Mark 12:35-37 - David's Prophecy of Christ

Mark 12:35-37
35 And Jesus began to say, as He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself said in the Holy Spirit,
'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,

"SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET."

37 David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him.

Message: David's Prophecy of Christ

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has been speaking to the religious leaders of the day and answering their questions. One of the scribes came to Jesus to ask him about the greatest commandment and Jesus responds by giving him the message of Loving God and Loving your neighbor. The scribe agrees and restates those words to Jesus. Jesus remarks that he is not far from the kingdom of God. Thus, agreeing with Jesus on that point was not all that was needed. There was more. But, at this moment, the scribes and others were finished asking questions. 

Now Jesus turns to the large crowd that is gathered to listen to Him and Jesus begins to ask questions. While the questioning of him is finished Jesus still has more to say, as He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?" I must remember that Jesus speaks as a religious leader as well. He uses language that would signify something else. In this question, Jesus is saying, "How is it that the scribes say the Christ is only a man or only a son of David?" This was the common complaint of the day or the expectation that the people had of the Messiah. The Jews expected a Messiah that was merely human, thinking he would be a great man but also only a man. 

See there is more that Jesus wants to say that the scribes and religious leaders are not asking. While they are asking about Jesus' understanding of God, they are not directly asking about Him - Jesus - and who He is. 

Jesus quotes the words of David recorded in Psalm 110. This text is cited multiple times in the New Testament. In the Psalm David makes reference to two Lords: the first "Lord" translates the Hebrew word Yahweh, God's covenant name and the second "Lord" translates the Hebrew word Adonai, a title given to Yahweh in the Old Testament. In these verses Jesus shows, through the words of David, the Trinity: (1) David said in the Holy Spirit, (2) The Lord (Yahweh) says to (3) My lord (Adonai).

Thus, Jesus is saying that the Christ, the Messiah is much more that only a man. David himself said in the Holy Spirit, thus David speaks in the power and words of God - THE LORD (YAHWEH) SAYS TO MY LORD (ADONAI) - SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET. And Jesus goes on to further clarify this passage by saying - David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son? Thus Lord, my Lord is Him, the Christ, the Messiah, so the Christ is not his son, but the Lord. He brings together the message that the Lord that David uses in Psalm 110 also speaks of Jesus. Psalm 110 is mentioned more in the NT than any other ancient scripture (Acts 2:34-35; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 1:13; Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 7:17; Hebrews 7:21).Jesus is Lord.

Saint Augustine of Hippo who lived from 354 AD to 430 AD, stated:

Christ is both David's Son, and David's Lord: David's Lord always, David's Son in time: David's Lord, born of the substance of His Father, David's Son, born of the Virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Ghost...Unless our Lord Jesus Christ has vouchsafed to become man, man had perished. He was made that which He made, that what He made might not perish. Very Man, Very God; God and man, the whole Christ." 

Wow, what a wonderful passage that, frankly, I am just now discovering. Jesus himself is speaking clearly that he is God. And Hippo's phrase "The Whole Christ" reminds me I got a book of that title and didn't read it. Now I know what I think it is speaking about. I think it is so exciting discovering this phrase where Jesus states that He is the Messiah that He is the second Person of the Godhead.

The Pulpit Commentary concludes it well:

From this verse (Psalm 110.) our Lord shows that the Messiah, such as he was, was not a mere man, as the Pharisees thought, but that he was God, and therefore David's Lord. The meaning, therefore, is this, "The Lord God said to my Lord," that is, Christ, "Sit thou at my right hand," that is, when, after his cross, his death, and his resurrection, he will exalt him far above all principality and power, and place him next to him in heaven, that he may reign with supreme happiness and power and glory over all creatures. These words show that this is a Divine decree, fixed and irrevocable. Till I make thine enemies thy footstool (ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου); literally, the footstool of thy feet; that is, reign with me in glory until the day of judgment, when I will make the wicked, all opposing powers, subject to thee. The word "till" does not imply that Christ will then cease to reign. "Of his kingdom there shall be no end." But he will then formally deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, only that he may receive it again as the second Person of the Godhead.

Summary - The scribes and chief priests had been asking Jesus multiple questions and he had been responding. Most of the time they didn't seem to like what He said, but He spoke. But after answering the scribe that came to him his question on the greatest commandment no one would ask him anything again. But He had more to say and the first thing he brings up is that he is not simply the son of David, but He is Lord. A rather remarkable statement from Jesus. What a wonderful declaration.

Promise: Jesus proclaimed His humanity and deity. The whole Christ is the message of His true manhood and His true deity. Because He is man, He could atone for the sins of mankind. Because He is God, this atonement can cover all of our sins past, present, and future.

Prayer: O Lord, discovering this passage, in some ways for the first time, has enlightened me. It puts to silence critics who say you speaking yourself as Lord and God and Messiah is never present. It is here. Thank you for helping me walk through your scripture and see it, in some ways for the first time. Help me now to secure this message in my life and pass it on. I pray that people would rediscover You as I have. Continue to help me to see and know the significance of this message. Thank  you God for revealing Yourself to me. I am forever a changed man. 

Mark 12:32-34 - Close to the Kingdom of God

Mark 12:32-34
32 The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE's NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

Message: Close to the Kingdom of God

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is answering question after question. He is speaking with an authority about God that many have not seen. The Jewish leaders of the day are even being questioned. People see this. people want to hear from him. Jesus has said that we need to have faith in God, forgive others; we need to love God, love our neighbor. He has said at the beginning of his ministry that the purpose of each person is to repent and believe in the Gospel. This is the message. Turn from my evil ways and embrace God and others.

After Jesus responds to the scribe's question about the greatest commandment, The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher. This is a response that hasn't really been voiced by many up to this point. The disciples often did not respond in this way. If anything, it seems that Jesus wants this response.

The scribe has much to say that is right and draws upon words from the Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 6:4 - “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!Deuteronomy 4:35 - To you it was shown that you might know that the Lord, He is God; there is no other besides Him.Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.I Samuel 15:22 - Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.Isaiah 45:21 - “Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me.Hosea 6:6 - For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice,And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

The scribe somewhat summarizes what Jesus has just said but he adds that He is "one." Jesus said, "THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD." The scribe agrees with this and says, "He is ONE." 

He also knows that there is no one else like Jesus. Instead of heart, soul, mind and strength, he takes soul and mind and combines it with understanding to say: heart, understanding and strength. For me, this is clear.

Jesus responds with this scribe with the words - When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God." This is an interesting response by Jesus and also a confirmation of the importance of simply agreeing with Jesus' words. The scribe simply responds back with the words he has said which brings affirmation that we are answering him correctly. Perhaps this is what was meant by many have said in teaching us how to pray that we need to simply echo the words of God or speak the scriptures back to God in our prayers and petitions.

The scribe had definitely made up a lot of ground in him becoming a child of God. Jesus did not tell the man he was in the kingdom of God but that he was not far from it. Thus, to enter the kingdom of God is to recognize the authority of God's law. But there is also more to it by Jesus saying repent and believe. Each person needs to recognize that they are living life in a foolish manner and turn from their sin and believe in Jesus and therefore all that He says. So the scribe was not far from the kingdom of God. 

Summary - After the scribe asks Jesus to explain the greatest commandment, Jesus proclaims the Shea from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 that the love for God above all else is the most important of all the commandments. Then Jesus says to love one's neighbor is the second greatest of the commandments. The scribe responds by agreeing with Jesus and re-stating what Jesus has said. Jesus is pleased with this response and acknowledges that the scribe is not far from the kindgom of God. But there is more. There is the Law and recognizing we are sinners.

Promise: God's judgment must be preached for people to enter the kingdom of God. This message is as central as recognizing that we are to Love God and Love our Neighbors as ourselves.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the truth of your message. Thank you for clearly explaining it. You have told me that the Love of God and Love for my neighbor is central to my faith, but also repentance and believing and having faith is central for the forgiveness of sins. Lord, help me to be an anchor of truth to this generation. Thank you for your great love for people and for showing me this love through the study of this book.

Mark 12:28-31 - The Greatest Commandments

Mark 12:28-31
28 One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31 The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”


Message: The Greatest Commandments

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has answered his critics questions. Most recently the question was about the resurrection and what it would like to us upon resurrection in the way of marriage. We will not be married. We will have everything that we need in Christ. For God is the God of the living not the dead. His ways are always the same. He is the God of the now, not simply then. He says, "I AM" not "I was." Jesus is in Jerusalem on his way to die and then be resurrected as he has predicted 3 times.

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing - I believe they were discussing, not necessarily arguing. This one scribe comes to Jesus with a reasonable question. This scribe recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him. So this scribe is different from the others, accepting the words of Jesus. When Jesus answers the scribes question What commandment is the foremost of all? his response is actually not real different from anything he has said previously. In fact, when He and the disciples walked back into Jerusalem and Peter saw the fig tree and that it was withered Jesus responds with a two-fold response of Have Faith in God or believe me, believe me what I say and then soon after tells them to forgive their neighbors. The message is a little different but the focus is on God, then neighbor.

This is what Jesus mentions again now in the 2 greatest commandments - Love God, Love Neighbor. That is easily the central message of our lives that really stands in contrast with any other message of this day from any religious body or group: Love God, Love Neighbor. Have Faith in God and Forgive. This is what needs to motivate my life each day. This is it.

I love that message. HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH. It is interesting here. RC Sproul comments that we love God in 4 ways - with our heart, with our soul, with our mind, with our strength.

The second commandment is somehow simpler. There is a contrast in the type of love we have for God and the type of love we have for neighbor. It is a given that we love ourselves. We don't simply love our neighbor, but we do it AS YOURSELF. This is very true. We love ourselves. And this love gets greater when we realize who we are in Christ and that God loves us so much.

I was listening to a message yesterday from Tom Nelson of Denton Bible Church, an older message maybe from 10 years ago he did in Matthew and it reminded me of how rules based we are in our lives and how heart-based God is. God is most concerned about our hearts. And this message of loving God and loving neighbors begins in the heart. It can't simply be a rule will follow. But rather it is a condition of our heart. I often struggle to understand or communicate to people what living for Jesus is really about and somehow I think it is this notion that God wants to change our heart, not just change how we do a few things in our lives.

Sometimes i have difficult figuring out what sin I have broken. I get to this point at times where I don't think I've done anything bad but at its core I don't really love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. And I definitely don't love my neighbor as I do myself. What I want is often what is most important.

Summary - Jesus responds to the question from one of the scribes, a scribe that believed Jesus had responded well to the the Sadducees question. He asks for the greatest commandment and Jesus gives two commandments, thus though there are 2 they are together. We cannot truly love God without loving our neighbor and we cannot truly love our neighbor without loving God.

Promise: Love for God on account of who He is in Himself is the highest form of love that creatures can show. It is love God with all of the power that we can muster; with our mind it is studying His ways and His character as revealed in His Word; with our soul it is means loving Him passionately; with our heart it means loving God from the very root of our being.

Prayer: Lord, first of all, forgive me God for the way in which I have loved you. Each day I seek out first ways to please myself or love myself rather than loving You. Yesterday was church and I find that church is only good if it pleases me, but you remind me that it is about loving You with all that is in my being. So forgive me for thinking that I know better. I want to be in that place to Love you with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I admit I don't know what that looks like much of the time. Help me to know how to communicate this with others. And I want to love others the way I love myself. It's easy to have this love for my wife, but sometimes not as easy with even my kids and then those that I would call neighbors. I should be sacrificing more of myself for them. You are Savior and Lord. You are king. You are Lord of All. I want to praise You.

Mark 12:25-27 - The God of the Living

Mark 12:25-27
25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”

Message: The God of the Living

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is in Jerusalem. He has been questioned by the Sadducees on marriage after the resurrection. Though the people do not believe in the resurrection they are eager to see him apply one of the Mosaic laws about a brother's responsibility to marry a deceased brother who was not able to sire an heir. It is probably about the 3rd or 4th day of Jesus being in Jerusalem. Thus far, he has mostly answered questions from those of different belief systems. In the process, he has cursed the chief priests and scribes that uphold the Scriptures and yet did not uphold their intended purpose. Jesus will be the chief cornerstone, but his rejection by them is also necessary at this time. For others it was about our responsibility to God and government when it comes to taxes. These leaders wanted to catch Jesus probably in hypocrisy. But each time he brought them back to the Scripture and God's message. The central message is have faith in God and love your neighbor. Be focused on God and others.

Here is the continued response by Jesus to the Sadducees question. Jesus will answer the question as well as the belief of no resurrection from the Sadducees. For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. The first response is marriage is not an institution in heaven. This can be hard to fathom especially if you are someone like me and marriage on earth has been the greatest of human relationships and even has been greater than I could ever imaging. I love my wife and the closeness I have with her and the love I have for her is something so great and also something that I can't see ending. We have been married 27 years next week and each day seems still like a new experience with her. She gains in beauty and she gains in remaining captivating. I thank God for this picture of Him. For in Christ, he is new every morning. I read and enjoy the scriptures more and more each day and knowing Him is greater and greater each day. So in the way I experience my wife I see the same thing in my relationship with Him. But I also see the promise of being with him forever in paradise and if my relationship with Him is anything like my relationship with my wife then Yes, I can understand there being no marriage in heaven because I will have everything that I need in Him. Today, I need these human relationships.

Jesus says that I will be like angels. Angels simply surround God and bring praise to Him.

One of the reasons that the Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection is the assumption that life now here on earth will be the same in heaven. And if it is the same, then a woman cannot have multiple husbands. One would be true followed by the others being an example of adultery. And since adultery would not be right, then resurrection would not be right.

In addition, God shows that He keeps His promises. And His promises are not just for a specific time. His covenant ways continue. Here he quotes from Exodus 3 where God said to Moses, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. It is not that Jesus was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but he is. He states, "I am." It is a current tense not a past tense. Thus, it implies that they live on to worship Him. For he is their God all at the same time. Thus, they live together with Him in paradise. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 

Summary - Jesus answers the Sadducees question. Perhaps it is not what they want to hear, so perhaps because of this they will not believe what he has said and accept it. There is no marriage in heaven and God is the God of the living not the dead. This is the way God has spoken to His people. He says, "I am" and that phrase has most often been talking about his authority but it also speaks of his current and present state. It is not "I was" but "I am." He is the God of the Now.  

Purpose: God is the God of the living. God's relationship with His people does not end at their death, for they live on to worship Him in heaven. Because of this, we know that all His promises to us will be kept either now or in the world to come.

Prayer: O Jesus you are so clear on Your ways. Help our unbelief and our short-sighted thinking. We get too caught up in what we want instead of submitting to You for what you are. Help us to always trust in You even when it does not necessarily agree with what we want or desire on this earth. We get too wrapped up in today and we forget your promises for tomorrow. Keep our eyes focused on You always.

Mark 12:18-24 - The Sadducees Ask About Marriage

Mark 12:18-24
18 Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) *came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves behind a wife and leaves no child, his brother should marry the wife and raise up children to his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children. 21 The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise; 22 and so all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also.23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven had married her.” 24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?

Message: The Sadducees Ask About Marriage

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has been speaking to Jewish leaders and other religious leaders in his time in Jerusalem: chief priests, scribes, elders, Pharisees, Herodians. All of them have been critical of Jesus and His teaching. Jesus has been in Jerusalem about 4 days now.

All of these different voices must mean that even within bible based faiths there were (and are) many different voices and beliefs and different ways of practicing those faiths. The Sadducees were a first-century Jewish sect that stressed the power of our free will and believed theology could be based only on the first five books of the Bible. They did not believe in resurrection as they don't find that this subject was addressed in the first five books of the Bible. Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) *came to Jesus, and began questioning Him. They came to Jesus with an imaginary question which, they thought, would reduce to an absurdity the doctrine of the immortality of the soul (never to cease) and the resurrection of the flesh. Jesus' response to them was focused then on a proper understanding of the scripture. Jesus often went back to examine the true meaning of what had been stated in the Scripture. He will prove that the doctrine of the resurrection is clearly taught.

The focus of Jesus seems to be less about the resurrection and more about the immortality of the soul and a future state of rewards and punishments.

From verses 19-23 the case is put forth. I am amazed at the detail that Mark addresses here with this question. The Sadducees address the question of a child that is born to the wife of seven brothers. After each brother died the next brother took on the role of marrying the wife. In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven had married her. And Jesus responds clearly - Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God? The Sadducces had a failure to know the scriptures.

Even in this age, I do think we fail to clearly understand the Bible or fail to accept what it states. We would much rather reason with our own intellect and our own interpretation of things. Yet, it is difficult to understand the context of a passage and then whether that principle was for a time period of for all time periods. This seems to be one of the struggles people have in interpreting scripture. Culture evolves and changes and as it does, some expect the theology to change as well.

Summary - The Sadducees, like the Pharisees, Herodians, Chief Priests and scribes before them have come to Jesus with a question. Jesus is in Jerusalem, on the heels of his soon death and resurrection. But how that will occur is an unknown to the disciples. They continue to follow Him and sometimes they themselves are a part of the questions. Here the question is resurrection and how it applies to a married couple and specifically whose child born to a living brother and wife belongs to given the fact that this is not the first husband of that wife. Mosaic law prescribed that a man was to marry his brother's wife if his brother were to die without producing an heir with that wife. And then, though the Sadducees don't believe in the resurrection, the question is what will the relationship of the wife with a child and husband look like upon the resurrection.

Promise: If we are going to know the truth, we must know the Bible. It holds the answers to life.

Prayer: Lord, thank  you for being true to your scripture and giving light to darkness. Lord, help to understand what you are teaching me in this passages about You, about Your message and what it looks like to me today.

Mark 12:13-17 - Giving God and Government Their Due

Mark 12:13-17
13 Then they *sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement. 14 They *came and *said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” 16 They brought one. And He *said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.

Message: Giving God and Government Their Due

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is in Jerusalem. It is the 3rd day or perhaps the 4th day. He has been causing a stir where he goes, but has mostly been on the defense as the leaders of the community, the religious community have been trying to catch him in a compromising situation regarding who he is. They asked him of his authority but really what they are trying to do was trap him with the question. He knew the leaders were out to get him, but he also had the people of God somewhat protecting Him for the leaders didn't want to do anything to Jesus in front of them.

After the chief priests, scribes and elders tried to trap him with the question on authority, the Pharisees and Herodians come to Him in order to trap Him in a statement. These Herodians were a sect of the Jews who supported the house of Herod, and were in favor of giving tribute to the Roman Caesar. They were so called at first from Herod the Great, who was a great supporter of Caesar. The Pharisees took, of course, altogether the other side, and stood forward as the supporters of the Law of Moses and of their national freedom. So the Herodians and Pharisees cover both sides of the issue.

They *came and *said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. They come to him with words of flattery. But even in those words overstep their bounds. Saying that Jesus defer to no one is getting him to say that he will speak over the Roman authority. Jesus is however often teaching the way of the heart and the motives of the heart. His confrontation with the Jewish leaders of the day has been speaking against their actions to so much the governing authority.

Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? Shall we pay or shall we not pay? This was a matter that Jesus had not questioned to this point as he would not for he did not question the governments role and that was not who he was in coming.

But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” Jesus, I think, in a way, laughs at this question, as if it is not even a worthy question to be asking him. Many thought the paying of taxes was a form of idolatry because the coin had the image of Caesar on it and so making payment was in a way paying homage to Jesus, but Jesus does confront this issue and shows that this isn't a form of idolatry. He *said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 

I appreciate this response from Jesus for it is clear that he is come to earth for the things of God and not to speak against the things of Caesar. The government is not the problem, but it is the matters of the heart that is the issue. The matter is fairly simple, as citizens they are to give their government what they request, but then in the same manner they are to give to God what is due Him. If anything, the Christian has the greater responsibility - to give to both what is due.

Summary - The Herodians and Pharisees, each serving two masters and yet each caught up in the legalistic adherence to their respective law, come to Jesus to trap Him. But Jesus responds that the Christian has a responsibility both to God and government. Our beliefs do not excuse us from our responsibilities as citizens.

Promise:  The state is not permitted to overstep its bounds and intrude on matters of God and here God says that God is not overstep its bounds into the state. Believers give to God the things that are God's.

Prayer: Lord, help me to show my service to both God and Man in the way that you decree. Lord, at times it seems easier to give to the government because it is a law that if I don't I could get imprisonment, but to you Lord it seems to be an option, but it is not an option and I must surrender to You all that is due to You. Help me to carry this out in my life. I pray that I would be obedient to your calling and glorify you with my time and money.

Mark 12:10-12 - The Rejected Cornerstone

Mark 12:10-12
10 Have you not even read this Scripture:
‘The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the chief corner stone;
11 This came about from the Lord,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
12 And they were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people, for they understood that He spoke the parable against them. And so they left Him and went away.

Message: The Rejected Cornerstone

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has presented a parable of the tenants to the disciples and all who would listen. It provides a story of a landowner (God) who builds a vineyard and then sets up how it will be ruled, with tenant farmers (priests, scribes, the Church) and provides it with a wall. But the tenant farmers do not manage it in the way He intended and start instead to think of it as belonging to themselves or even as an opportunity to acquire it.

Through all of this, one might wonder if God was still in control, in this process, or did he just wind it up and let it run as the parable seems to present.

Jesus quotes from Psalm 118:22-23, a Psalm of thanksgiving that reminds us that God is there and present through all of life's circumstances:
22 

The stone which the builders rejectedHas become the chief corner stone.This is the Lord’s doing;It is marvelous in our eyes.

I've always been curious about advertisers that label product new and improved. It is curious. What happened that made it 'new and improved.' In a way, this is what Jesus does with his kingdom. He starts it out as a stone and then it becomes a corner stone. It starts out with some limitations, but then it has no limitations. It is new and improved. Having the stone be rejected was necessary. Sometimes we don't see something until it goes through a trial. Yet, we struggle with this because we often see that there is never any good in any pain. 

There will be victory in Jesus. But this means at some times there will be a feeling that in Jesus there is defeat. The quoted Psalm states, "This is the Lord's doing." I can trust the Lord despite however it appears to me. 

And they (the chief priests, scribes, elders) were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people (the multitudes), for they understood that He spoke the parable against them. And so they left Him and went away. It was clear in this moment that this parable was about them. They were the rejected ones. They felt assaulted and wanted to then seize him, but for now they did not because of the people that were surrounding Jesus at this time. 

Summary - By presenting this parable, Jesus reminds the people that He is in fact still in control. People will reject Him, but He will do something greater. We can always trust the Lord for His plans are perfect. 

Promise: Every up and down of history is under God's control. I can be confident for the future because I know that nothing happens outside of the Lord's sovereign plan for the all things. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding me that you are in control. Thank you for reminding me that you are about the best and even what seems good now will be improved upon later. You are the God that makes all things new. Keep my eyes turned to You so that I look full on You and the things of earth grow dim. You are marvelous and I trust in You. 

Mark 12:1-9 - The Parable of the Tenants

Mark 12:1-9
1 Then Jesus began teaching them with stories: “A man planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 2 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. 3 But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. 4 The owner then sent another servant, but they insulted him and beat him over the head. 5 The next servant he sent was killed. Others he sent were either beaten or killed, 6 until there was only one left—his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ 7 “But the tenant farmers said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 8 So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard. 9 “What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.

Message: The Parable of the Tenants

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem, as he has predicted 3 times his death and resurrection. He comes in on a colt and pronounces a judgment on the chief priests and scribes and elders at the temple about them not following their mission to make welcome the Gentiles at the temple. These leaders question Jesus' authority. Jesus communicates to his disciples that they are to have faith in God - to come to God by prayer in faith and then to forgive those that transgress against them. We are to be a people of faith and then forgiveness.

Now Jesus takes a moment to share a parable. This parable is in line with some of the subjects that he has been addressing, namely the importance of those individuals over are in charge of other individuals. In the 1st Century, it was common for landowners to hire tenant farmers to take care of their vines on their behalf. Isaiah 5:1-7 tells about a song about the Lord's vineyard. In that story the vineyard is judged for failing to to yield the proper fruit - a message that is sort of similar to the curse that Jesus pronounced on the fig tree as well as the chief priests and scribes.

This story speaks of the owner of the vineyard hiring tenant farmers to take care of his vineyard while he is away. But, the tenant farmers did more than just take care of the vineyard, they began to take ownership of it. Thus, they expanded their responsibility to include a sort of claim on it. In so doing, as the landowners servants came, he was beat up and sent away. And the landowner sent others, but they were also beat up or killed. Finally, the landowner sent his son but the same thing happened to the son, this time murdering the son. Jesus then says in response to this - What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others. 

• The servants represent the old covenant prophets - these prophets were rejected often by the leaders of the ancient covenant community
• The landowner is God himself 
• The tenant farmers are the kings, priests, other leaders, including what could be called today the church. 
• The landowner sent His Son (Jesus), but he is received with even more hatred than the prophets. 

This is an interesting lesson because Jesus is talking more about service (Mark 10:43-45) and forgiving others (Mark 11:25). The focus is on others. The tenant farmers were given one tasked, but they expanded it to include other responsibility and in so doing they lost their chief task. They became like the chief priests and scribes and began using the temple in a way they had wanted.

I think for me I look at the application of this passage to be the importance of remembering my first love and remembering how God has called me to live and act in this world. I need to be careful about getting too big for my own britches and taking ownership of what he has simply put me in charge of. And I need to always bring it back to Jesus, His Son, and even those that he has sent. Again, the focus is not on me, but others.

Summary - Jesus brings a parable to his people to remind them of the message that God has sent His Son to redeem people, and yet the Son will be rejected. People don't want the solution that Jesus provides. They want their own selfish solutions. He continues to get his disciples ready for what is coming - his death which will involve his complete rejection and scorn.

Promise: People will do whatever is necessary often to please themselves and get their own way. As God puts us in charge though of his vineyard, this world, we have a responsibility to respect his leadership and do what He asks.

Prayer: Lord, I love you and you are the Lord and King. I am your vessel. You have created all and so no matter my situation I need to serve you. Give me the strength and power to continue to share Your love with others. God you are in charge of all and I praise You for your love for us, but I must submit and surrender to You continually. I must trust Your ways. Keep me ever mindful of what you are teaching me to have faith in you, forgive others, and serve people.

Mark 11:27-33 - The Authority of Jesus

Mark 11:27-33
27 They *came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders *came to Him, 28 and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?” 29 And Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me.” 31 They began reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘From men’?”—they were afraid of the people, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet. 33 Answering Jesus, they *said, “We do not know.” And Jesus *said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Message: The Authority of Jesus

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Preface - Jesus is in Jerusalem. It is his 3rd day there with the disciples. He came in on a colt, cursed a fig tree, removed his presence from the temple, pronounced dissatisfaction on the chief priests and scribes for turning the temple into a market for their own benefit rather than reaching out or making the Gentiles welcome, and then took time to talk about the importance of being a servant and having faith in God. We are to trust God and then to forgive others. Our focus is to be on God and others.

They came again to Jerusalem - It seems that they are going from Jerusalem to Bethany and to the Mount of Olives and back and forth. It is perhaps day 4 and maybe still day 3. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him. The chief priests had just recently been bothered by the words that he had said about turning the temple into a robbers den. Perhaps this was the same group. But, this time they were coming to him.

They began saying to Him. By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?” This is interesting. Jesus had spoken with an heir of authority toward the scribes and chief priests and they obviously don't understand who he is. Yet, this question they asked was meant to trap Jesus. They had seen earlier what he had done in forgiving the paralytic sins and it seemed clear already that he was doing things that were possible only if the Lord had his backing.

Jesus responds to their question with his own question about John's baptism. But, they didn't answer because they were concerned of how their response would sound. The elders question was clearly not asked to contend for truth, but rather victory over Jesus and this was found out when Jesus responded for they refused to answer, lest they look bad. They were concerned about how they looked before the people than contending for truth (they were afraid of the people). 

From the pulpit commentary (edited by Joseph Exell and Henry Donald Maurice Spence who pulled together the notes of 100s of authors during the 19th century):

The argument is incontrovertible. It is this: "You ask from whence I derive my authority - from God or from men? I in my turn ask you from whom did John the Baptist derive his authority to baptize and to teach? from heaven or from men? If he had it from God, as all will confess, then I too have the same from God; for John testified of me, saying that he was but a servant, the friend of the Bridegroom; but that I was the Messiah, the Son of God: and this too when you sent messengers to him for his special purpose, that you might know from him whether he was the Messiah."

Summary - This time for Jesus in Jerusalem culminates with a question by the chief priests and scribes and elders on Jesus' authority, but Jesus uses it as an opportunity to discover people's true motives. And unfortunately it is clear that they were wanting to trap Jesus not get to the truth. 

Promise: Christ is the highest authority. We are to submit to His words, that is Scripture, as our highest authority. 

Prayer: Lord, you are my authority. I think of how I answered someone the other day who asked a question about why you do something and I must lean on your written Word for the answer. This is my source of asking. 

Mark 11:25 - A Condition for Forgiveness

Mark 11:25
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.

Message: A Condition for Forgiveness

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus and the disciples have come into Jerusalem in the morning, and it appears this is the 3rd day since they embarked on their entry into Jerusalem from Bethany and the Mount of Olives, as Jesus comes to die. Previously, he went to a fig tree seeking fruit from it because of seeing leaves, but found no fruit. It had the appearance of fruit and with that appearance is the expectation that the tree is following through on being a fruitful tree. Instead Jesus cursed it. A similar thing happened when he came upon the temple. There he saw the priests and scribes hustling people by turning the temple into a business or sort of market to sell things to people. The outcry by Jesus was inferring that they had missed their calling to reach all people, that includes the Gentiles. The priests and scribes didn't like this - they feared Jesus. Jesus left. The disciples and Jesus the next day come into Jerusalem again and see the fig tree and after Peter states that it is indeed withered, Jesus tells him and the disciples that they must have faith in God for God to act, for God to move mountains, for God to answer prayers.

After this, Jesus will now make another remark about praying and specifically the idea of forgiveness. Up to this point, in Mark's gospel the idea of forgiveness has been mentioned few times.

• Mark 3:28-30 - Jesus spoke of all sins being forgiven except for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 
• Mark 2:1-12 - A key passage about forgiveness. Jesus has come upon a paralytic and in front of the Jewish counsel he first forgives the man's sin and then heals him of his paralysis. Jesus provides forgiveness to this man, the thing he needs the most, more than healing of his paralysis. Forgiveness occurred in response to the people who brought him and lowered him down to Jesus from the roof. Faith first, then forgiveness. 

Jesus remarks - Whenever you stand praying, forgive. Standing is simply their normal posture when praying. Jesus says, when you pray - forgive. Not when you pray, seek forgiveness. Jesus continually put forth a 'serving other people' idea. I'm not sure I completely recognize the significance of this message from Jesus and that -- it is the way I conduct myself with other people. Jesus came to save the lost - he came to redeem people - he came to serve them. I am asked to do the same - serve others. God saves, I serve. Yet, much of life is spent not on service, but acquisition. Even in my bible study, my desire is often to better my own understanding. Jesus has just spoken of prayer and getting answers to prayer, moving mountains, and getting what we want. And now Jesus more specifically says that with that praying is forgiveness - forgiving others.

If Jesus says we must forgive, then it must be clear that people are doing things toward us that we do not like - that hurt us - sin against us. And our response to them is forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a concept I understand, but the way I conduct myself is often not showing forgiveness. I get angry when people don't meet my expectations. If anything, I belittle them or ridicule them, sometimes behind their backs. I poke fun at them. Work is often a source of these types of situations. We all have jobs to do, tasks to accomplish and when they are not accomplished in the right way, I am often critical of this. But, do I take a moment and say in prayer "I forgive." I don't hold a grudge. Jesus commands - forgive, if you have anything against anyone. Anything.

I think of a friend in his marriage and the anger that he and his wife often display toward one another, for not getting what they want, for the other person not meeting their expectation and here Jesus says, forgive, if you have anything against anyone. I don't think we get this concept, this idea. In a way, it is so simple - it is too simple. But it is so powerful. In some ways it is a daily habit. I just see so often I first complain, then justify, then seek from other people agreement to my complaint and in unison we agree it was wrong and with that agreement I walk off satisfied. Ha! It's horrible. All that I have done is help other people sin as well. It's horrible. But, forgive, if you have anything against anyone. 

And Jesus says - so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. Forgiveness is something we do to be forgiven. Jesus says, "Have faith in God, then forgive others." So there Jesus is saying - you want to be forgiven? You want something for yourself? Then first do something for someone else. For me to really understand what it forgiveness means, I need to forgive others. Don't hold a grudge. Don't gang up on another person. Don't walk around with a critical attitude toward that person. Don't try to get other people on board with my way of thinking toward that person. No, instead I need to forgive first.

Summary - Jesus, after telling his disciples that faith is the key to our prayers being answered, tells them also that they need to forgive others. Receiving forgiveness from God happens when we forgive others for then we really understand what forgiveness means.

Promise: God is most concerned with my heart, and my forgiving hearts indicates to Him that I have seen my sin and I am truly casting myself on the Lord's mercy.

Prayer: Lord, change me. Make me new. Make me different than I am. Right now Lord I run to others when someone has hurt me or sinned against me. I complain. I try to get others to agree with me. And once I get that agreement I feel satisfied. Lord, I need to listen to what you are saying to me and forgive. Forgive first. I want to have faith in you and forgive others. Change my ways Lord.

Mark 11:20-24 - Believing Prayer

Mark 11:20-24
20 As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. 21 Being reminded, Peter *said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus *answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. 24 Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

Message: Believing Prayer

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Upon entering Jerusalem on a colt, procured by the disciples, at the request of Jesus, Jesus goes to the temple to check things out and the following day finds no fruit on a fig tree and curses it and then later the chief priests and scribes for having the appearance of fruit but in fact not fulfilling their true calling. At the temple, the problem was they had turned God's house into a robbers den. This assertion by Jesus angered the scribes and priests and produced a fear in them and astonishment in the people. Jesus and the disciples left the City. perhaps withdrawing God's complete presence from the temple.

As they were passing by in the morning (so it is the 3rd day (1st day was the colt, then 2nd day was going to the fig tree and temple, now it is the 3rd day)) they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. This is the same fig tree that before had been leafy but after leaving that tree, Jesus cursed it and after Jesus cursed it the fig tree withered from the roots. Jesus has that kind of power on tree's. I heard Tom Nelson from Denton Bible say that throughout Jesus' time on earth, the miracles that he performed were on people or other things (calming the sea or pronouncing judgment like he did here), but he never used his divinity to help himself. From the standpoint of himself he was always acted as fully man only and was tempted just like we were and had painful experiences just like we do.

Being reminded of how they had passed this tree previously and Jesus had cursed it upon it not bearing fruit, Peter *said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” Is Peter surprised by this? Peter (and the disciples) seem amazed that Jesus' words did come true. And Jesus *answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. Jesus provides a response to the disciples that has been his response to them throughout His ministry to them: Have faith in God. There was a point even in Jesus' ministry when he sent his disciples away and told them that they would do the work he has been doing and could accomplish it but they disciples struggled and the chief problem they had was faith. Thus, here Jesus tells them again that the things that he does might seem impossible or unlikely and produce a result that is amazing, but Jesus doesn't just then tell them, that Yes, this is what I can do, but he says to them. yes, this is what one who is aligned with God can do. And it starts with one simple idea: Have faith in God that he will do what he said he will do.

Now, Jesus will liken that example to moving a mountain and prayer. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. It seems the mountain will be likened to prayer. What seems impossible to man is possible for God and this seems to be what he is speaking as he remarks about something specific, the moving of a mountain and then says - Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. 

Now the "ask and you will receive" idea has always been a little baffling and I would even say controversial for the believer in Christ and for the onlookers of the world. This idea that receiving what you want is simply about having faith would seem to mean that we can ask for things and if it is by faith, it should be granted. The principle of having faith is not having doubt. James 1:6 says, "But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." This seems hard because I find in my prayer, honestly that often, even though I am praying my prayers are not always in faith because of my own experience of praying and not getting what I ask. So simply voicing it does not guarantee or mean that I have faith. Perhaps that is what I want to see in the scripture is those words that say, "have faith and ask but in asking you may not always get what you ask for."

See I know from my experience that not everything I ask for, I receive. But it still makes me wonder the meaning of these words. I know from other areas of scripture that I must pray in accordance to God's will and yet, I still want to see that idea here as well.

Summary - As they are coming into town the 3rd day (from their arrival to Jerusalem) Peter comments that the fig tree Jesus has cursed is withered. Jesus responds sort of like, "Naturally it is. I cursed it. It withered. The secret to getting God to do things is faith. He can move mountains with faith. When you have faith and no doubt, he will answer prayers."

Promise: The basis of our asking things of God is to have complete faith in God.

Prayer: Lord, I want to trust you in all things. Thank you for the clear promise that we need to come to you in faith about all things, with no doubt. I admit that is hard. My faith sometimes is weak. I can trust you for a future event, but day-by-day trusting is hard for me. I must admit I feel like the disciples at times, but help my unbelief. I do want to rely on You and no my life will be better if I do.

Mark 11:18-19 - An Assault of God's Glory

Mark 11:18-19
18 The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.
19 When evening came, they would go out of the city.
Message: An Assault of God's Glory

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem. After giving basically highlight of Jesus' ministry in chapter 1-10, Mark will now get into the detail of Jesus in Mark 11-16 and detail he is given. Jesus has ridden in to town on a colt fulfilling messianic prophecy and the next day comes upon a fig tree where he pronounces a judgment on it as well the people of Israel and then is more clear on this judgment as he enters the temple as the priests have made the temple about personal gain rather than heeding the call to reach beyond the Jews to the Gentiles and having a welcome place for them.

On the heel of Jesus coming on the scene in the Temple and asserting that "you (priests) have made my house a robber's den" naturally The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him. They have been confronted. Whether it is truth or not to them doesn't matter, they have been confronted which is a position priests and scribes don't experience much. They are usually the ones doing that confrontation on others. Now Jesus sees a problem in what they are doing. It is not clear if they think they've done anything wrong, but they don't like the assertion that they are doing anything wrong. So they are seeking now to destroy Him. 

But they were afraid of Him. They were afraid. Possibly they had used the temple like this for some time. No one said anything before, though how could someone. They feared the authority that Jesus put forth. And the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. The chief priests and the scribes were all astonished at his teaching.

When evening came, they would go out of the city. The disciples and Jesus left the city. Jesus had said about the fig tree - May no one ever eat fruit from you again! It appears that he is taking the same position now regarding the temple. It's purpose is lost. There is no going back. God is patient. He gives people the opportunity to turn to Him. He gives many warnings. He has done this for centuries. But at some point it is over and the total disregard of him will have consequences.

Ezekiel 10-11 describes the glory of God departing from the temple and heading east, outside of Jerusalem, to the Mount of Olives. Ezekiel 11:23 - The glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city. Sin had become so horrendous that God glory now departs from this Holy Place. But still God pledged to return his Glory to His temple.

Jesus (God) is returning to the City of Jerusalem, from the east, as predicted. But the leaders respond by seeking to destroy him. How often we act in the same way. We are so proud of the people we have become that we are not willing to accept his criticism, his correction.

Summary - Jesus has confronted the chief priests and scribes at the temple calling the work that is going on at the temple not what his purpose is for the temple. They have gotten off course. And the chief priests and scribes don't like this. They grow afraid of him and the people are astonished. So Jesus leaves. He leaves the temple.

Promise: - Christ is coming. Am I ready? Am I ready for his return or will Jesus find something else with me that is contrary to what he has called me to be?

Prayer: Lord I am a sinner. And daily I disobey you. I need you Spirit to keep working through me and speaking to me and turning my heart toward Jesus so that I can continue to do what he has called me to be - a servant to many. I get so selfish Lord and I start busying myself with things that seem good to me but they are still not your purpose. I want to stay committed to your calling. Lord, I desire to hear good news upon your return. I need to get ready.

Mark 11:15-17 - Judgment on the Temple

Mark 11:15-17
15 Then they *came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; 16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. 17 And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.”

Message: Judgment on the Temple

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is headed to Jerusalem to begin his time before going to the cross. He first has the disciples go get the donkey he would then ride into Jerusalem on and fulfill messianic prophecies. He would go the temple but not do anything and then retreat to Bethany. The next day he was hungry and saw a leafy fig tree which meant it should have had fruit on it, but it didn't and pronounced a judgment on the tree that it would never bear fruit, which was likened to Israel and being a people that looked fruitful but were not.

Now they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple. What do we see here? We see Jesus entering the synagogue, which we have many records of occurring, but he saw something happening in the temple that wasn’t part of the purpose of the temple and he quickly drove those people out. The temple or church is the place for worship, teaching - nothing else. It is not a place to take advantage of those that are there. I have heard of this and thought of this as if church is a place to make business connections, but I must remember it has one singular purpose.

One of the problems that the old covenant people had was that they never really made a good effort in reaching the Gentiles.

In the first century, the Jerusalem temple did have a court of the Gentiles that measured some thirty-five acres where non-Jews could come and pray to Yahweh, the God of Israel. However, the Gentiles were not really welcome there. The popular Jewish mind-set hoped that the Messiah would cleanse the temple of all Gentiles. Moreover, when the Gentiles came to the court of the Gentiles in first-century Jerusalem, there was no welcome awaiting them. - Tabletalk, October 19, 2016

So this was the setting and Jesus would even remark in his response - My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations. This was a quote from Isaiah 56:7 - Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples." Perhaps the previous section and the pronouncement of judgment on the house of Israel for not bearing fruit was a foreshadow now of this event. Rather than bearing fruit here in the temple and reaching out to the Gentiles or all the nations, the temple priests were focused on themselves and looking out for their own interests and their own gain. Again, this is contrary to Jesus' message previously as well about the need for us to be servants. We may have power but our role as a leader is to serve.

The temple is called My house. It is a place set apart for the worship of God. Yes, we are the church, but I personally think we as Christians need a place to go to, like a church, like a temple each week as it is a place set aside for a specific purpose, to worship God. Someone was telling me that it wasn't important to go to church because we are the church. That is true, but Jesus mentions the importance even here of being in the house of God. 

Summary - Jesus has come upon the temple now in Jerusalem and sees that its purpose has not been fulfilled. The temple is not just for the Israelites. It also has a section for the Gentiles, but he is bothered because the priests are not fulfilling their role to reach everyone and welcome everyone, but instead are focused on their own selfish desires and setting up the temple as a place to exchange goods and make for themselves a profit. 

Promise: From R.C. Sproul - "The Jews hoped that the Messiah would cleanse the temple of Gentiles, but Jesus cleansed the temple for the Gentiles." Jesus is Savior of all, not some. 

Prayer: O Lord Jesus thank you for showing that you are intended for all people and the Gentiles had a place set up for them in the temple. Your people are to reach all people, all the time. I want to be intentional in my walk with you and be open to all people as well. Give me the courage to be that person and love the way you love. 

Mark 11:12-14 - The Fruitless Fig Tree

Mark 11:12-14
12 On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. 13 Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.
Message: The Fruitless Fig Tree

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is on his way into Jerusalem to begin the week leading up to the cross. But, we aren't sure these events really only take up a week. First order of business was procuring a donkey that some of the disciples went to get and then riding into Jerusalem on it, thus fulfilling prophecy of a king coming in on a donkey. The people knew the significance of this and draped things on the ground as well, but they may have not completely understood His messianic focus of ushering in the kingdom of God, thinking he was simply ushering in a restored Israel. Jesus went straight to the temple, but only to look around and then returned to Bethany to rest.

On the next day - so it seems that it is now one day later. they had left Bethany where Jesus had been resting or preparing for what was ahead and He became hungry. Maybe he was just hungry or maybe he realized that he needed food for what lie ahead.

Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. Interesting. From Mark's perspective or rather Peter's, he would go to a fig tree, hungry, and there would be nothing on it to take. Didn't he know this? It would seem, but then he made the command - He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” The tree had no fruit so therefore no was to eat fruit from it again. And His disciples were listening.

Well, I don't see what this is about so I will first look at the commentary given from the Tabletalk magazine on the date I am currently reading - October 18, 2016. It remarks this passage as an example of an enacted parable or perhaps a real life event that could teach us something rather than a parable which was often a story that wasn't real. Enacted means that their actions conveyed a truth. In this situation Jesus goes to a tree, a fig tree, in leaf. It being in leaf meant that it appeared to have borne fruit, for a fig tree bears fruit first and then leaves. Mark had responded though that it was not the season for figs. Perhaps Mark thought he saw something that Jesus didn't, but either way Jesus seeing a tree with figs, rather in season or not, it should have probably had some sort of size of figs.

In Hosea 2 is an example of the judgment upon Israel and it mentions in verse 12 - I will destroy her vines and fig trees. So fig trees, barren fig trees are an example or foreshadowing of judgment upon Israel. Thus, what he does here is curse the fig tree by saying  - “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” The curse was a sign that judgment was about to come to Jerusalem. The fig tree represented the people of Israel of which a curse was pronounced suitable to its condition.

This could even have more far reaching curses upon the Church that appears healthy, but alas there is no fruit. At this point it is cursed or a curse falls on it.

Summary - Jesus is leaving Bethany on his way to Jerusalem and sees a fig tree in leaf and expects to find fruit for leaves form after the fruit has occurred. It is not the season for figs so therefore it was not thought that there was any fruit that had already been taken. So what Jesus sees is a tree that appears to have fruit and has nothing. It appears healthy but it isn't, so pronounces a curse on it, a divine judgment that it will never be healthy.

Promise: We are to bear fruit for God's glory, and if we are not bearing fruit in service to God and neighbor, we must repent and rely on His grace. If we do not, that may be a sign that we are not in His Kingdom at all.

Prayer: Lord, your words are strong. We as a people are meant to bear fruit. Lord, I am meant to bear fruit. Sometimes I don't see it. Forgive me for that and let my hope be in you for what I can't see. I should have peace for doing the things you have called me to do and then I can trust that you are working them out.

Mark 11:7-11 - Jesus Hailed as King

Mark 11:7-11
7 They *brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. 9 Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting:

      “Hosanna!
      Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
10  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David;
      Hosanna in the highest!”

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.


Message: Jesus Hailed as King

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is on his way into Jerusalem, letting the disciples know previously that he is headed there to die and be resurrected, but the disciples don't know the events or how it will happen. It begins though with Jesus entering on a colt and thus far he has told his disciples to go get him a colt, it will be waiting for him where they are to get it and they are to bring it back to him.

They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. This was a colt that had never been ridden before and yet, Jesus was able to simply sit on it for the first time as if it had been used many times. The disciples laid out their coats on the colt, to provide a saddle but also out of respect for Jesus and to give him honor.

And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. This was an example of the crowd responding to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. They were aware of the messianic claims He was making. 2 Kings 9:13 says, "Then they hurried and each man took his garment and placed it under him on the bare steps, and blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king!”Perhaps the people remembered this event from almost 900 years prior or remembered its significance. Again, what they were doing was showing great honor for Jesus. For Jehu they were acclaiming his as King. Jesus, the same way, as king of the Jews.

Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!" There is much going on here. The word Hosanna means "Save." From Psalm 118:25-26 it reads, "O Lord, do save, we beseech You;O Lord, we beseech You, do send prosperity! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord; We have blessed you from the house of the Lord." It was an appropriate cry from the people. For Jesus to save his people, that salvation must be associated with the reign of David. Jeremiah 23:5, "Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,“When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land." This is Hosanna in the highest. This is salvation or being saved in the most ultimate way. This is the crescendo or culmination of it all. There is nothing greater.

Yet, they possibly did not understand the salvation that Jesus was bringing. It was perhaps a misunderstanding of the type of kingdom that Jesus would be bringing. 

They thought it was a kingdom of David rather than the kingdom of God. They were perhaps looking merely for the return to the glory days of Israel, when David and Solomon ruled a united Jewish kingdom renowned for its wealth and military might. - Ligonier

Jesus was receiving now the title of Messiah. That is clear. Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple.He was not there entering the holy of holies for he was not of the tribe of Levi. Instead he was in the courts. And after looking around at everything.At that moment, his purpose was to survey everything. It was only to survey the scene for correction would come at another day. For now, he simply looked around. [It is interesting that this is not mentioned by Matthew. Again, most of what I've seen in Mark is details that he forgets and that Matthew mentions but in this final week, here is a detail that Matthew does not mention.] Then, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.So he went back to Bethany, outside of Jerusalem, probably another 4 to 5 miles back. It was probably about 3pm, so he had time to head back. He had come into the City, entered it, as prophesied, but now headed back with his disciples to rest as it was late. Resting was necessary for he was about to begin his most important work.

Summary - Again, the purpose of this passage is to announce Jesus, as the Messiah. The people perhaps don't understand ultimately that his reign will be the kingdom of God and not simply returning Israel to a time they were before. Jesus comes into the temple area to survey and see what it looks like. Then he leaves and goes back to Bethany to rest. 

Promise: The people may not have understood the nature of Christ's kingdom, but they were correct to acclaim the Davidic king as the bringer of salvation. 

Prayer: Blessed in the name of the Lord. You are salvation. Thank you for my understanding of your coming Lord, that you are salvation in the most perfect sense. You have saved me. I cannot save myself. You are the only Savior. Your way is the only way. You are the only truth to life. 

Mark 11:1-6 - Procuring a Donkey

Mark 11:1-6
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.

Message: Procuring a Donkey

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is headed to Jerusalem, but along the way continues to speak of his death and resurrection, predicting it for the 3rd time. The disciples, notably James and John, saw it as an opportunity to gain a special place with Jesus in heaven. Jesus uses that question to teach them and the disciples about what it means to truly be great: service to others. Greatness can be achieved but not to have power over others, but to serve others.

They approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives. This is a good picture of these places. They seem to be coming from the east. The Mount of Olives has been a Jewish cemetery for 3,000 years. It represents 3 peaks of a Mountain range of about 2,700 ft. elevation. Bethpage is about 3.5 miles from Jerusalem and Bethany is about 5 miles from Jerusalem. Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Most likely the village was Bethphage. and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

We read that when Jesus reached the Mount of Olives, our Lord sent two of His disciples to procure a colt for Him. The messianic significance of this should not be missed. In the first century, many rabbis thought the Mount of Olives would be the place from which the promised Messiah would finally come to Jerusalem. More importantly, the royal beast of burden for the ancient Israelite kings was the colt, that is, the donkey. They also used mules, which are the offspring of donkeys and horses. For instance, when David wanted to reveal Solomon as the next king of Israel, he had Solomon ride on his mule (1 Kings 1:28–53). Zechariah 9:9 is a prophecy that the Son of David, the Messiah, would come to Jerusalem on a “colt, the foal of a donkey.” After keeping knowledge of His messianic identity limited to only a few people for most of His ministry, Jesus was finally getting ready to reveal Himself as the Messiah to the masses. - Ligonier.org

Mark's gospel spends a lot of detail on the events between Palm Sunday and the resurrection of Jesus. In fact, 6 chapters are used by Mark to describe the last days of Jesus' life. Mark, up to this point has not been focused on details, but in this description he covers a lot of very specific details.

Summary - Jesus is coming into Jerusalem, but prior to his arrival he will fulfill prophecy by Jesus entering on a donkey. First thing first is sending his disciples to procure the donkey and getting the donkey is not a problem. 

Promise: Jesus expected the donkey’s owners to know who He was and to grant the disciples’ request. What was about to happen was something Jesus had been preparing for His entire ministry.

Prayer: Lord, you remind me in this moment that you take care of the details. Jesus coming to sacrifice for our sins and being our ransom so that we will be free. You are sovereign and in control of it all. Thank you for your word and the clarity of it. 

Mark 10:45 - The Ransom Christ Paid

Mark 10:45
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Message: The Ransom Christ Paid

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - James and John, after finding out from Jesus that He would be rising from the dead, wanted to request that they have a position of greatness on the left and right of Jesus in heaven. Jesus uses that question to expand further on how he defines greatness. There isn't a problem with achieving greatness, but greatness comes about for the purpose of serving others. To be great, to be first means that you will be a servant or a slave to all.

As I now examine this verse from Jesus that I have often quoted, I see that one level it simply provides an example from the life of Jesus of the need for any person to also do likewise or copy what Jesus has done and that is, serve others. Previously, I have looked at the idea of Jesus referring to Himself as the Son of Man. He seems to be appealing here to the idea of his humanity. In essence, the question could be, "why is man here on earth?" Why is Jesus here on earth? It is not for the purpose of lording ourselves over others (Mark 10:42). Or stated another way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. Jesus is not here on this earth to be served. Granted, many people can't help but serve him as they see him. But, he is not here waiting for this to happen.

To me, it has always been appealing to me to see someone in society with riches and fame to still live a somewhat simple life. Granted, big houses and rich lifestyles do provide jobs for servants, but still to see someone that can afford it and then choose to not simply let people serve them lavishly is appealing. I've heard about this of the Chick-Fil-A founder. But, examples of these sorts of people seems rare. Granted, people of importance often need servants to help them continue to achieve their calling, but still it is appealing to see people that still understand modesty.

For Jesus he did not come to be served, but to serve. His desire all along has been service to others. In the gospels, specifically the first half of Mark's gospel, this is seen over and over as Jesus went from place to place and as he went people came to him wanting to be healed and he healed them. At times as I read this I was baffled because I thought salvation should be his main concern, but then I also forget that serving others is his strong desire. He still obviously wants all people to be saved, but his desire is to serve others. He did want to help people. He wanted to give them what they requested. But, this doesn't mean that all people must be healed of their problems in order to live good lives. But, that's another idea.

For Jesus, to further clarify ultimately what it means for him to serve us is He wanted to give His life a ransom for many. While we need to see Him as an example of one that did serve and therefore, we need to also want to serve others, ultimately Jesus' purpose of giving his life as a ransom for many describes the greatest type of service that a person can do. It is also something that only Jesus could do. We cannot copy this type of service for none of us are worthy to give our lives as a ransom for many.

A ransom is a price paid to secure the release of captives from a captor.  To see justice served is something we all love to see. We love to watch prisoners held captive released. There are stories like Louis Zamperini whereby he was a prisoner of war and then became freed that thrill us. I saw two movies on this. The first one Unbroken detailed his imprisonment in World War II. The second movie, Unbroken: A path to redemption detailed his imprisonment from his addictions and his restless existence following that imprisonment. Eventually, he was saved by realizing that Jesus had died for him. In both movies, there was a thrilling release that took place. We will often watch movies like Kidnap that show someone being taken against their will and then released. We love those stories. This is what Jesus did for many. He gave his own life, dying on the cross, being scourged and spit and mocked. He gave up his own good life, at the prime of his life at the age of 33, for me. He has set me free.

I also noticed something interesting here in Jesus' words. He says, a ransom for many. He does not say a ransom for all. This seems to speak to the idea that Jesus died for a certain number of people and not everyone would be saved. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says that "Christ died for all." Yes, Jesus died for all. Every person has the same means necessary for salvation. Yet full salvation or full freedom or the complete ransom happens for many, not all. This is not a popular message today. What I call the American version of the gospel is Jesus will save the majority and only what society calls as the really bad people (murderers, serial killers, rapists, child pornographers) will not be saved. On the contrary, all have sinned, the road is narrow that leads to eternal life, and so many will be saved, but not all. I would venture to say that most will reject him.

Summary - Jesus shows that he can be an example of what he means by greatness, namely that greatness is found in serving others, not being served. And ultimately he offered the greatest example in this, though one that cannot be copied, by being a ransom for many. Man was captive in his sin, but Jesus released us from being captive. He died for all, but only some are saved.   

Promise:  Christ’s death was a ransom that secured our release from our bondage to sin.

Prayer: Lord, the ransom you paid for me, setting me free is more than I will ever understand or deserve. Thank you for choosing me to be your child. That I am one of the many amazes me. I pray that I would honor you in all I do.