A Spiritual View

As we continue our sermon series in the Gospel of Mark, keep an eye out for those moments when the disciples and church leaders respond with a legal view when Jesus is pressing them to embrace a spiritual view. How often do we do the same, limiting our ability to experience full joy because we are too busy confirming the rules and counting the cost?

A legal view is often the simplest approach: create the rules, follow the rules, establish consequences, and -- when necessary -- amend the rules.

A spiritual view, on the other hand, is endlessly complicated in a legalistic culture. Why seek transformation when a transaction can be easily completed? Why risk vulnerability when a strategic approach nets more immediate gain? And why trust such nebulous concepts as spiritual-reliance and spiritual wealth when self-reliance and worldly wealth are measurable and tangible?

The disciples' frustration with these new concepts is understandable when we consider how antithetical a spiritual view was to their cultural expectations. But Jesus is determined to help them embrace a new Gospel view. Hear his example as he offers footholds:
Metanoia … Repentance (Greek). Jesus first calls us to metanoia in Mark 1:15 when he says, "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent (metanoia!) and believe the good news!"  Metanoia means "changing one's mind," a literal process of a psychotic breakdown followed by a positive psychological re-building or "healing."

Tefillah … Prayer (Hebrew). Instead of the English word prayer from the Latin precari, which means “to beg,” tefillah is from the Hebrew word pileil, which means to judge, and the act of engaging in tefillah means to judge or to analyze oneself.

Sozo … Healing (Greek). Sozo is from the primary word sos, which means to save, to deliver or protect (literally or figuratively), to heal, to preserve, or to (make) whole.

Parabole … Parables (Greek). The word parabole has two parts: para (alongside) and bole (what is thrown). So literally parabole means something that is thrown alongside of something else: a truth that is thrown alongside a culturally acceptable fable in an attempt to shed new light on the truth.

As Jesus teaches, he demands metanoia, he exemplifies tefillah, he delivers sozo, and he uses parabolae to demonstrate the truth of his spiritual view that has come to replace the limitations of their legal view. What word from this past Sunday will you hold onto this week, seeking to transform the way you encounter the world around you?

Blessings on your week.

Jennie