiCm


Third, Gospel Life Learning is getting a complete re-vamp and a new website all based around our purpose statement:  To provide resources to help others draw close to God and share His nearness with others 

The complete website revamp is still a few weeks away before being completed, but here is a “sneak peak:”



And Finally, the newest blog post along with its audio Blog Script is now posted, titled, 


“What Did Jesus Say About His Family?”  

 

You may listen to the 9-10 minute listen right here on the website by clicking on the Pod Player or the Youtube video below.  And of course, if you prefer to read the message, just keep scrolling past the youtube video to find your traditionally written blog post. 



Click here and enter email to be notified as soon as the next post or episode is released 


New Blog Post: What Did Jesus Say About His Family? 

 

What did Jesus say about His family members?

 

And also – another important question - What is your host’s favorite teaching of Jesus?   As you may have noticed, I try to start these audios off with a Focus Question, and so today, my focus question is a lot on Jesus and a bit on myself. What is my favorite teaching of Jesus? Well, And when I say my “favorite scene” I mean that it is one of my favorite of Jesus’s teachings because it speaks directly to us about how Jesus views his followers and what Jesus says gives me so much comfort and rest and even joy. 

OK, so I want to set this up – because it is truly so special to me, and I hope it becomes special for you too.  It's a really short scene. Not too much information is given or is happening in this scene, there is a little background, but not to much.  The focus in this is on what Jesus said. And I often wonder, “Why did they even put this scene in?” I think maybe because it made the people who were following Jesus feel so important and so comforted – just as it can for us today.



Anyway,  I am so happy that Mark  felt that what happened here was significant enough to write down and to pass it down so that it can be shared with us today… two .thousand years later. 

 

There is just a little background. In our teaching last week, we looked at one of Jesus’ first miracles when he healed the leper. He also performed more miraculous healings, and so word got out all over the area about him. So Jesus would get swamped by people when he walked through the towns. Some of the people were coming to him for healings or just to see him and hear him. Others were coming to accuse him of being a mad in the head or even of being possessed. And Jesus could  be invited into homes in order to get a break from the crowds. This scene takes place - Jesus has just gone inside a home with his disciples and others, and he was continuing to teach in there. But there were crowds still outside all around the home, many of them wanting to get in. Then we are told that Jesus’ mother and his brothers came, and they were outside the home. In Matthew it tells us a little more specifically that his mother and brothers could not get inside because of the size of the crowd outside.


So here is the passage, or the scene as I sometimes call it.  It is from Mark 3: 31 to 35.

 

“And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him and called him.--”

 

“And a crowd was sitting around him (around Jesus). And they said to him, 'Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.' And he answered them, 'Who are my mother and brothers?' And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, 'Here are my mother and brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.'” (Mark 3:31-35)

 

Jesus said, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Who? And looking at those who sat around him –

 

His disciples were there. But Mark tells us that there were also others there around Jesus too. He said, “Here are my mother and sisters and brothers!” And he was pointing to the people that were listening to him, who were staying close to him, who were learning from him, and following him. And then he says, “Whoever does the will of God; he is my brother and sister and mother.”


I also want to add that I chose to read the verse in Mark, because it clearly documented in the Greek that the prompt from the people was “Your mother and brothers are here;” however the final response from Jesus included brother and sister, and mother.  In Mark, both words are there in the greek Jesus said whoever does the will of God is my adelphosand adelphi and mother.

So Jesus just said himself – “these people are doing the will of God. They are here. They are my brothers and sisters and mother. My family.”

 

And I love this, because it is Jesus himself explaining who he considers to be his family. And what are these people doing? This is still very early on in Jesus’ ministry. These people aren't going out and proclaiming him yet. They're not working to build new churches yet. All they are doing at this point is learning and following.  They are merely learning and following and Jesus says….Look…they are my brothers and sisters and mother – they are in the will of God.


Learning…..Gospel Life Learning – that is the whole motivation and purpose of why I began writing over 10 years ago, blogging shortly after, and now creating these “Blog Script” audios. Recently I refined defined in words,  the purpose of Gospel Life Learning ministry, and it is to provide resources to help readers and listeners draw near to God and to have resources to share His nearness with others. 

 

Learning and following…

 

That is the will of God….

 

Learning and following…

 

Learning what he has to say, and then

 

allowing that learning….and that relationship to change you

 

and

 

allowing it to prompt you in the ways you go about each of your days.


 

So we will close with just one reflection today.....

 

How would you describe your relationship with Jesus today?


Are you his sister, or his brother?

 

Or is he just someone that you know about or heard about…or learned about sometime ago?

 

Or is he just someone you learned about and followed – maybe when you were much younger or in a prior phase of life, but you let a whole lot of distance creep in.


I just want to remind you....he's still near. He's still near. He doesn't leave us; we get busy and wander off. He doesn't forget about us; we forget about him. And all it takes, all it takes if there is distance growing in your relationship with the Lord. All it takes is, turning back....listening to and learning from him again, knowing what he wants us to know, and allowing that to change us.

 

With His Grace, 

-Sherry

————————————-


If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today

If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ. 

The author also posts on Facebook and interacts with her readers at http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks

And interacts with her readers at the following Facebook group: Sherry's Ministry Mall Group You are invited to join this group!

Author's other books can  be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans


A First Healing Miracle…And What We Learn About Approaching God

What was one of Jesus’s first healing miracles, and what does it show us about how we may approach God today?


Now with Blog Scripts: A 7 minute listen or read below. Also, at the very end of the post I also share a brief video clip of the scene from the TV series The Chosen.


In our teaching episode last week, we ended with an encouragement to find a way to remind ourselves throughout the day that God is near. I hope if you listened to last week’s teaching episode that you have found a method to do so. Also, if you remember from last week’s episode, we want to start re-training our brain to recognize and to readily remember that God is near. Some call this “practicing the presence of God.”  The people who are walking with God, who are having spiritual breakthroughs, and who are growing closer to Him, are those who have truly mastered this simple skill skill, or this ability, to keep God in mind throughout the day – to keep His Spirit near. 

 

Today we are going to look at one of Jesus’s first healing miracles, when Jesus healed the leper. I’m going to read the passage first, beginning in the first chapter of Mark, verse 40. 

 

 

"And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching him, and falling on his knees before him, and saying”

– listen carefully now to how and what he says – 

If you are willing, you can make me clean.

Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and he touched him; (he touched the leper), and he said, 'I am willing, be cleansed.' And immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.”

 

There are so many directions we could go with this passage and these words and instructions from Jesus. But today I want us to focus on two things:


The first is this: Notice how Jesus interacted and intervened in the lives of others during his ministry. Jesus never strapped on his sandals in the morning and went out for the day and specifically went looking for people to physically heal. He did not go door to door and looking for someone who might need his help or need his service. 

 

Jesus provided these miracles and healing to people who came to him. See, Jesus was near in this town on that day – just as today in a spiritual sense God is near to us. And Jesus, when somebody came to him, and entered into Jesus' space, and said in a humble way, a very humble way If you are willing, you can make me clean.” That is when Jesus intervened. 

The scriptures clearly reveal this pattern - when you look at how Jesus intervened in people's lives, he never forced his way in. He never – like I already said – he never went out looking for people to physically heal. And this is in line with what we are told in the Old Testament about God. In 2 Chronicles 16:9, it says that God is looking down upon the earth for hearts that are turned up to Him, so that He can help them greatlyThe exact wording is For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely his. The Hebrew word for support is pronounced, in my Texan accent , it is pronounced  hit-ha-zech  and it does imply “strong support.” When he looks down, and we are looking back up – he is ready to provide strong support for us. 


So God is near, and He is waiting for us to come to Him, so he can help us immensely. So the first thing that we know and remember is that He is near, and then, just like the leper knew that Jesus was near in that town, God is near to us always thankfully – but we may not expect Him to just intervene when He sees we need some help - we have to come to Him.

 

So that is point one. And then the second point for us to focus on today is the way the leper asked for healing. “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” That is the way a prayer request is made that allows the Holy Spirit to flow through and to work. When we come to Jesus, not with a sense of entitlement, when we come to him with a sense of humility and understanding, and we need to respect him for who he is, and we need to respect Him for whatever decision He makes regarding our request. And we, We don't deserve anything; but if he is willing, he can do it. 


That type of attitude, that type of attitude, that humbleness is rewarded by God. And we see that in the examples of the people who approached Jesus in the New Testament and received intervention from Him. 

 

This teaching episode was short today, but let’s close by reviewing last week’s teaching and this week’s together:  


First: Remember that God is near, throughout the day. Do something to help yourself remember His nearness throughout the day.  


Second: Go to him, with all your needs and requests as well as your thankfulness. He is looking for you to look up to Him so He can hit-ha-zech for you – he can strongly support you.


(Keep scrolling down to the very bottom for the clip from The Chosen. 

——————————————————

 

If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today

If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy He Called: 56 Daily Studies and Reflections with the Words of Christ. 

The author also posts on Facebook and interacts with her readers at http://www.facebook.com/GospelLifeBooks

And interacts with her readers at the following Facebook group: Sherry's Ministry Mall Group You are invited to join this group!

Author's other books can  be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Elaine-Evans

Clip of this Scene from The Chosen series: