Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Gospel, Mark 7:14-23

Mark 7:14-23

Classic Jesus! What in the world does that mean? Well, two things. First, Jesus speaks of the condition of the human heart quite a bit. And second, in His divine diagnoses He is always honest to speak to us the truth concerning the heart. The entire Bible is replete with the just condemnation of the heart void of divine grace. And this passage is somewhat of a summation.

Here, through the pen of Mark we have a record of Jesus taking up our heart condition on the heels of His teaching regarding how dishonestly His enemies corrupted the true meaning of His Word. Now He lets us in on the source of that dishonesty, amidst a gaggle of other heart diseases. In fact, when our Lord gets around in this discourse to labeling what maladies come out of the human heart, He lists thirteen “beauties.” I have fallen to every single one. So I need to “breathe out” the corruption of my heart. And not trying to be overly poetic, I can only do that as the true breath, the Holy Spirit cleanses that heart whisking away my sins by faith alone in Jesus shed blood.

Next, I need to remember somewhat of an opposite and that is I need to breathe in that very salvation offered and definitively won for me on the cross of Calvary. Salvation comes from outside. “Extra nos,” as the Reformers tagged it. Outside ourselves. But our sin resides tightly around and through our hearts (minds are included). Perhaps taking to heart our very act of breathing will serve up a good reminder in the days ahead. Breathing out God’s condemnation of death and breathing in His precious gift of eternal life. Just don’t forget to breathe. God’s peace to you all.