Last week we heard Jesus being challenged several times by the religious leaders. Now He raised His own question for them, while continuing to teach in the temple in Jerusalem (Mark 12:35-37). Among Jews, it was widely accepted that the Messiah, the promised Savior, would be from the line of King David, a “son of David,” in that sense. He would be a great man and a great leader, like David, and bring freedom from the Romans and all those who oppressed the Jews.
Jesus quoted from Psalm 110:1, a Psalm of David: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies under Your feet.’” Jesus also pointed out that David spoke and wrote by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, as did all of the Biblical writers. In this verse, David called the coming one his Lord. How could this coming one be a “son of David," a descendant of David, and yet also David’s Lord? The only way this could happen would be if the promised Savior would be God the Son, Who sat at the right hand of God the Father, and yet became a real human man, while still being God. He would do His saving work (defeating the power of sin and Satan and death, not political powers) and then return to heaven and be seated again in glory as Lord at the right hand of God the Father.
This teaching, that Jesus was true God and true man, was very important in the New Testament. Portions of Psalm 110:1 are quoted at least 15 times. See Acts 2:31-36 and Philippians 2:5-11 as descriptions of all this. When Jesus spoke these words in Mark 12, the people were glad to hear Him, but they likely did not understand what He was really claiming for Himself. (Listen to this week’s sermon, too, on Mark 4:35-41, to see how Jesus’ disciples often did not really understand and get what Jesus was teaching them, at least at first.)
Because Jesus had often been questioned and challenged by scribes, He then went on to give people a warning about the scribes (Mark 12:38-40). Scribes tended to want to have the best places, wherever they were, so that they could be seen and honored and be given glory by others. (See Matthew 6:1-2 and 23:27-28.)
Scribes also made money for themselves by charging fees for prayers they said and other things they did for people. They apparently often took advantage of widows and the poor, by manipulating them into paying such fees, even when the people had very little money. Jesus warned of condemnation for charging for the free gifts of God for personal glory and gain, and focusing self-interest, instead of caring for others, especially the poor and needy.
Jesus also spent some time in the court of the women in the temple, where people put offerings in 13 offering boxes there (Mark 12:41-44). Rich people sometimes put in large offerings. They had lots of money, though, and hardly sacrificed anything of the wealth they had. Jesus also noticed a poor widow who had only two tiny coins, worth less than a penny. She put in both of these coins, all that she had, and must have just trusted that God would still take care of her, somehow. She thus gave more, in God’s eyes, than the rich with their bigger gifts but little sacrifice. (This is the pattern for giving in other places in the New Testament. See 2 Corinthians 8:12 and 9:7-8 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, for example. God loves a cheerful giver, who gives freely as he chooses, as the widow did.)
As Mark 13 begins, Jesus had left the temple, and one of His disciples called attention to the magnificence and massive stones of the temple. The Jewish historian, Josephus, wrote that some of the stones were 37 feet long, 12 fee high and 18 feet long. It was a marvelous building; but Jesus predicted that it was all going to be destroyed, with not one stone left upon another (Mark 13:1-2).
Some of the disciples asked when this would be and what sign would show that this would soon happen (Mark 13:3-4). Jesus then went into a prophecy of what was to come, with the destruction of the temple, but also troubles for the disciples as they later went out to tell people of Him as Savior, and even some words about the end of all things and the return of Jesus on the last day. This prophecy went on through the end of Chapter 13.
A key theme of this prophecy was to ”be on guard” and watch out for false teachers who will seek to lead people astray (Mark 13:5-6). Jesus also gave examples of “signs of the times” which would happen before the end. These are events that we see again and again throughout the years after the time of Christ: wars and rumors of wars, nations against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms, and earthquakes and famines. We still see all these things today, too. These are reminders that we may be near the end and need to be watchful and prepared all the time, by continual trust in our Lord. These are only the beginning, with more to come (Mark 13:7-8).
Again, Jesus told His disciples to be on guard. This time, He began to talk about the trials and troubles the disciples themselves would have in the future: beatings in synagogues, being delivered over to councils, and standing before governors and kings.
They would be bearing witness to Jesus, with the goal that the Gospel would eventually be proclaimed to all nations. (This is the plan of God still be carried out today and until the return of Jesus. It includes us and anything we can do to get the Good News of Jesus out to others of every nation, too) (Mark 13:9-10).
Jesus also predicted that some of the disciples would be delivered over and brought to trial, just because they were Christians. But they were not to be anxious about what to say, because the Holy Spirit would be with them and guide them (Mark 13:11). Other Scriptures tell us to do what we can to be prepared to make a defense of the hope we have in Jesus. We can study God’s Word and learn Bible passages and practice talking about our faith. See 1 Peter 3:15. But the Holy Spirit will also be with us to help us find the right things to say at the right time.
Next week, we will hear more about the destruction of Jerusalem, and how this prophecy helped the early Christians to escape these troubles. And we are called to be awake and on guard for the very end times and the return of Jesus on the last day.
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