Jesus and Religion

Religion can be a touchy subject. There are conflicting ideas about the value of religious practice. Jesus lived in a religious culture. How did he relate with the religion. How much religion did he initiate?

What does the Bible say about Jesus and religion -

1. Jesus and Judaism - Mark 7:18-23
2. The law a shadow - Hebrews 10:1-2
3. Sacraments - Colossians 2:11-12
4. Spiritual Rules - Colossians 2:20-23

Jesus and Judaism

Mark 7:18-23

“Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.)

And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

Questions for reflection or discussion

1. In Jesus' time the Jewish religion made a big deal about clean and unclean food. How does Jesus challenge this religious side of faith?
2. What does Jesus say makes a person spiritually unclean?

Thoughts to consider

The physical things of this world do not in of themselves make us holy or unclean. It is what comes from the heart. Yet, the heart can be affected by what we see, hear, touch and do. The physical world affects us and we have to learn to work with our learning styles.

The Law a shadow

Hebrews 10:1-2

The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

Questions for reflection or discussion

1. How does the picture in the Old Testament help us to understand the reality that Jesus brought?
2. What are the weaknesses of the old way of doing things?
3. In many churches there are similar religious rites. What does this passage indicate their purpose to be?

Thoughts to consider

A shadow is a perfect flat representation of a physical object. Through looking at a shadow we can gain a perspective of what the real object would look like. So, the Old Testament law gives an insight into the spiritual reality of following Jesus. It is not however the reality itself.

Sacraments

Colossians 2:11-12

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

Questions for reflection or discussion

1. What physical and spiritual actions are mentioned here?
2. How are the physical actions representations of the spiritual realities?
3. How can a physical action help a person appreciate what has happened spiritually?

Thoughts to consider

Circumcision is the right of passage for a Jewish male into God’s covenant with the Jewish people. This is a physical pointer to the spiritual reality we have in Jesus through his spiritual circumcision of our hearts. Most Christians observe physical actions to reinforce an appreciation of a spiritual reality. These actions are called sacraments and though helpful are not essential.

Spiritual rules

Colossians 2:20-23

You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

Questions for reflection or discussion

1. What motivates people to use the ‘rules of the world’ such as don’t touch?
2. Why can’t the rules of devotion, self-denial and discipline conquer evil desires?

Thoughts to consider

People try to contain their human weakness through rules and spiritual practices, but these can easily become the end in themselves. The real measure is, do these things conquer our evil desires. For this, we need the power of God in our lives. This can only come through Jesus.

Overview question for reflection or discussion

1. What value is there in ceremonial religious regulations?
2. How do you process religious forms when they are helpful for others but not for you?

Thoughts to consider

We live in a physical world but worship a God who is Spirit. Ritual and religion can be helpful as far as they help us grapple with the spiritual realities and come to Jesus in faith.

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