Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9; Ephesians 6:10-20; Mark 7:14-23
From
gift-wrapped presents to hidden game show prizes, we’re often eager to find out
what’s inside of something. In much the same way, we may find ourselves
wondering what’s inside of another person. We know that what’s inside of a
person is far more important than what’s outside of him, like the contents of a
box rather than its wrappings. But, unlike a gift-wrapped box, we can’t open a
person up and look inside of him. External appearances can be deceiving, so how
can we know what’s inside of a person?
After
confronting the Pharisees over their traditions about what made a person clean
or unclean, Jesus explained to His disciples how to know what’s inside of a
person. He told them not to rely on external things like the rules and
practices of the Pharisees, but to pay attention to what comes out of a person
through their words and actions. What comes out of a person, whether good or
bad, shows us what is inside of a person.
We
understand what Jesus was talking about. When we observe people’s actions,
listen to what they say, and watch how they live their lives we get a pretty
good idea of what is inside of them. But we also know that people can act and
speak in one way and actually be another way. Hypocrisy is widely practiced in
our world and is widely accepted by people. It’s not uncommon for people to put
on appearances, be careful with their words, and hide their true selves in
order to project an image of themselves that they want other people to have.
How can we really know what’s inside of someone?
Jesus
knows what is inside of each person and He knows what is inside of every
person. While it varies by the individual, each and every one of us is filled
with sin. Look around and you’ll quickly see many ways in which the sin that is
in us shows itself in our lives. The sins that Jesus cites in Mark 7:21-22 are
just as prevalent among us as they were among the people of His time. He knows
what is inside of us and deals with it by showing what is inside of Him. The
love, grace, and mercy that we need is shown to us by Him in the vividness of
the Cross, where what is inside of us is put to death and what is inside of Him
comes to life inside of us and shown in how we live in response to His love.
As usual, great reading and great message! You always talk about some things and realities that not everyone wants to hear. But that is exactly what makes your message so vital and unique.
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