Mark 10:2-16 (the Gospel reading for Sunday, Oct 7) included the Pharisees’ testing of Jesus by asking Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
Knowing what we do about the healing, feeding, forgiving, and raising of the dead that Jesus had been doing for the past three years of His public ministry, is that the question you would want to ask Jesus?
The corruption in our human nature wants to know how contrary we can live to God’s design and still think well of ourselves and go to heaven when we die. But if heaven is the experience of God’s design, perfectly, why would we want to live contrary to that design now?
What kinds of questions would be more helpful to ask of Jesus? How does Jesus, by way of the Bible, answer those questions? For example, in regard to this text from Mark and the Pharisees’ question, “Is there a way to save my marriage?” Answer: “Absolutely, for all things are possible with God. Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.” “How is it possible to love like that?” “He who is forgiven much, loves much. We love because He first loved us.”