Jesus welcomes those who do not understand!

Reflecting on Mark 7:1-23

“His disciples asked him about this parable. ‘Are you so dull?’ He asked.” (Mark 7:17-18)
As a Jesus follower, I do not expect these words from Jesus.
They make me wonder what the Greek word translated as ‘dull’ is.
The world is related to ‘synthesis’, to put things together.
Jesus is observing that they are not able to put what He says together.
‘Do you not get it’, or ‘do you not comprehend?’ seems better to me.
The phrase ‘are you so dull’ seems demeaning.

Here is a hint as to how I read the bible, and I readily admit it.
I trust Jesus to be loving, kind, patient, generous, fair, etc.
And I trust that whatever He says and does is this way too.
When I come upon a story or teaching that doesn’t fit, I rethink it.
Am I missing something, is the translation correct?
We all go in with our assumptions, and read the bible with them.
I read the bible with and through Jesus, and elevate Jesus above it all.
Any story or teaching in the bible that doesn’t fit Jesus is reconsidered.
In any conflict between Jesus and other passages, Jesus wins out.

There are many passages in the bible I still do not understand.
Like the disciples, I come to Jesus to ask Him about them.
I talk them through with Jesus in my prayer journal.
I listen for the Spirit of Jesus to remind me of what Jesus said and did.
With Him I see many stories, teachings, words in a new light.
The light that He is sheds light on the shadows in the bible.

When I come to Jesus, He does not say to me “Are you so dull?”
But He does remind me that I am not able to synthesize things yet.
I do not comprehend His truth, let alone the rest of the bible.
And not even all truth in general; I need His help!
Admitting our inability to understand does not make us weak.
It makes us good students, and Jesus welcomes good students.

Why did Jesus even have to ask the disciples this?
It was obvious they did not understand, that is why they came to ask.
My assumption is that there is a good reason behind this.
But I am convinced He was not demeaning or shaming them.
This is not the Jesus Way, nor should it be our way too.
When we see people who do not get it, remember that we don’t either.
We are no smarter or wiser because we follow Jesus.
We should not demean or shame those who think differently.
Remember, Jesus says, you do not comprehend things either!

Jesus is a safe place for those who do not understand to come.
Jesus is not a safe place for those who think they do understand.
It was the ‘know-it-all’ religious leaders that Jesus battled the most.
He lumped them together with the Roman soldiers when He said,
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
We are released from guilt and shame for our inability to understand.
We are welcome with our child-like faith, like little children.
Like God, Jesus is pleased when people come admitting their not knowing.

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.” (Matthew 11:25-26)

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)

Those who claim to understand reveal their ignorance.
Those who admit their not understanding reveal their wisdom.
They show that they are saved by grace, and not my knowing better.
Their boast is in the Lord, not in their own wisdom and understanding.

Don’t be afraid to come to Jesus, admitting your lack of understanding.
Jesus will not shame or demean You; He will welcome your honesty.
And like a parent with a child, He will patiently help you to learn.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I come to You admitting that my understanding is limited and flawed. I do not boast superior understanding, or that I am smarter than those who I disagree with. Thank You for reminding me that they, like me, do not understand, and need Your grace and patience as we learn and grow.

Help me to be gracious and patient with others who do not understand, and to not demean or shame them.