Readings: Hebrews 7.1-3, 15-17; Psalm 110; Mark 3.1-6
There is a lot of emotion in the gospel reading today. Jesus is angry with those who are fast becoming his opponents and he is sad at their hardness of heart. For their part they are determined to destroy him. It is clear that they have got under each other's skin. We all know what it means for people to 'get under our skin'. In a negative sense it happens when people irritate and anger us deeply. When we are strongly attracted to someone, perhaps even falling in love with them, they get under our skin in a positive sense. Either way a person has got inside us, they occupy our minds and thoughts and feelings for good or for ill.
Why do they already want to destroy? We are only beginning the third chapter of Mark's gospel and already they want to kill him. A quick look back at the previous chapter shows us why. There Jesus has claimed the authority to forgive sins (the paralytic lowered before him), has been eating with tax collectors and sinners (the call of Levi/Matthew), has responded to their critical question about fasting by describing himself as 'the Bridegroom', and has finally claimed authority over the sabbath day, once again describing himself as 'the son of man'.
Sometimes people ask 'where in the gospels does Jesus claim to be God'? Well there is no sentence just like that - 'Jesus said, I am God'. But knowing the background in the Old Testament and something of Hebrew culture we can see how glaringly obvious it is that he is claiming to be more than a prophet, far more than a prophet: forgiving sins, gathering the alienated, speaking of himself as the Bridegroom (we know who Israel's Bridegroom is) and as the 'son of man', a heavenly figure associated with the establishment of God's kingdom.
In the terms of their shared culture Jesus is making a claim that is scandalous, outrageous, blasphemous - no wonder he has got under the skin of his opponents. But why do they get under his skin? He is the one who is angry and sad. It seems his anger is on account of their silence. 'They remained silent', we are told, and this seems to be the trigger for his anger. As well as their apparent indifference to the plight of the man with the withered hand, their hardness of heart and lack of compassion.
Silence is often a matter of passive aggression and we all know about that too. In certain circumstances when people say nothing they are making a very clear and violent statement. They refuse to engage. And this triggers great anger in Jesus. His anger is honest, explicit, articulated. Their anger is in corners, whispering, plotting.
The difference between a disciple and a Pharisee or Herodian is that the disciple continues to talk to Jesus. The disciple continues to try to engage with the Master. It is a message we can take from the gospel today: keep talking to Jesus. Even if - especially if - you are confused or uncertain or angry or sad, talk to him about it. When you begin to think that God is contradicting himself in your life, leading you along one path and then seeming to shut that path down - talk to him about it. The disciples say stupid things, ask the wrong questions, fail to understand - but at least they remain in relationship with Jesus, they try to continue along the way with him.
Allow the Lord to get under your skin and then whatever happens in your life keep talking with him.
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