An American who sat down on a sunbed claimed by a Polish towel quickly discovered he was touching something sacred. That scene opens a reflection on Jesus stepping into a world of settled rules and challenging fasting and the Sabbath, the two things that mattered most to his listeners (Mark 2 and 3). The sermon asks what happens in us when someone questions convictions we have never questioned ourselves. Listen and consider which of your certainties Jesus might want to look at today.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- What was the original purpose of fasting and the Sabbath for the Jews, and how, according to the sermon, did the Pharisees lose sight of it in Mark 2:18-28?
- Why does Jesus ask in Mark 3:1-6 whether it is lawful on the Sabbath to do good or evil, and what does the Pharisees' silence reveal about their hearts?
- The speaker said that the way we react to people who seem to break our rules shows what we think matters most. Which of your reactions to others might reveal this?
- Which traditions, cultural beliefs or unwritten rules in your life do you treat as so obvious that you never question them?
- What happens in you when Jesus challenges your values and opinions through Scripture: are you closer to the anger of the Pharisees or to the humility of the disciples who admit they are not the smartest in the room?
- In what specific area of your life do you want to let Jesus reorder your priorities this week, and what might that look like day to day?
