FOLLOWING JESUS IS NOT A SET OF RULES

“Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him. He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored. At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.” – Mark 3:1-6.

When Jesus extended the invitation to “follow me,” He was calling believers to a transformative way of living that goes beyond following a set of religious rules. Following Jesus is more than following a set of prescribed regulations. It’s about entering into a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Him. Francis Chan said, “Following Jesus is not about diligently keeping a set of rules or conjuring up the moral fortitude to lead good lives. It’s about loving God and enjoying Him.”

In Mark 3, we read about a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees were more concerned about their rules than they were about Jesus performing a miracle.  Just think about that for a moment.  Knowing that this man had a deformed hand, you would think that the Pharisees would be in amazement after witnessing the miracle. Instead, they went away and plotted because their rules blinded them from accepting the miracle that they had just witnessed.  Instead of cheering with excitement for what they had just seen, they fell back on their rules.

Following Jesus is much easier than following man-made rules. The only rules that we need to follow are God’s rules. You do not have to perform meaningless ceremonial tasks dictated by man.  The only functions that we should follow were demonstrated to us by Jesus.

Today, the call to “follow me” is a call to look beyond the confines of rules and to understand the deeper values they aim to represent. It’s a journey towards living a life that is deeply rooted in the principles of love and compassion, the core of Jesus’ teachings. This is where we find the true essence of what it means to follow Jesus – not in the adherence to rules, but in the embodiment of love and grace in our everyday lives.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some of the benefits of following Jesus?
2. What needs to be different short term to better follow Jesus?