Kethuvim

In Mark we read about a story in which Jesus has a run-in with the religious leaders.  It's the Sabbath, the day of rest, and no one was supposed to work.  The rabbis realized very early on that this was a bit vague to just say that you couldn't work, so they set out to define the various activities that constituted work.  By the time of Jesus, there were numerous laws which defined work.  One of them was a prohibition against healing someone on the Sabbath.  

The story says that Jesus was in the synagogue when a man walks in with a withered hand.  This, presumably, is an affliction he has dealt with his entire life and Jesus feels compassion for him.  It says that the religious leaders were watching Jesus closely to see if he would heal this guy on the Sabbath.  Jesus tells the guy to stand up in front of the whole assembly.  Jesus then stands in front of the entire congregation and says this, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to kill?"  The text says that everyone remained silent.  I think we can reasonably assume that they knew they were busted at that point.  

The story then says, "He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.'  He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. "

Here's what I love about Jesus.  He stands in front of the very leaders who he knows have the power to have him killed for transgressing the law, and in one giant "middle finger" type move, he does the very thing they hate in the name of love and justice.  

So why was he angry?  They followed the law, but they sucked at justice and mercy.  Once again, the people in charge of the chosen nation of Israel were setting a horrible example to the nations, and God with skin is none to happy about it.  He basically says to the leaders of Israel, that, although they follow the law, they're neglecting the entire spirit of the law, which is mercy, love, and compassion.  In another gospel, Jesus says this to the same leaders, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You give a tenth (required by the law) of your spices--mint, dill, and cumin.  But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness..  You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.  You blind guides!  You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel."

Once again, Jesus is angry at the fact that they follow the law, but they neglect the real law, which is justice and mercy.  They're practicing small things (straining out gnats), but totally missing the bigger things (swallowing camels), the things that really matter.  I have to wonder, as so many Christians neglect social justice issues, and stink at loving people, what would Jesus say about us?  I don't know about you, but camel doesn't taste very good, I'm tired of swallowing it.