10062021 – Mark 10. 2-12
A judge was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce, and asked, “Ma’am, what are THE GROUNDS for your divorce?”
She replied, “About four acres with a nice house in the middle.”
“No,” he said, “I mean what is THE FOUNDATION of this case?”
“Concrete, brick and mortar,” she responded.
Frustrated, he continued, “I mean, what are your RELATIONS like?”
“Well, I have an aunt and uncle living down here in town, and my husband’s parents also live here.”
Shaking his head, he said, “Do you have a real “GRUDGE?”
“No,” she replied, “We have a “carport” and have never really needed a Garage.”
“Please,” he took a deep breath and tried again, “is there any “INFIDELITY” in your marriage?”
“Oh, yes, both my son and daughter have stereos. We don’t necessarily like their music, or the music of today, but the answer to your question is yes.”
“Ma’am, does your husband ever BEAT YOU UP?”
“Yes, about twice a week he gets up earlier than I do.” He’s an early riser.
Finally, in frustration, the judge asked, “Lady, why do you WANT A DIVORCE?”
“Oh, I don’t WANT a divorce,” she replied. “I’ve NEVER wanted a divorce. It’s my husband who WANTS a divorce. He says HE CAN’T COMMUNICATE WITH ME.”
A few years ago, George Barna’s research group did a lot of research about MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.
They gathered STATISTICS about all sorts of things.
Here are a few statistics that may interest us: the divorce rate for Christians is a full 1% LOWER than it is for non-Christians (and there have been times in recent history when it’s actually been HIGHER than it is for non-Christians).
Baptists have 4% MORE DIVORCES than other Protestants.
And this one was particularly surprising: there are SLIGHTLY MORE DIVORCES in people ages 52-73 than IN ALL other age groups.
Our Gospel lesson begins by telling us that the Pharisees have come to TEST Jesus. These CRAZY GUYS pop up everywhere…wherever Jesus happens to be.
These are the LOVERS of the LAW. They didn’t HAVE TO ASK Jesus about the law. They knew exactly what it said. Most of them probably had it MEMORIZED.
The IDEA WAS to make Jesus “say something” that would “ANGER or DISAPPOINT a portion of the crowd” to DECREASE his popularity and numbers.
It was an attempt to PUBLICLY DISHONOR or to discredit Jesus in front of the crowds.
But as he does on other occasions when he is tested, Jesus answers “OUTSIDE THE BOX!”
In his answer, Jesus makes mention of the fact that those who are married are ONE FLESH – that the commitment they have made is not merely a LEGAL ONE, but also A FAMILY ONE.
And in Jewish culture – then and now – BLOOD and FAMILY trump the law.
BLOOD and FAMILY trump everything.
But also related to this text, TWO CHAPTERS LATER in Mark, the Sadducees approach Jesus, asking about WHAT marriage will look like in heaven.
Obviously, they didn’t like the Pharisees getting DEFEATED the first time around, so the Sadducees thought, they would GIVE IT A SHOT.
This also is a TEST because Sadducees didn’t believe in RESURRECTION. They also quote the LAW to Jesus, hoping to make him LOOK STUPID.
It is always an attempt to EMBARRASS HIM, and to make him look FOOLISH…so that he is PUBLICLY SHAMED, and they are PUBLICLY HONORED.
Good luck with that. Just saying…
But Jesus is NOT to be OUTWITTED by ANYONE.
Even though this text isn’t included in our lectionary, MOST OF US have heard THIS passage:
“There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; and the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. In the resurrection WHOSE WIFE will she be? For the seven had married her.”
What a bunch of hypocrites, Jesus was right. They DON’T BELIEVE in the resurrection, but they want to know about marriage IN THE AFTERLIFE.
Always the half-hearted attempt to belittle, disparage, trivialize, depreciate, minimize and run-down Jesus’ ministry.
But always, WITHOUT SUCCESS.
So, seeing as I STARTED OUT with some levity, I decided to END with some levity.
If marriage is GRAND, what is divorce?
fifty or sixty grand or more?
What’s the only thing divorce proves?
Whose mother was right in the first place.
Getting a divorce is like getting fired from a job you’ve hated for years.
Two white bears got married, but soon ended up unhappy and got divorced.
It’s as if they were polar opposites.
Why did the cat get divorced?
He was a cheetah.
And the last one:
A dentist and a manicurist decided to get divorced…They fought tooth and nail.
Ba-dump bump. I am done.
Amen.