|
Reader: | Mark 7.1-4. |
| EZRA: | Do you notice these disciples of Jesus? |
| NATHAN: | They're rather a mixed bunch, Ezra, if that's what you
mean. |
| EZRA: | Nathan, can't you see? Here we are, the local Pharisees
keeping an eye on Jesus - and you can't see! |
| OBED: | Nathan, they're not just a mixed bunch, but a "mixed
up" bunch! |
| EZRA: | A good way of putting it, Obed - though I wonder if it's
only that! |
| OBED: | Perhaps they're being deliberately led astray? |
| EZRA: | That's my fear! |
| NATHAN: | A number of them have been respected business people in
the district! |
| EZRA: | That's not the point! Just look at them! Careless about
washing their hands before eating! |
| NATHAN: | Looked hygienic enough to me! |
| OBED: | That's not the point, Nathan! Up here in Galilee we are
in contact with Gentiles all the time. |
| EZRA: | No wonder it's nicknamed "Galilee of the nations"! |
| NATHAN: | So you don't mean washing for hygiene, but ritual washing? |
| OBED: | We have to wash away any contamination of evil. |
| EZRA: | So - coming in from the market-place, where we may have
to mix with Gentiles and all sorts of other undesirables... |
| OBED: | ...we have to wash our hands. |
| EZRA: | That's the teaching passed down from the ancestors! |
| NATHAN: | Well then, let's go direct to Jesus and ask him! It sounds
pretty serious! |
| Reader: | Mark 7.5-13. |