He Said "NO"

How do we like to be told NO?

Neither of us like it.

We don't like being told anything that keeps us from doing what we want.  Even A No Trespassing  sign and a Speed Limit sign can bring out the rebellion in our hearts. And these are the easy things.

In Luke 16:18, Jesus moves from the dangers found in the love of money to marriage and divorce. In this verse Jesus says NO. But He isn't saying no to a second dessert-something easy.

Jesus says No to divorce. And He says No remarriage after divorce.

 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery." Luke 16:18

We say what!!?

What was Jesus thinking? We look around the world, around the neighborhood...even in our families...we see divorce and remarriage. How could He say that? Divorce and remarriage seem to be the way we live today.

Jesus said "No."

In my little mind there are two unalterable facts here. Both eternal facts...forever facts.

This one first-

Jesus is God. When Jesus says No it cannot be changed.

A No from Jesus is never in error.

A No from Jesus is always founded in love for us.

A No from Jesus has no loopholes.

A No from Jesus is final...it will never change.

Don't be insulted that Jesus tells us No divorce or remarriage. Jesus has not singled out divorce as the only thing in life to which He says No.

Read the Ten Commandments.

Now the second-

When Jesus spoke the words of Luke 16:18 did He know there were people listening who had divorced and remarried? Did He know the people who for centuries after- up to today- who would hear or read His words-and they had divorced and possibly remarried? Jesus knew then. Jesus knows now.

And He said No to divorce.

This is the other thing.

Are you divorced or remarried-both? Do the words of Jesus give you a sudden mass of guilt? Perhaps you’ve become angry. Time to stop.

Jesus ate with sinners. Among them divorced...Jesus told us of the Good Shepherd who left the 99 sheep and SEARCHED for the one lost -until He found it. When we are lost Jesus searches for us. (Lost is another way of saying when we sin.) If we become lost a second time-what will Jesus do? Search for us. He has promised never to leave us or give up on us. One more- what about the prodigal son who spent all of his father's inheritance? Remember what the father did when the prodigal came home? HE RAN to him and put His arms around him.

Yes, Jesus said No to divorce. He is God. He knows all things.

Do not become hung up on the fact that Jesus said no to divorce. Just remember, Jesus also said these words...

 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

There is forgiveness for ALL of our sins. Bring them to Jesus.

He's already taken care of them-every one- on the cross!