Holier than God

Mark 3: 1-6
"Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there.  Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.  Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."  Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.  He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.  Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus."

For Lent this year, I am going to try to read a chapter of the Gospels each day.  I have heard that Mark is the "God in action" Gospel, and I personally really need to grow in understanding of how God is in action in my own life.  My plan is to share any thoughts that come from reading.  Here are a few for today:

*The Pharisees are apparently holier than God Himself.  They have rules which even God Himself will not impose on others.  Okay, wait a minute, is that really possible?  My gut reaction to this idea scares me a bit.  What? My own rules for how to be holy are more stringent than God's? God's ways are not as difficult, severe, or scary as my own?  Then: (erroneous conclusion): If my own personal law for attaining holiness is more intimidating than God's, how can I respect His?

As a piano teacher, this happens a lot.  A student comes in and plays a piece for me that has a few errors, but which is incredibly musical and moving.  Angry and seeing only the mistakes, the student apologizes or expresses disapproval.  At this point, I express the goodness of the music which I perceived.  The student looks at me in disbelief and sometimes, it seems, mistrust.  If the student saw problems with his playing that I do not see in as great a proportion, am I really qualified to be the teacher? 

Yes, I am.

The rules of the Pharisees are that no work of any kind should happen on the Sabbath out of respect for God.  And then, Jesus "works" a miracle of healing.  I can just imagine the Pharisees' thoughts, because they would be similar to mine.  "Wait a minute.  He broke the rules.  He just cancelled out this long list of things that I have been holding myself accountable to for all these years in order to climb the ladder of holiness.  Now what am I going to do? What am I going to do if I can't check this item off on my list?  What am I going to do if attaining holiness means some "relationship" with God that is not about how many checks are checked in the right boxes?  How will I measure my success?  How will I measure my improvement?.......... Forget it! He's the one breaking the rules!"

I don't think the Pharisees were evil.  Just, prideful, like me.  Fearful, like me.  A list offers you personal satisfaction, the sense that upon your own merits, you are climbing.  Achieving.  A list offers you the sense of rightness. 

And, this thirst for rightness is not wholly bad.  It just needs to be redeemed, expanded and transformed to a thirst for righteousness. Can I trust Jesus when He breaks my rules, especially rules that I have believed were keeping me holy?  The rules which have offered me so much consolation, so much satisfaction?  Can I trust Jesus when His work happens outside of the box of my expectations, including expectations of timing? 

I think, yes.  I have to look through the lens of the piano teacher for this one.  My student, whose critique of his playing can only admit to the evils of his music, sees not more, but less than what I see.  I see goodness in the act of music making itself.  I see mistakes as necessary stumbles.  I see him as he really is - human, and therefore imperfect.  Even with a checkbox nearby, I know that he is not capable of the kind of perfection which might satisfy the thirst for rightness. 

Sometimes relaxing our inner rule-master, our inner Pharisee, in trusting obedience to God, is righteousness.  Even if it feels easier than the kind of "holiness" we are accustomed to.