Following Jesus: Walking away from religion
Passage: Matthew 12:13-21
Preacher: Mark Kingston
What do you do when following Jesus offends religious people?
That’s what happened here. Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath. Life floods into a withered hand and the religious leaders respond by plotting his death. Not because it was wrong. But because it disrupted their control. Offended their sense of order. That’s what religion does when it’s more about systems than people. It protects power. It punishes grace.
And what does Jesus do? He walks away. Not in fear. Not in defeat. But in freedom. He refuses to carry the burden of their offense. He turns away from the religious noise and moves toward the need.
And we have to ask: would we do the same?
Because here’s the danger: if we spend our energy placating religious people, trying to keep the peace, defending ourselves, or making everyone comfortable, we’ll lose sight of our actual mission. We’ll settle for the status quo. And miss the very people Jesus is already healing.
But it’s not just about confronting religion. It’s also about healing from it. Because some of us carry wounds. We were judged instead of welcomed. Watched instead of loved. Told we didn’t belong unless we performed. That wasn’t Jesus. That was religion. And if that’s your story, hear this: Jesus isn’t like that. He still calls. He still heals. He still walks toward the hurting.
This is our invitation. Let go of the pressure to impress. Stop managing other people’s offense. Walk free. And follow Jesus toward the broken, the tired, the burned-out. Go to the ones who’ve given up on religion but are still hungry for grace.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
How do you feel and what do you think when you see how the Pharisees reacted to Jesus healing someone?
Have you ever been told off, judged, or rejected by religious people or systems? What was that like for you?
Jesus didn’t argue with the Pharisees or try to smooth things over. He left the offense with God and kept moving toward the hurting. What would it look like for you to do the same?
Where in your life do you feel the need to be in control, keep things looking good, or earn your place? Could that be where religion is sneaking in? How might Jesus be inviting you to let go?
Do you think our church sometimes leans into religious habits like keeping things safe, tidy, or controlled? What might need to shift if we really followed Jesus’ example here?
