Sermon: Are You Gonna Eat That?
By Jonathan Brown
Today’s Gospel reading from Mark presents us with a significant moment in the life of Jesus and His disciples. The Pharisees and some scribes confront Jesus, asking why His disciples do not follow the tradition of the elders, particularly the practice of washing hands before eating. At first glance, this question might seem trivial, but it touches on a much deeper issue: the nature of religious observance and the purpose of God’s commandments.
Now, when we think of the Pharisees, I sometimes like to imagine them as the Wile E. Coyote of the New Testament. If you've ever watched those old cartoons, you know Wile E. Coyote was always plotting, always scheming, trying to catch the Road Runner. But no matter how clever his plans seemed, they always backfired, often in spectacular and comedic ways.
The Pharisees were a bit like that. They were constantly setting traps for Jesus, hoping to catch Him in some theological or legal mistake. They’d challenge Him with questions like the one in today’s passage, thinking they could outsmart Him or expose Him as a fraud. But just like Wile E. Coyote, their schemes never quite worked out the way they planned. Every time they tried to corner Jesus, He turned the tables on them, revealing the deeper truth they were missing.
In today’s encounter, when the Pharisees ask why His disciples don’t follow the tradition of washing hands, they’re not just concerned about hygiene—they’re trying to trap Jesus into admitting that He and His followers don’t respect the traditions of their ancestors. But Jesus, ever the master teacher, responds by quoting Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines” (Mark 7:6-7).
Jesus then declares that it is not what goes into a person from the outside that defiles them, but rather what comes out from within, from the heart. Here, Jesus shifts the focus from external adherence to ritual laws to the condition of the heart—the source of our actions and words. In this moment, Jesus exposes the Pharisees' trap for what it is: an attempt to focus on outward appearances while neglecting the inward transformation that true faith requires.
This passage is often linked to the removal of dietary restrictions, a significant development in the early church that allowed the apostles to eat and fellowship with Gentiles. This change wasn’t about personal convenience; it was a deliberate act of God’s grace, designed to break down barriers and open the door for the Gospel to reach all people. The removal of these restrictions allowed the apostles to meet people in their own cultural contexts, sharing the love of Christ without the constraints of cultural and religious divisions.
In reflecting on this, we see how the church today is called to a similar mission. We are called to go where the people are, to meet them in their contexts, and to share the Gospel in ways that resonate with their lives and experiences. This requires us to move beyond the walls of our churches, beyond our comfort zones, and into the diverse and complex world where people live, work, and play.
The United Methodist concept of prevenient grace speaks powerfully to this mission. Prevenient grace refers to the grace of God that goes before us, preparing the way for our response to God’s call. It’s the grace that draws us toward God, even before we are aware of it, inviting us into a relationship with the Divine. This grace is not constrained by our religious practices or rituals, but it is constantly at work, breaking down barriers and opening hearts to the love of God.
In today’s Gospel, when Jesus shifts the focus from external ritual to the condition of the heart, He illustrates the very nature of prevenient grace. Jesus highlights that true defilement comes not from the outside, but from within, and it is within our hearts that God’s grace is most powerfully at work. This grace invites transformation, not through adherence to ritual, but through a change of heart that leads us closer to God and to one another.
A powerful example of this in our own community came about through one of our Disciple Bible Study members. This member was deeply inspired by her engagement with the Scriptures and her love of Star Wars—and, I might add, her love of Hayden Christensen. She saw parallels between the themes in Star Wars and the stories in the Bible, and from this inspiration, the idea for a Star Wars and Theology class was born.
This class became a unique space where people could explore their faith through the lens of popular culture, finding spiritual insights in the epic struggles between light and dark, good and evil, in a galaxy far, far away. The class attracted a wide range of participants, and one of the most enthusiastic was an 8-year-old member of our congregation. This young girl was so inspired by the Star Wars class that it sparked her imagination to dream up a class of her own—a Harry Potter and Theology class, which she plans to lead in 2025.
Her initiative is not just for kids; it’s a testament to how these discussions resonate across generations, proving that the Gospel can be communicated in ways that are relevant to everyone, regardless of age or background. Her enthusiasm and commitment remind us that God’s grace is at work in the hearts of all people, inspiring us to use our unique gifts and passions to share the love of Christ.
This idea of meeting people where they are, of going out into the world to be the presence of Christ in unexpected places, is not new. It’s a part of our calling as followers of Jesus. I’m reminded of a story shared by Rev. Michael Beck, who leads a ministry called "Tattoo Parlor Church."
When Rev. Beck first proposed the idea, a matriarch of his congregation came to him and said, “Preacher… this is a really bad idea.” She was a person of influence in the church, someone Rev. Beck normally looked to for guidance and support. Her concerns were valid: she reminded him what the Bible says about tattoos and cautioned that people might leave the church because of it. Yet, Rev. Beck felt a stirring in his soul—a stirring he recognized as the Holy Spirit. Despite the risks, they launched the ministry, which grew into a full-fledged church service held in a local tattoo parlor, complete with Bible study, music, and Holy Communion.
At one of their gatherings, something remarkable happened. Not only did one of the tattoo artists accept Christ and receive Communion—a man who hadn’t been in church since he was 12 years old—but the matriarch who initially opposed the idea ended up getting her first tattoo. She and another woman in her 70s both got tattoos of a cross and flame, the symbol of the United Methodist Church. But that wasn’t the end of it.
During the same gathering, this matriarch encountered a man with a severe foot infection. While others hesitated, she, a retired nurse, got down on her hands and knees, cleaned and bandaged the man’s foot, potentially saving his life. This moment of profound service and compassion took place not in a traditional church building but on a park bench outside a tattoo parlor. It was a powerful reminder that church is not confined to a building; it happens wherever we bring the love of Christ.
This story challenges us to reconsider where and how we do church. It’s a reminder that we are called to meet people where they are, to engage with the world in ways that might seem unconventional or even risky, but that open doors to the transformative power of God’s grace.
As we approach Homecoming next week, a time when we come together as a church family to worship God, love, and support one another, it is crucial to remember that this gathering is not just about what happens within these walls. Yes, it is a time to reconnect, to celebrate our shared faith, and to experience the joy of community. But it is also a time to be reminded of our mission as followers of Christ—to take what we gain here into the world.
When we gather for Homecoming, we are renewing our commitment to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. The love and support we experience here are meant to strengthen us so that we can carry that love into our neighborhoods, workplaces, and every corner of our lives. The message of God’s love and grace is not something to be confined within the church; it is a gift that we are called to share with everyone we encounter.
This call to action is beautifully echoed in the words from the Book of James. James challenges us to be “doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves” (James 1:22). It’s not enough to simply hear the Word of God; we are called to live it out in our daily lives. James reminds us that our faith must be active, transforming the way we live and interact with others. When we leave our time of worship, we carry with us the knowledge that God’s prevenient grace is already at work in the lives of those we meet. We are called to be a part of that divine work, to help others see that they are loved by God, no matter where they are on their journey.
Our task, then, is to meet people where they are, to show them through our love, our actions, and our words that they, too, are included in God’s kingdom. This means stepping out of our comfort zones, just as the early apostles did when they embraced the Gentiles, and as our young member did when she dreamed up the Harry Potter class. It means recognizing that the grace of God is always at work, drawing people closer, even in the most unexpected places.
