Hanging out with Jesus XX: Marvelous in our Eyes

Hanging out with Jesus XX:  Marvelous in our Eyes

Mark 11:27-33; Mark 12

Key 12:11-12

Jesus was back at the temple the third day prepared to defend his actions and expose the hypocrisy of his critics. The Religious leaders quizzed and interrogated him on several issues.  They came to ask tricky questions and they got answers that left them with nothing more to say. What they did not realize was that Jesus was not only a provider of answers but was the answer.  They asked with wrong motives but for everyone genuinely looking for answers/solutions to life problems and puzzles Jesus is the answer. He is the answer for all times.  The following are the questions he was asked.

First Question: Authority

 Firstly the Chief priests, the scribes and the elders came to him (Mark 11:27-33). They did not accuse him of the losses he caused to the temple businesses, and the disruption of public order.  What they cared about was the source, reason and boundaries of his authority.  They wanted to know who gave him the right and permission to do what he did.  Who was he submitting to and serving. Who is behind you? They understood authority as delegated. They thought they could know who they were dealing with when they knew who they were serving. When you follow Jesus, your life will be puzzling to someone and will be asked to explain your secret to peace, joy and progress.

 Jesus asked them to say if John the Baptist was from heaven or of man. That would not tell the answer and neither would he tell them the source of his authority.  We however know that they were not prepared to receive his answer anyway. They were looking for ways to discredit him in the eyes of his many admirers. He has already indicated that  drove the temple ‘thieves’ out based on Isaiah 56:7.  The religious leaders were exposed as people who no longer had respect for the authority of the scriptures. Let the Scriptures be our authority (1 Corinthians 4:6) and the establishment of God’s kingdom its purpose. 

Jesus instead of answering their question shared a parable.  A master who panted and secured a vineyard and assigned servants to care for it while he went away.  Later when he sent his servants to receive fruit they beat them up, tortured and killed some. He sent his son and they killed him too. The master was extremely patient at a high price. Eventually he destroyed the servants and appointed a new team. The master re asserted his authority. The authority they were resisting and rejecting became the one enforced without which nothing was done.  It became pivotal, a primary pillar and cornerstone (v.10-11).  When God reverses the gains of his enemies, it is marvelous. He warned them by this parable that despite rejecting him he would be the cornerstone and the centerpiece (Daniel 2:35-36; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6).

This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous (Thawmastos) in our eyes (V.11)?  The doing of the Lord reverses the gains of our enemies. When it’s the Lord at work, it will be marvelous. He does mighty things. He continuously does great things.  Awesome is his name.

Second Question: Taxes

Teach time Jesus answered a question the people were amazed... Marvelous is the doing if The Lord.  The questions were tricky designed to discredit him and question his integrity (v.13).  The second question was asked by the Pharisees and the Herodians. Both groups were not comfortable with Jesus and eventually they would conspire to kill him.  For them to come together was an unusual combination because they had issues between themselves.   Their question was on a very contentious issue of the day.  Shall we give or shall we not give taxes to Caesar?  They wanted a direct answer not a parable.  Jesus answered if the money has Caesar’s image give to Caesar what belongs to him and to God what belonged to God.  What belongs to God is what bears his image. That is people for they where made in God’s image.  Give Caesar taxes but allegiance to God. Every person should completely give himself to God that is what matters most.

Third Question: Life after death

Next to come to ask Jesus were the Sadducees (v24). They did not believe in the resurrection. The religious tradition was that if a husband died without a child the wife could be married to the deceased brother. So wanted to know whose wife a woman who at the end of her life had married seven brothers would be when they all meet in the after life.  Jesus advised that their reasoning was erroneous because of two reasons (v.24, 25).

>>not knowing the scriptures. These people saw themselves as experts on the scriptures. So it was like saying to a judge you do not know the law.  They were ignorant of the human state in heaven where there is no marriage to one another.

>> Not knowing the power of God. They assumed God was limited to natural laws. They rationalized everything. Resurrection is possible because to God nothing is possible.

The two points of departure from truth are not to know the scriptures and the power of God. Holding on to one at the expense of the other leads to error.  Religion holds to a form of religion that denies God’s power.  True worshipers shall worship in Spirit and truth. Disciples of Christ should therefore embrace both the full gospel and the full power of God.  Being richly indwelt by God’s word and able to release faith to move in his power.

Question 4: Greatest commandment

Next to come was a Scribe who asked what the greatest commandment was (v.28). Jesus replied that it was to love God with all your heart, your soul, your mind and all strength. and your neighbor as yourself (29-31). God looks for those who love him and others passionately not just by fulfilling religious duty.   The Scribe admitted Jesus had said it well.  Jesus commended him for not being far from the kingdom (v.34).  We can only hope he later arrived into the kingdom. Near is not enough.

The common people heard him gladly (v.37). He explained that David referred to him as my Lord. He also warned them to beware the scribes who love public impressions with their dress and long prayers but in private devour widows’ houses.  

An occasion to illustrate what he had been teaching as he answered the questions in the temple presented itself when people filed to give their temple offerings. Unlike religious leaders who devoured widows, houses Jesus commended a widow who gave only two mites (v. 42-44). He commended her sacrifice for she gave all she had.  Her widow’s mite plus faith became a widow’s might.

One who loves God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength will not hesitate to give all he/she has.  Such one will remember to give him/herself to God fully because they bear his image. Such one will know the scriptures and God’s power.  Chose to be the one.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa