Jesus is all about heart, not body, not belly.
A heart-led mind and the thoughts, words and actions that emerge.
“There is nothing outside a man that, entering into him, can defile him: but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile a man,” said Jesus.
Then explaining to His disciples: “For it does not enter the heart, but his belly, and passes out into the drain.”
Only our True Self and God control our hearts, hopefully with a touch of our Eternal Child Within.
“For from within, out of the heart, come evil thoughts, adulteries, immorality, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, shamelessness, jealousy, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile a man.”
And within, for me at times, is a sinful and selfish nature. That’s why I have to trust God and try to emulate Jesus in my thoughts, words and behaviors the best that I can. Even if woefully short of that shining standard, it may be alright to find a ‘reasonably happy’ life as proclaimed in the extended Reinhold Neibuhr Serenity Prayer.
And supremely happy with Him forever and ever in the next.
Trust is the big word here to understand God’s plan for my life.
Even the disciples ever so close to Jesus did not fully comprehend and embrace the trust needed in a loving relationship, especially with Christ.
Why do you argue because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive, nor understand? How is that you do not understand?
Jesus challenged the disciples.
Trust in the Lord!
“If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Coming from our heart inside-out to the world is a good start for the above proposal for discipleship!
Day 40 Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Coming from our Heart inside-out to the World!
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Mark Chapters 7-8.
Bible Notes:
The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark
Saint Mark, a convert of Saint Peter, was the son of a certain Mary, whose house in Jerusalem was a gathering place for Christians.
His Gospel, based on Saint Peter’s preaching, aims to prove to the Gentiles the divinity of Christ, be recounting His numerous miracles and examples of His power over devils.
Matthew Chapter 7: The Pharisees question Jesus; Jesus calls them hypocrites; He accuses them of breaking God’s law; Jesus speaks to the crowd; Jesus explains a parable to His disciples; The Canaanite woman; Healing of a deaf-mute.
Why do not thy disciples walk according to the traditions of the ancients, instead of eating bread with defiled hands?
“Why did Isaias prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written. This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; and in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine the precepts of men.”
“Any support thou mightiest have had from me is Corban (that is, given to God). And you do not allow him to do anything further for his father or mother. You make void the commandments of God by your tradition, which you have handed down; and many suchlike things you do.”
“There is mothing outside a man that, entering into him, can defile him: but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile a man.”
Explaining to His disciples: “For it does not enter the heart, but his belly, and passes out into the drain.”
“For from within, out of the heart, come evil thoughts, adulteries, immorality, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, shamelessness, jealousy, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile a man.”
“Let the children first have their fill, for it is not fair to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs.”
Yes, Lord, for even the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.
“Because of this answer, go thy way: the devil has gone out of thy daughter.”
He put his fingers into the man’s ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue. “Be thou open.”
And he charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, so much more did they continue to publish it,
Matthew Chapter 8: Jesus has compassion on the crowd; Jesus feeds four thousand; The Pharisees ask a sign; The leaven of the Pharisees; A blind man at Bethsaida; Peter’s confession.
“I have compassion on the crowds…”
And the Pharisees came forth, and began to dispute with him, demanding from him a sign from heaven, to test him.
And sighing deeply in spirit, he said. “Why does this generation demand a sign? Amen I say to you, a sign shall not be given to this generation.”
Why do you argue because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive, nor understand? How is that you do not understand?
Entreated—to ask (a person) earnestly; beseech; implore; beg: to entreat the judge for mercy; to ask earnestly for (something): He entreated help in his work.
And applying spittle to his eyes
“I see men as though they were trees walking about.”
“Who do men say that I am?”
“But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ.”
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things…
And what he said he spoke openly
Jesus rebuked Peter” “Get behind me satan, for those dost not mind the things of God, but those of men.”
“If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
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