Defiance | Not Ritual but Service

One of the ways Jesus defies cultural expectations is through tackling the religious spirit, which is interested in what we aren't supposed to do instead of focusing on doing the stuff that Jesus did. Religion is weaponized when the law becomes something we serve, but the law is meant to preserve relationship and wholeness. Jesus invites us to move from ritual (behaving to belong) to service (testifying about Jesus' compassionate rescue).