A Peak Behind the Curtain

14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.” – Mark 13:14-23 ESV

The disciples had asked what they thought was a simple question, hoping for a simple answer.

“Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?” – Mark 13:4 NLT

But Jesus rarely, if ever, gave simple answers. The four disciples who asked this question while sitting on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem were anxious to know the exact timing of the temple’s destruction. Jesus’ earlier announcement of this event had left them stunned and more than a little bit concerned. But Jesus gave them a highly condensed overview of the eschatological future. He pieced together a host of end-times events that would culminate with His Second Coming.

The disciples believed Jesus to be their long-awaited Messiah, and they fully expected Him to set up His Kingdom on earth in their lifetimes. That is why they had been upset by His repeated references to His death in Jerusalem.  His mention of the destruction of Jerusalem further frustrated their hopes of a restored and revitalized Israel. These men lived in the here and now, with their hopes focused on the immediate inauguration of the Messiah’s reign and their personal participation in His new Kingdom.

Yet, Jesus wanted them to know that there was far more going on than they realized. He had not come to set up an earthly Kingdom, at least, not yet. Other events had to occur before He took His rightful place on the throne of David in Jerusalem, and Jesus mentioned one such event: “the abomination of desolation” Mark 13:14 ESV). Whether the disciples understood this reference is unclear. But Jesus, well acquainted with the Hebrew scriptures, used a prophecy from the ancient book of Daniel.

“And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” – Daniel 9:26-27 ESV

This prophecy was partially fulfilled in 167 BC, when Antiochus Epiphanes, the king of the Seleucid Empire, profaned the temple in Jerusalem by erecting an altar to Zeus and slaughtering swine on it. This blatant desecration of the temple was followed by a series of other devastating decrees, including the criminalization of the rite of circumcision and the requirement of all Jews to offer sacrifices to Zeus. These unacceptable demands infuriated the Jews and ultimately led to the Maccabean revolt.

The book of 1 Maccabees chronicles the actions of King Antiochus.

44 The king also sent edicts by messenger to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, directing them to adopt customs foreign to the country, 45 banning burnt offerings, sacrifices and libations from the sanctuary, profaning Sabbaths and feasts, 46 defiling the sanctuary and everything holy, 47 building altars, shrines and temples for idols, sacrificing pigs and unclean beasts, 48 leaving their sons uncircumcised, and prostituting themselves to all kinds of impurity and abomination, 49 so that they should forget the Law and revoke all observance of it. 50 Anyone not obeying the king's command was to be put to death. 54 On the fifteenth day of Chislev in the year 145 the king built the appalling abomination on top of the altar of burnt offering; and altars were built in the surrounding towns of Judah 55 and incense offered at the doors of houses and in the streets. 56 Any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned. 57 Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, the king's decree sentenced him to death.

58 Month after month they took harsh action against any offenders they discovered in the towns of Israel. 59 On the twenty-fifth day of each month, sacrifice was offered on the altar erected on top of the altar of burnt offering. 60 Women who had had their children circumcised were put to death according to the edict 61 with their babies hung round their necks, and the members of their household and those who had performed the circumcision were executed with them.

62 Yet there were many in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food. 63 They chose death rather than contamination by such fare or profanation of the holy covenant, and they were executed. 64 It was a truly dreadful retribution that visited Israel. – 1 Maccabees 1:44-64

But like many Old Testament prophecies, the prophecy in Daniel had a now-not-yet aspect. While Antiochus's actions partially fulfilled Daniel’s predictions, Jesus revealed that this prophecy had a future element that remained unfulfilled. When Jesus prophesied about the destruction of the temple, His words also included a now-not-yet dimension. Just over 40 years later, Titus destroyed the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, but this was only a partial fulfillment of Jesus’ words. The disciples were being given a glimpse of the distant future, when the full scope of Jesus’ predictions would unfold.

Jesus was revealing events that must take place before His second coming and the establishment of His earthly Kingdom. Another desecration of the temple will occur, but not in the disciples' lifetimes. This future event will precede His return and usher in a time of great tribulation on the earth that Jesus described as an unprecedented period of suffering.

“For there will be greater anguish in those days than at any time since God created the world. And it will never be so great again.” – Mark 13:19 NLT

He warns that those who are alive when it happens should do everything in their power to run for their lives.

“Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. And pray that your flight will not be in winter.” – Mark 13:14-18 NLT

The Daniel passage Jesus referred to also spoke of “one who makes desolate” (Daniel 9:27 ESV). This individual will wield great power and become “the prince who is to come” who  “shall destroy the city and the sanctuary” (Daniel 9:26 ESV). This future world leader will be the Antichrist, who will appear on the scene at the beginning of the seven years of Tribulation. He will rise to power, make a treaty with the nation of Israel, and use his great influence to coordinate the reconstruction of the temple in Jerusalem. For three-and-a-half years, the Jews will enjoy a revitalized sacrificial system and a period of relative peace, but then all hell will break loose. The Antichrist will abruptly break his treaty with Israel, turning his wrath against God’s people, set up an idol of himself in the temple, and launch an all-out offensive against all those who refuse to worship him. This will begin a period of great tribulation like nothing the world has ever seen.

Knowing this news left His disciples stunned, Jesus assured them that God will intervene.

“…unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a single person will survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days.” – Mark 13:20 NLT

Even during those dark days, God will choose to redeem a remnant from among His people, setting them apart as His own. The church, made up primarily of Gentile believers, will have been removed from the earth just before the period known as the Tribulation. With the Rapture of the church, the only ones remaining on earth will be God’s chosen people, the Jews, and unbelieving Gentiles. Yet God will continue to redeem and rescue, resulting in the salvation of many from every tribe, nation, and tongue, many of whom will become martyrs at the hands of the Antichrist. But those days will last only as long as God has ordained, and they will culminate with the return of His Son and the establishment of His earthly Kingdom.

Jesus ended this stark information dump by warning His disciples to be wary. The days ahead would be dark and difficult. In a very short time, He will offer His life as a sacrifice for mankind's sins. He will die on a Roman cross and then be raised back to life and return to His Father’s side in heaven, but He will promise to return one day. Jesus wanted His disciples to know that rumors will arise about His return. After His departure, some will claim to be Him, but they are liars and deceivers and should be ignored. These charlatans may even perform signs and wonders, giving credibility to their claims. But they are to be rejected because the Tribulation must take place before Jesus returns again. 

Peter, James, John, and Andrew had asked, “What will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” (Mark 13:4 ESV). Jesus answered: the Tribulation will be the sign of His Second Coming. But another vital step must take place before that sign can be fulfilled. 

“…the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead.” – Mark 8:31 NLT

Jesus had to die because it was the purpose for which He came. His sacrificial, atoning death was the key to humanity’s restoration to a right relationship with God. His substitutionary death was the only way to satisfy God's just and righteous wrath against the sins of man. The disciples couldn’t wrap their minds around that thought. It made no sense and didn’t fit their expectations of the Messiah. And even after Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose back to life, the disciples would have a difficult time letting go of their expectations for Him to set up His Kingdom during their lifetimes. Just prior to Jesus’ ascension, the disciples revealed their lack of understanding. 

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” – Acts 1:6 NLT

They were still waiting for emancipation from Roman rule and the reestablishment of the Davidic dynasty. But Jesus reminded them not to worry about the end but to focus on their mission.

“The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:6-8 NLT

And Jesus reminded Peter, Andrew, James, and John, “Be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand” (Mark 13:23 ESV). He had given them a glimpse of the future so they would stay faithful in the present. The days ahead would be difficult, but they were all part of God’s grand plan of redemption, and they would have a significant role to play. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

An Unexpected Commendation

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” 

1 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” – Mark 12:41-13:2 ESV

Jesus and His disciples remained in the temple courtyard, where He faced a series of confrontations with the religious leaders who had been trying to entrap Him. In a bold affront to their arrogant sense of superiority, Jesus labeled their self-righteous displays as nothing more than hypocrisy.

“…they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets.” – Mark 12:38-39 NLT

These men were addicted to fine clothes and flattery. They craved recognition and demanded respect from the peasant class, whom they considered inferior. In stark contrast, Jesus directs His disciples' attention to a poor widow. From His position opposite the temple treasury, He silently watched people bring their offerings and place them in one of the 13 trumpet-shaped receptacles arranged around the perimeter of the Courtyard of the Women.

As Jesus looked on, people dropped their freewill offerings into the boxes. Many of these individuals were wealthy and donated large sums of money. Mark suggests they did so to attract attention, intending their contributions to be noticed. Since Jewish currency was in the form of coins, their gift would have made a great deal of noise as it clanged against the metal trumpet topping the offering box. All heads would have turned to see who gave such a generous amount.

But Jesus takes note of a poor widow, who “came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny” (Mark 12:42 ESV). This woman’s small gift would have drawn little attention from the people crowding the temple courtyard, but it caught Jesus' eye. She was exactly the kind of person He had mentioned in His diatribe against the scribes.

“Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public.” – Mark 12:40 NLT

The scribes and other religious leaders would have taken advantage of this widow to line their own pockets. Yet to Jesus, she represented true righteousness. Her two small coins would have made little noise as they descended into the offering box, but to Jesus, her actions spoke volumes. So, He pointed her out to His disciples and said, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box” (Mark 12:43 ESV).

It wasn’t the size of her gift that mattered; it was the state of her heart. She didn't give to be noticed. Her gift was not meant to impress. But Jesus knew her offering was a great sacrifice because she had “given everything she had to live on” (Mark 12:44 NLT). This entire scene visually demonstrates Jesus’ lesson from His Sermon on the Mount.

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.” – Matthew 6:1-2 NLT

This woman, though poor, gave God the best of what she had, and she did so willingly. But because the others gave “out of their abundance” (Mark 12: 44 ESV), it cost them nothing. Their gifts, while impressive in size, required no sacrifice on their part. They had actually profited from their efforts, having garnered the praise and admiration of others for their obviously generous contributions.

By pointing out this widow to His disciples, Jesus continued His lesson on greatness in the Kingdom of God. But His disciples remained stubbornly oblivious to what He was trying to teach them. In fact, as they left the temple courtyard, none of the disciples mentioned the widow or her sacrificial gift. But one of them took note of the temple's grandeur and opulence.

“Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” – Mark 13:1 ESV

The temple was a magnificent complex that made an impressive sight from its prominent location atop Mount Zion. The Jews took great pride in this grand structure, and the disciples were rightfully proud of and impressed by its sheer size and beauty. After all, it was God's dwelling place.

The image of the poor widow had faded from their collective memories. Now, as they made their way out of the temple and back to the Mount of Olives, their attention was fixated on the structure that Herod the Great had helped expand and improve. The Babylonians destroyed the original temple built by King Solomon in 587 B.C. Seventy years later, God allowed a remnant of the people exiled to Babylon to return and rebuild the temple. But when it was completed, the new temple was only a shadow of its former glory. Herod the Great, trying to win over the people, decreed a massive rebuilding program that produced the grand structure that now dominated the landscape and captivated the disciples' attention.

But Jesus, always ready to turn every moment into a teaching opportunity, told His disciples, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (Mark 13:2 ESV). As will become apparent, this news shocked the disciples. They couldn’t believe what they were hearing. How could God allow His beautiful house to be destroyed? But as hard as this news was to fathom, everything Jesus said eventually came true. In A.D. 70, the Roman army, under the leadership of Titus, besieged Jerusalem to end a long-standing Jewish revolt against Roman rule. After a three-month standoff, the Romans invaded the city, destroying and eventually burning the temple to the ground. They left no stone upon another.

The disciples had been unimpressed with the generous widow, but they couldn’t help noticing the temple's grandeur. But Jesus commended the woman and condemned the temple. To Jesus, she was an icon of righteousness and virtue, while He declared the temple to be the symbol of all that was wrong with Israel. Earlier, Jesus had declared the temple of God to be a “den of robbers” (Mark 11:17 ESV). The dwelling place of God had been desecrated by the ones responsible for its care and protection.

Jesus reminded His disciples of God's words, spoken centuries earlier through the prophet Isaiah and directed at Israel's rebellious people.

“‘Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. It’s a lie! Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are safe!”—only to go right back to all those evils again? Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the LORD, have spoken!’” – Jeremiah 7;8-11 NLT

Nothing had changed. Just as God destroyed the original temple, so this remarkable structure would come under His judgment, because God’s people had failed to live in obedience to His will.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Called Out and Condemned

35 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
    until I put your enemies under your feet.”’

37 David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.

38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” – Mark 12:35-40 ESV

Up until this point, the Jewish religious leaders have been asking all the questions, but now Jesus turns the tables on them. In verse 34, Mark indicates that, after three failed attempts to entrap Jesus, “no one dared to ask him any more questions.” They simply gave up, but they didn’t go away.

As Jesus continued to teach in the temple, He posed a question of His own. Matthew indicates that He directed it at a group of nearby Pharisees. This was probably the same group who had shown up with the scribe who asked Him which was the greatest commandment. These men were still standing close enough to hear Jesus and likely plotting their next move against Him. They have completely discounted any notion that Jesus might be the Messiah. This matters because it sheds light on the question Jesus poses.

“How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?” – Mark 12:35 ESV

Each of the three gospel writers who record this event records Jesus’ question slightly differently. Matthew reports that Jesus directed His question at the Pharisees, asking them, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” (Matthew 23:42 ESV). Luke records Jesus asking, “How can they say that the Christ is David’s son?” (Luke 20:41 ESV). It seems likely that Jesus posed a series of questions, but the gospel authors each emphasized a different facet of the same question.

First, He asked the Pharisees what they believed about the Messiah or Christ. After all, these men were the religious conservatives of their day and revered for their knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures. According to Matthew, they quickly declared that the Christ would be “the son of David” (Matthew 22:42 ESV). Jesus then asked the Pharisees to explain how the scribes, the experts in the Mosaic Law, could justify their belief that the Christ would be the son of David. All of these men were supposed to have a strong grasp of the Old Testament Scriptures, and they shared a common belief that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David. But how could they justify it from God’s Word?

Jesus knew they would use 2 Samuel 7:12-16, which records a promise that God had made to King David.

“When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” – 2 Samuel 7:12-16 ESV

While this promise was partly fulfilled with the birth of Solomon, the Jews believed it had longer-term implications that would ultimately come about through the arrival of the Messiah, God's anointed one.

Keep in mind that Jesus has already publicly shamed these men, declaring them to be ignorant of God’s Word and strangers to the power of God.

“…you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.” – Mark 12:24 NLT

Their understanding that the Messiah would be a descendant of David drove their expectation that He would be a powerful king and ruler like His predecessor. They fully expected the Messiah to arrive and wield a sword, just as David had, conquering Israel's enemies and restoring God's people to their former prominence in the Middle East.

But Jesus turns to the Old Testament Scriptures to teach a vital truth about the Messiah. He quotes from the opening verse of Psalm 110, a psalm written by King David himself.

The Lord says to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.” – Psalm 110:1 ESV

In His ongoing confrontations with the religious leaders, Jesus has been subtly revealing the justification for HIs authority. This whole situation began when the chief priests, scribes, and elders confronted Him over His cleansing the temple. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” (Mark 11:28 NLT). In every subsequent conversation Jesus had with these men, He gave them glimpses of who He was by revealing His knowledge of God’s Word and declaring Himself to be “The stone that the builders rejected” (Mark 12:10 ESV). Through a parable, Jesus described Himself as the son of the master of the vineyard, and the Pharisees had fully understood His meaning,

But here, Jesus uses the words of King David to make an important point about the Messiah that these learned men had somehow overlooked in their study of Scripture.

Jesus notes that, in the psalm, David refers to his coming descendant as “my Lord.” In Hebrew the text reads, “Jehovah has said to my Lord (‘adown).” In other words, David records that God made His promise to David’s future descendant. But Jesus asks these learned men why David would call this man his “Lord” or Adonai, one of the most common names in the Old Testament for God.  So, Jesus wants to know why David used this particular word to refer to a man. Secondly, why would God offer a mere man a position of prominence at His side?

“Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet?” – Mark 12:36 ESV

Jesus reveals that there is more going on in this passage than the scribes and Pharisees understood. The Messiah would not only be the son of David, but also David’s Adonai (Lord and Master). In other words, the Messiah would be the Son of Man and the Son of God, the God-man who was fully divine and fully human. Even King David understood that his future descendant would have a unique relationship with God, greater than anything he had ever experienced.

Jesus summarized His point by asking these experts in the Hebrew Scriptures to explain how this could be.

“David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” – Mark 12:37 ESV

But sensing a trap, the religious leaders refused to answer; their earlier attempts to debate with Jesus had left them looking like fools. Yet Mark indicates that the crowd who overheard this conversation loved what Jesus had to say. To a certain degree, they probably enjoyed watching the public humiliation of these arrogant men, who prided themselves on their vast knowledge of the Bible and flaunted their superior righteousness. Then, to the onlookers’ delight, Jesus dropped another bombshell.

“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” – Mark 12:38-40 ESV

Mark presents a very abbreviated recounting of Jesus’ teaching, leaving out the seven “woes” that Matthew records. After enduring a constant barrage of condemnation from these religious leaders, Jesus turned the spotlight on them. According to Matthew’s account, Jesus essentially told the crowd to “do as they say, but not as they do.”

“The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.” – Matthew 23:2-4 NLT

In other words, these men taught the law of God, but failed to live up to it. They could proclaim the truth of God’s Word but had no desire to let it influence how they lived. In Matthew’s account, Jesus calls these men hypocrites and blind guides. They were frauds and, worse, like blind men, futilely trying to guide others.

Jesus accused them of caring more about their reputations than about obeying God’s will. They loved being recognized for their fine robes, coveted their celebrity status, and were addicted to honor and recognition. It was all about them, and Jesus declares that these men will receive greater condemnation. God would hold them accountable for their pride and arrogant mistreatment of His people.

These men had no right to question Jesus' authority. He was the Son of God and was doing the will of God. But they were supposed to be God's servants, caring for the flock He had placed under their care. Yet, they had failed miserably. But Jesus, the Son of David and the Son of God, would faithfully fulfill His Father's will, sacrificing His life for the sake of His Father’s flock.

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” – John 6:38 ESV

But they refused to acknowledge Him as the Messiah, the Son of David and their Lord and Master. As a result, Jesus would issue this stinging rebuke:

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” – John 8:42-47 ESV

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Failure to Listen

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 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 oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. – Mark 12:28-34 ESV

The Sadducees fared no better than the Pharisees and Herodians. Jesus handled their carefully crafted question with ease, revealing that their misunderstanding of the doctrine of the resurrection stemmed from their ignorance of the Scriptures. These men were supposed to be the brightest and the best that Israel had to offer. They were considered the spiritual rock stars of their day, revered for their knowledge, power, and influence. Yet, Jesus exposed them as pretenders who were ignorant of God’s Word and unaware of His power.

“Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?” – Mark 12:24 ESV

The Jewish high council had two strikes against them, but they were far from ready to concede defeat. Matthew records that they quickly assembled a third team made up of Pharisees, one of whom was a scribe, an expert in the Mosaic law.

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” – Matthew 22:34-36 NLT

According to the Rabbis, the Mosaic Law contained 613 commands, 365 positive and 248 negative. Israel’s religious scholars commonly categorized these laws by weight, classifying them as either heavy or light. Some laws were considered more important than others, and these men enjoyed debating which of the 613 laws mattered most.

By posing this question to Jesus, the scribe was trying to put Him on the spot by forcing Him to reveal what He considered the greatest of all God’s laws. But without a moment’s hesitation, Jesus responded by quoting Moses.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-5 ESV

This well-known passage was one all Jews were expected to recite twice daily as part of their prayers. It was known as the Shema, which is the Hebrew word for “Hear,” the first word in the verse.

This passage was meant to remind them of the covenant relationship between Yahweh and His chosen people. He was to be their only God, and they were expected to give Him their full and unwavering allegiance. Every aspect of their lives was to reflect their faithful commitment to Him. It’s fair to assume this scribe considered himself fully compliant with this command, and so did the rest of the Pharisees who sent him. So, Jesus added a second part to His answer, quoting from another part of the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses that they so greatly revered.

“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” – Leviticus 19:18 ESV

They were to love God, but they were also to show love to their neighbor. This second part of Jesus’ answer was meant to expose a flaw in these self-righteous religious leaders' thinking. They could easily proclaim their love for God, but proving their love for others was far more difficult. Luke records an earlier encounter Jesus had with another scribe who came to Jesus wanting to know what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responded by asking what the Mosaic law said, and the man quoted from the same passages Jesus used: Deuteronomy 6 and Leviticus 19.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” – Luke 10:27 ESV

Jesus commended the man for his answer, telling him, “Do this, and you will live” (Luke 10:28 ESV). But this led the man to seek clarification, asking Jesus what the law meant by “neighbor.” In essence, he wanted Jesus to narrow the definition so compliance with the law would be feasible. But Jesus answered with the parable of the Good Samaritan, which describes a man attacked by thieves and left for dead. In the story, a priest and a Levite both encounter the man lying on the side of the road, but choose to ignore his plight. But when a Samaritan sees the man, he stops and administers aid, even covering the cost of his convalescence at a nearby inn. When Jesus asked the scribe which of these three men “proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” (Luke 10:36 ESV), the scribe answered, “The one who showed him mercy” (Luke 10:37 ESV). Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise” (Luke 10:37 ESV).

In Leviticus 19, God requires the Jews to love their neighbor as they loved themselves, leaving no room for them to decide who their neighbor might be. This wasn’t about loving the lovely or those who loved you in return. Jesus had earlier told His disciples, “Do to others as you would like them to do to you. If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!” (Luke 6:32-33 NLT).

The apostle John later expanded on this idea, declaring that failing to love others was evidence of a lack of love for God.

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. – 1 John 4:20 ESV

So, when Jesus combined these two commandments, He indicated that it was impossible to love God without expressing selfless love for others. That is why He told the scribe, “There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31 ESV). These two laws went hand in hand and were inseparable. But the scribes and Pharisees were guilty of expressing their deep love and affection for God while treating their “neighbors” as second-class citizens. They looked down on the lower classes, viewing them as ignorant and incapable of living up to God’s holy standards as revealed in His law. These self-righteous men regularly attacked Jesus for associating with tax collectors and prostitutes, and viewed His love for these people as sin. Yet Jesus told them that failing to love the unlovely was evidence of hatred for God.

Jesus' answer left the scribe with no choice but to agree with Him.

“Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.” – Mark 12:32-33 NLT

Jesus sensed that the man was beginning to see the light. He heard what Jesus said, and it made sense to him. So, Jesus responded, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34 NLT). Jesus was commending the scribe for his willingness to listen and learn. He had shown openness to the truth, a critical first step in understanding who Jesus was and what He had come to offer. Like the rest of the Sanhedrin, this man refused to believe Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, but he was willing to hear what Jesus had to say. 

When Jesus was baptized by John in the Judean wilderness, God spoke from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17 ESV). The entire crowd heard this divine proclamation of Jesus’ identity, but it didn’t register with everyone. Sometime later, Peter, James, and John were allowed to witness the transfiguration of Jesus and hear God say, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:35 ESV). It wasn’t enough to understand that Jesus was the Son of God; you also had to listen to Him. When Jesus spoke, He did so as God’s Son. He had authority, and His words had power over demons, waves, wind, disease, and even death. But this scribe likely never fully grasped the reality of Jesus’ identity and divinity. 

For the third time, the religious leaders swung and missed. They failed to trap Jesus with their cleverly worded questions; instead, he exposed their hypocrisy. By using the Scriptures against them, Jesus revealed their ignorance of God’s Word, which explained their inability to comprehend God’s power. The Son of God stood among them, but they failed to recognize Him. The Old Testament Scriptures they studied so diligently predicted the Messiah’s coming, but their hardened hearts blinded their eyes to His presence among them. The Kingdom of Heaven was near, but they couldn’t see it and would fail to enter it.

With their latest setback, the religious leaders called off their attack and no longer asked Jesus any questions. Their hatred for Him unabated, they came up with another strategy to plot His demise.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

God of the Living

18 And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the 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 God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.” – Mark 12:18-27 ESV

Driven by their mutual hatred for Jesus, the Pharisees and Herodians had set aside their long-standing differences and joined forces in a vain attempt to bring His ministry to an end. But they had failed. They had tried to expose Jesus as a political insurrectionist who stood opposed to the Roman government and its excessive taxation of the people of Israel. But these men misunderstood the nature of Jesus’ Kingdom; it was not of this world. He had not come to free Israel from slavery to Rome, but from slavery to sin and death. His mission was spiritual, not political. 

When the Pharisees and Herodians returned to the Sanhedrin and reported the results of their less-than-successful mission, a contingent of Sadducees replaced them. These men would form the second phase of their well-orchestrated attack on Jesus. The Sadducees were a powerful religious/political sect made up of the wealthy and influential upper class of Israel. They held the majority of the 70 seats in the Sanhedrin and controlled much of what happened in and around the temple. Their aristocratic mindset caused them to disdain the common man and to elevate themselves as members of the religious and political elite.

To preserve their superior status within the nation, the Sadducees became reluctant partners with Rome, willingly accepting its presence as a necessary evil. Compromise with Rome allowed them to maintain their control over the nation of Israel. The Sadducees were essentially a political party that dabbled in religion. While they strongly believed in the books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy), they rejected many established doctrines of the Hebrew religion.

For instance, they denied any resurrection of the dead, and this led them to reject the concept of an afterlife. They concluded that the soul perishes at death, eliminating any idea of future rewards or penalties. Therefore, their theology included no concept of heaven or hell. They also rejected any belief in an invisible spiritual realm populated by demons and angels. In a sense, they were the religious progressives of their day, espousing liberal views on a wide range of important doctrines that put them at odds with the more traditional Pharisees.

But since the Pharisees and Herodians failed in their mission to entrap Jesus, the more liberally minded Sadducees got their chance. They approached Jesus with a carefully concocted and convoluted story meant to expose His more conservative and antiquated religious views. These men knew that most of the peasant class also clung to traditional views on the doctrines of the afterlife and resurrection. So they made up a hypothetical story meant to reveal the absurdity of these beliefs.

But like the Pharisees and Herodians who preceded them, the Sadducees would meet their match in Jesus. While they saw Him as nothing more than an uneducated peasant from the backwater village of Nazareth, He would prove far more knowledgeable of the Scriptures and more than able to defend the doctrines of the resurrection and the afterlife.

Jesus had made many comments about eternal life. In fact, He told Nicodemus, a member of the Pharisees, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 ESV). He offered the Samaritan woman water that would permanently satisfy her thirst and provide her with eternal life.

“…whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” – John 4:14 ESV

More recently, Jesus told Martha, Lazarus's sister, that her dead brother would rise again.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” – John 11:25-26 ESV

These statements, and others like them, would have reached the Sadducees, and Jesus’ persistent claims regarding eternal life and the resurrection of the dead would have infuriated them. So, they decided to use their superior intelligence and vast knowledge of the Scriptures to expose Him as an uneducated fool. They set up their trap by recounting a well-known law of Moses.

“Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.”  – Mark 12:19 NLT

They were referring to the levirate law, as outlined in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. This law required that a man's brother, if the man died without a male heir, marry his brother’s widow. The law's primary purpose was to preserve the deceased's name and prevent the widow from becoming destitute. But to expose the ridiculous nature of belief in resurrection, the Sadducees devised a highly unlikely story. It involved a woman who ends up marrying seven different brothers, each of whom dies unexpectedly and prematurely, leaving her a widow without a male heir. Their strange tale ends with the woman’s death, and they summarized their story with a question:

“So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.” – Mark 12:23 NLT

You can almost see the smug expressions as they dropped this bombshell on the unsuspecting Rabbi from Nazareth. They knew they had Him. There was no way He could answer this confusing conundrum and maintain His naive belief in the resurrection.

Little did they know that their whole story was built around a false premise. Jesus was about to expose their ignorance regarding the doctrine of the resurrection, and it was because they did not understand God's Word. Jesus boldly proclaimed, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven” (Mark 12:24-25 NLT).

Jesus delivered a one-two combination that must have been a devastating blow to their overinflated egos. First, He accused them of not knowing the Mosaic Law. Then He added that they were ignorant of God’s power. Since they couldn’t fathom the idea of life after death, they simply discounted it. Despite their careful study of the books of Moses, they didn’t believe that Yahweh was God of the impossible. Instead, they viewed Him as limited in power and confined to interacting with men only in this life. 

Their primary error was trying to apply a temporal law to eternal matters. They were so obsessed with the here and now that they couldn’t conceive of a hereafter. Jesus had told the Pharisee, Nicodemus, “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (John 3:12 ESV). These men could not understand eternal truths. They tried to comprehend the ways of God through the cloudy lenses of their earthly perspective. Had he been around, the apostle Paul would have told them, “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” (Romans 11:33 NLT).

Their limited understanding had led to a limited view of God. They couldn’t conceive of an afterlife because they viewed it as implausible and impossible. They were intimately familiar with death and probably feared it. Since they couldn’t see what lay beyond the grave, they simply refused to acknowledge that anything was there. They concluded that this life was all there was.

The whole story they concocted rested on misconceptions and misinterpretations of Scripture. So Jesus told them there would be no marriage in the afterlife. It really didn’t matter how many husbands the fictitious widow had in this life because there will be no marriage in the next life. There will be no need to procreate and fill the earth. By virtue of His vast power, God will give resurrected, glorified bodies to all who live in His eternal Kingdom. Men and women will no longer be expected to bring new life into the world. Their God-given mandate to be fruitful and multiply will no longer apply.

Jesus adds another not-so-subtle clarification meant to expose another of the Sadducees’ errant beliefs. He states that, in the eternal state, men and women will be much more like angels than human beings. They will be divine creatures who can live in unbroken fellowship with God the Father for eternity. Like the angels, they will focus all their time and energy on His glory and offer Him ceaseless praise.

Jesus ends with a lesson on the Old Testament Scriptures. He takes them back to the writings of Moses, recounting the story of the burning bush as recorded in Exodus. There, in the Midianite wilderness, God appeared to Moses and called him to deliver His people. From the burning bush, God declared to Moses, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6 ESV). These three men had long been dead by the time Moses came along, yet God refers to Himself as their God, using the present tense, not the past tense. Jesus was trying to reveal to these so-called experts in the Pentateuch what they had missed. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were not gone; they had just been relocated; they were in God's presence.

Like the Pharisees and Herodian before them, the Sadducees failed. They proved no match for the Son of God. Having put all their hope in this life,  they couldn’t comprehend Jesus’ offer of eternal life. But the doctrine of the resurrection was central to Jesus’ teaching, and His resurrection from the dead would validate His offer of eternal life. The apostle Paul summed it up well.

…if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. – 1 Corinthians 15:13-20 NLT

Having rejected the doctrine of resurrection, the Sadducees unknowingly rejected the One who would make it possible. Their limited view of God and their flawed understanding of His word kept them from seeing and believing in the One who could give them eternal life. These men revered Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but couldn’t imagine that they were still alive. Yet, Jesus said His Father was “not God of the dead, but of the living” (Mark 12:27 ESV). In God’s Kingdom, death is not the end; it is the beginning. As Cody Carnes wrote in the chorus of his song, Christ Be Magnified, “death is just the doorway into resurrection life.” Christ has been raised from the dead and is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. God’s Word promised it, God’s Spirit fulfilled it, and, as Paul wrote, we can place our hope in it.

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. – Romans 8:11 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Give God His Due

13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him. – Mark 12:13-17 ESV

Jesus’ ransacking of the temple courtyard had caused quite a stir. As a result, His already strained relationship with the Jewish religious leaders took a turn for the worse. These men questioned His authority as well as His sanity, having earlier claimed that Jesus was possessed by a demon and in league with Satan. But when they met Him face to face, they found that He was anything but crazy. Jesus proved to be a formidable debater who, although an uneducated Rabbi from Nazareth, could stand toe-to-toe with the best and brightest members of the highly trained Sanhedrin. These professional religious scholars and experts in the Mosaic law found Jesus to be no pushover. In today’s passage, we see the Sanhedrin take a tag-team approach, sending wave after wave of their best thinkers to confront and confound this backwater Rabbi.

In Chapter 11, Mark recorded the first onslaught. He described the chief priests, scribes, and elders confronting Jesus in the Courtyard of the Gentiles. But their attempt to trap Jesus didn’t go well. This led the Sanhedrin to send another team made up of Pharisees and Herodians. This was a particularly strange alliance because these two groups were normally diametrically opposed. The Pharisees were a highly conservative religious sect, while the Herodians were essentially a political party that, as their name suggests, supported Herod Antipas, the Roman puppet king of Israel. To the Pharisees, the Herodians were sell-outs, whose support of Herod and willing tolerance of Roman rule greatly compromised Jewish independence.

Yet, these two opposing groups found unity in their shared hatred for Jesus. So, they made an unholy alliance, joining forces in an effort to trap Jesus. Luke adds that these “spies” were driven by a desire to find condemning evidence that would lead to Jesus’ arrest.

The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. – Luke 20:19-20 ESV

As soon as the Pharisees and Herodians began questioning Jesus, it was clear why the Sanhedrin paired these two groups together. The entire scene was a set-up that began with false flattery. They tried to lower Jesus’ defenses by stroking His ego.

“Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?” – Mark 12:14-15 NLT

Their reputation as enemies was well known, and that was part of their scheme. They led Jesus to believe that they needed Him to help settle a dispute over the Roman poll tax. The Pharisees saw this annual Roman-imposed tax as violating their own laws about the sabbatical year. This was a head tax that every Jew was required to pay each year, with no break during the seventh or sabbatical year. To the religiously-minded Pharisees, this tax was unacceptable. But to the Herodians, who supported the Roman government, it was a cost they were willing to pay because it helped maintain the peace.

But this entire “debate” was a ploy. The Pharisees must have assumed that Jesus was conservatively minded, just as they were, and would side with them. If He did, this would provide the Herodians with more than enough evidence to accuse Him of fomenting revolution against the Roman government. Their ultimate goal was to get Jesus in trouble with the civil authorities.

But “Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, ‘Why are you trying to trap me?’” (Mark 12:15 NLT). He was not fooled for a second. Their motives were painfully transparent, and Jesus refused to step into their poorly conceived trap. Instead, He asked to see a denarius, a Roman-minted coin. Jesus was about to turn their question regarding taxation into a lesson on veneration.

When they presented Him with the coin, Jesus asked a simple question: “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” (Mark 12:16 NLT, and they quickly responded, “Caesar.” What Jesus said next would leave them amazed.

“Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” – Mark 12:17 NLT

This was not what they expected to hear. With His response, Jesus neither favored nor opposed the poll tax. Instead, He turned the whole debate into a lesson on loyalty and spiritual faithfulness. The Herodians prioritized keeping the Roman-imposed laws; the Pharisees countered that God's laws took precedence over those of men. But Jesus was emphasizing that both groups were guilty of worshiping the wrong thing.

“The denarius of Tiberius portrayed the emperor as the semi-divine son of the god Augustus and the goddess Livia and bore the (abbreviated) inscription ‘Tiberius Caesar Augustus, Son of the Divine Augustus’ on the obverse and ‘Pontifex Maximus’ on the reverse. Both the representations and the inscriptions were rooted in the imperial cult and constituted a claim to divine honors.” – Lane, William L. The Gospel According to Mark. New International Commentary on the New Testament

For Jesus, this had nothing to do with taxation or Roman occupation; it was all about the heart. Both groups were guilty of false worship. In a sense, the Herodians worshiped Caesar because they believed he provided them with protection and allowed them to enjoy their relative power and freedom. On the other hand, the Pharisees worshiped their oral and written laws, treating them with greater veneration than the One who had originally given them to Moses.

Caesar required coins that bore his image as payment for services rendered. His troops kept the peace, his government provided social order and stability, and those who benefited from these amenities were expected to pay.

Jesus had no problem rendering unto Caesar what belonged to him. The coins bore his image, so they were rightfully his. But mankind bears the image of God and, therefore, rightfully belongs to Him. That is why Jesus said, “Give to God what belongs to God.”

God doesn’t need our money. He doesn’t even need our feeble attempts at religious rule-keeping and Pharisaical posturing. Jesus knew that the Pharisees were guilty of going through the motions and only pretending to revere and worship God, and He exposed them as nothing more than hypocritical posers.

“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’” – Matthew 15:7-8 NLT

Jesus took the conversation back to the issue of authority. Because of his position and power, Caesar had every right to demand a tax from the people he ruled. But God also had the authority to demand worship from those whom He had made. Every man and woman on the planet bore the Imago Dei (the image of God) and were expected to give God what rightfully belonged to Him: Their lives and their worship. Yet, as the apostle Paul disclosed, ever since the fall, mankind had repeatedly refused to render unto God what was rightfully His.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. – Romans 1:21-23 NLT

For Jesus, the issue was the religious leaders' failure to honor Him for who He was: the Son of God and the Savior of the world. While it’s doubtful that the Herodians viewed Caesar as a god, they treated him like one, showering him with veneration and willing subjugation. The Pharisees had made Judaism their god, and falsely believed that keeping its rules and regulations was the only hope of salvation. But both failed to recognize that God was among them. The Son of God had come to dwell with them, and all He asked was that they give Him what was due Him: Their lives and allegiance.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Authentic Authority

27 And 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 they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” 29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” 31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” – Mark 11:27-33 ESV

(Verse 26 is not included in the ESV translation because it does not appear in the most important ancient manuscripts of Mark’s Gospel. It is believed that Jewish scribes added it later so Mark’s gospel would align with Matthew's. See Matthew 6:13.)

For the disciples, it probably didn’t take long for the image of the withered fig tree to be replaced with the thought of wielding power that could cast mountains into the sea. These men had a habit of hearing only what they wanted to hear when Jesus spoke. The true meaning behind most of His lessons escaped them, and this one was no different.

When they had heard Jesus say, “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours” (Mark 11:24 NLT), they were probably thrilled. The very thought of having their every wish fulfilled just by asking God would have been a dream come true. It’s fair to assume the initial ideas that filled their heads weren't what Jesus had in mind.

So, as they left the withered tree behind and continued their trip into Jerusalem, the disciples were probably thinking about the incredible implications of what Jesus had just told them. But soon, they found themselves back in the temple courtyard, standing in the very place where Jesus had staged a one-man riot the day before. Less than 24 hours earlier, Jesus had ransacked the booths of the vendors selling overpriced sacrificial animals. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers, who charged high fees to thousands of foreign pilgrims who needed temple currency to buy their sacrificial offerings. Driven by righteous indignation and zeal for the holiness of His Father’s house, Jesus turned the carnival-like atmosphere of the temple courtyard into chaos and confusion.

When Jesus walked out of the temple complex after His attention-getting tirade, it seemed He would never return. If anything, He would be unwelcome and on the Sanhedrin’s watchlist. But He was back, and the first people to greet Him were “the chief priests and the scribes and the elders” (Mark 11:27 ESV). These were the representatives of the Sanhedrin, the high council of the Jews. This august body comprised some of the wealthiest and most influential men in Jerusalem. They were also members of the primary religious sects within Judaism: the Sadducees, Pharisees, and Essenes. Some were experts in the Mosaic Law, and all were knowledgeable of the Hebrew Scriptures. They were powerful men who wielded great authority and saw Jesus as a threat to their way of life. His little escapade the day before had been a public attack on the entire system of greed and graft for which they were responsible.

So, when they saw Jesus, they immediately confronted Him, demanding to know the reasons for His unacceptable and costly actions the day before.

“By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” – Mark 11:28 ESV

By this time, they had repaired the damage He had done the previous afternoon, and things had returned to normal. These men were probably there to protect their investments and to ensure there would be no repeat performance of the previous day’s disruptive and costly episode.

Their question to Jesus revolved around authority. In essence, they were asking Jesus to explain why He thought He had the right to do what He did. They also seemed to fear that He might do it again. His actions had been a direct assault on their authority as the religious leaders of Israel. In their minds, Jesus had invaded their territory and begun a war on their way of life. As the nation's supreme rulers, they saw His actions as nothing less than insurrection; He was attacking their right to rule, and they wanted to know what possessed Him to do it.

Jesus could have answered by declaring Himself the Son of God. He could have told them that He was the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, “the anointed one” (Hebrew – mashiyach). But He knew they would refuse to accept those answers. They had already determined that Jesus had no right to do what He did. He was a loose cannon, operating on His own initiative and in direct opposition to their authority, and nothing Jesus could say would change their minds.

So, Jesus made them a proposition. He offered to answer their question, but only if they could answer one He had for them.

“Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” – Mark 11:30 ESV

Jesus subtly changed the focus from Himself to John the Baptist. But notice that He kept the emphasis of His question on authority. By shifting their attention to John the Baptist, Jesus forced them to consider the true source of all authority.

John had burst onto the scene years earlier. This strangely dressed man had suddenly shown up in the Judean wilderness, preaching a message that the Kingdom of Heaven was near and calling the people of Israel to repentance. A large part of his ministry involved baptizing those were willing to repent and confess their sins.

People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. – Matthew 3:5-6 NLT

John had attracted large crowds of people, who believed him to be a prophet of God. Even Herod Antipas, the Roman-appointed puppet-king of Israel, had understood John’s reputation among the people.

Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet. – Matthew 14:5 NLT

Herod ultimately put John to death, but this did nothing to diminish John’s standing among the people. So, when Jesus asked the religious leaders to state the source of John’s authority to baptize, He knew they would refuse to answer. No matter what they said, they would find themselves in a no-win situation. These men had no love affair with John. After all, while he had been alive, he had treated them with disrespect and disdain. At one point, he had publicly humiliated them, calling them a “brood of snakes” and exposing them as spiritual frauds.

“Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” – Matthew 3:8-10 NLT

But if they said John was acting on his own initiative, they faced the people's ire. On the other hand, if they tried to placate the people by admitting that John’s authority was from heaven, it would imply that their opposition to John had really been aimed at God.

After weighing their options, the religious leaders decided that pleading ignorance was best. But when they failed to answer Jesus’ question, He refused to answer theirs. Their silence condemned them.

The truth was that John had been a prophet sent by God. Everything he said and did was on God's behalf. His entire mission had been to herald the coming of the Messiah. That is why he declared, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said” (John 1:23 ESV).

Yet Israel's religious leaders rejected his mission and message. When John announced Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 ESV), the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes refused to believe it. They accused Jesus of doing miracles by the power of Satan. They condemned Him for His association with sinners. They accused Him of being a drunk. They spread rumors that He was illegitimate. They declared Him to be guilty of blasphemy for repeatedly claiming to be the Son of God. And this charge had led them to try to stone Him to death.

These men refused to accept Jesus because they could not bring themselves to believe that His power and authority were from God. While they couldn’t explain how Jesus did all the things He did, they refused to even consider that He might actually be the Messiah. To do so would require them to relinquish their own authority, and their overinflated egos wouldn’t allow them to do that.

Since they were unwilling to answer His question, Jesus responded, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things” (Mark 11:33 ESV). He owed them no explanation. He had provided them with ample evidence that He was who He claimed to be. His miracles spoke for themselves. And yet, these stubbornly self-righteous men had repeatedly refused to recognize and acknowledge the God-given authority of Jesus. One of the greatest assessments of their spiritual blindness came from the lips of a man who had been the undeserving recipient of Jesus’ divine authority.

“He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” – John 9:30-33 NLT

Now, back to the lesson of the withered fig tree. When the disciples witnessed Jesus' remarkable power to condemn the tree to death, they were amazed. When He told them, “You can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen” (Mark 11:23 NLT), they were thrilled. He was offering them access to the same kind of authority He had. All they had to do was ask, and anything was possible. But there was a caveat. Jesus had told them to “have faith in God” (Mark 11:22 ESV). This was not about their authority; it was about God’s.

Everything John the Baptist accomplished was by God’s authority and for God’s glory. The same was true of Jesus, and it would be true of His disciples as well. God’s authority would be available to them so they might accomplish His will and display His glory. By contrast, the scribes and Pharisees relied on their own authority and sought their own glory, and they were unwilling to have this no-name Rabbi from Nazareth disrupt their way of life.

Jesus used this encounter with the religious authorities to help His disciples understand that faith in God was the key to accessing His power. He would be the key to doing the impossible. With His help, they could “move mountains,” but it would be for His glory, not their own. 

In His High Priestly Prayer, uttered in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His betrayal, Jesus called out to His Father, “The hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began” (John 17:1-5 NLT).

Little did the religious leaders know that they were standing before the One whom God had given all authority. Their antagonist was the Son of God and the Savior of the world, but they viewed Him as a fraud and troublemaker. When Jesus condemned the fig tree, it symbolized His indictment of these spiritually fruitless leaders' self-righteous posturing. Their flowing robes and outward displays of piety disguised their true spiritual state, but Jesus saw through the facade. He had the authority to cleanse or condemn them but, in the end, the choice to believe was theirs.  

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Fruitless Fig Tree: Part II

20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” – Mark 11:20-25 ESV

When Jesus departed the temple, He and the disciples returned to Bethany for the evening. The next morning, which was probably Wednesday, they made their way back to the city of Jerusalem. After His symbolic exit from the temple the day before, Jesus likely entered the city through the Lion’s Gate rather than the Golden Gate, which led directly into the temple complex. He and the disciples would have taken the same path through the Kidron Valley and the Garden of Gethsemane, so eventually, they came to the spot where Jesus had cursed the fig tree the day before. To the disciples' shock, the fig tree was “withered away to its roots” (Mark 11:20 ESV).

Just the day before, this same tree had been in perfect health, covered in green leaves and full of life. Yet despite its outward vitality, it bore no fruit. This tree, unlike all the other fig trees in the garden, had bloomed early. Under normal conditions, leaves would indicate that figs would be present. But when Jesus approached the tree the previous day, He found it completely barren. So, He had cursed it.

Peter was the first to recognize the dramatic difference in the tree’s appearance. He recalled what Jesus had said to the tree 24 hours earlier: “May no one ever eat fruit from you again” (Mark 11:14 ESV). Surprised by the tree’s sudden demise, Peter let Jesus know that His curse had worked. He called out, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered” (Mark 11:21 ESV). Overnight, the once-lush tree dropped all its leaves and lost every ounce of life-giving sap. It had withered away, from the roots up.

So much is going on in this scene. The tree is the obvious focal point, and Jesus uses the opportunity to convey two different messages to His disciples. One concerns fruit, and the other, faith. The tree was dead because it failed to bear fruit. It had all the appearances of fruitfulness but, upon closer examination, proved barren. For Jesus, the tree was an apt symbol for the fruitlessness of the nation of Israel.

Keep in mind that Jerusalem was literally overflowing with pilgrims who had come to celebrate the Feast of Passover. As faithful Jews, they practiced all the prescribed feasts and festivals, and regularly brought their tithes and offerings to the temple. They tried to keep the Mosaic Law and, when they failed, they counted on their sacrifices to assuage God's righteous wrath.

Three years earlier, John the Baptist had confronted a group of Pharisees who showed up in the wilderness of Judea where he was preaching and baptizing. When John saw them, he responded in prophetic anger.

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” – Matthew 3:7-10 ESV

As the religious leaders of Israel, these men were thought to be icons of virtue and the symbols of moral rectitude. But John recognized them for what they were: withered, lifeless trees incapable of bearing good fruit. Their flowing robes and outward displays of righteousness were nothing more than “green leaves” that gave the impression of faithfulness without fruitfulness.

Jesus later picked up on this same theme, warning His disciples to watch for false prophets, and He told them exactly how to spot these dangerous charlatans.

“You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” – Matthew 7:16-20 NLT

Jesus had also warned His disciples that only those who abide in Him can bear good fruit. Those who refuse to abide in Him and fail to produce fruit will be dealt with severely by God.

“He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” – John 15:2 NLT

The Jewish people were God’s chosen vine, but they had failed to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. When God sent His Son, the people of Israel rejected Him. So these fruitless “branches” would be cut off, eliminating any hope that they would ever produce good fruit.

The apostle Paul would later elaborate on this “cutting away” of the fruitless branches. In his letter to the Gentile believers in Rome, he reminded them that they were branches grafted into the olive tree of Israel. To make room for them, some of the natural branches had been removed.

Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root, do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. Then you will say, “The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. – Romans 11:17-20 NLT

With the cursing of the fig tree, Jesus was making a statement about the spiritual condition of the nation of Israel.His foray into the temple complex the day before had revealed just how spiritually fruitless Israel had become. They were rotten to the core, down to the very roots. Their religious leaders were exactly what John the Baptist had called them, a brood of vipers. Their venom had poisoned the people, leaving them as withered and lifeless as the cursed fig tree.

But none of this was on Peter and his companions' minds as they stood looking at the dead tree. They were fixated on how quickly it had died after Jesus had cursed it. Jesus knew they were more interested in His display of power than in any lesson He might be trying to teach them. So, rather than expounding on Israel's fruitlessness, Jesus took the opportunity to teach His disciples about faith.

“Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.” – Mark 11:22-23 NLT

First, He pointed them to God. He wanted His disciples to understand that God must be the focus of their faith. The people of Israel became fruitless because they failed to stay focused on God. Remember what Paul said: “They [Israel] were broken off because of their unbelief, but you [Gentiles] stand by faith” (Romans 11:20 NLT).

The real point of Jesus’ lesson was God's power. We place our faith in God because He is all-powerful and nothing is impossible for Him. Jesus used an impossible scenario to describe God's unfathomable power. If the unlikely situation arose where a mountain needed to be moved from one place to another, God could make it happen. The lesson Jesus was trying to teach had nothing to do with getting whatever we pray for. He was not suggesting that His disciples had a blank check from God to fulfill their hearts’ desires. They were to focus their faith on God, not for what they could get from Him but because He was the sole source of all their needs. Having the power to curse a fig tree would become a curse itself if God were left out of the equation. God is not to be viewed as a source of power to accomplish our desires. He is to be the focus of our faith and the object of our affections. His power is not why we love Him, but it is always at the disposal of those who do love Him.

This desire to tap into God’s power for personal gain is seen in the story of Simon the magician recorded in Acts 8. 

A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic. – Acts 8:9-11 NLT

When this influential magician heard Philip preach the gospel message, he believed, placed His faith in Christ, and “began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed” (Acts 8:13 NLT). Sometime later, Peter and John arrived in town to observe Philip’s ministry. When they saw that the new Gentile believers had not yet received the Holy Spirit, “Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:17 NLT). Blown away by this supernatural display of power, Simon was determined to get his hands on it and was willing to pay.

“Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!” – Acts 8:19 NLT

But Peter rebuked the misguided magician, saying, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought” (Acts 8:21 NLT).

Simon missed the point. Fruitfulness is the byproduct of faith. Power is not a commodity to buy and use for our own benefit. It is a manifestation of God’s presence and the byproduct of our faith in His matchless power and provision. As long as the disciples kept believing in God, they would experience His power flowing through their lives and producing the fruit of righteousness.

But Jesus also wanted His disciples to understand that while their access to God would place His power at their disposal, it came with conditions. The privilege of entering into God’s presence through prayer could prove dangerous. Trying to use God’s power for selfish reasons is always a risk. That is why James wrote, “you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure” (James 4:2-3 NLT).

But we must avoid an even more dangerous tendency. God’s power is not to be used to seek revenge on your enemies. That’s why Jesus warned His disciples, “whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25 ESV).

Jesus didn’t use God's power to wither the fig tree because He was angry; He did it to teach His disciples a lesson. Jesus never used God's power to seek revenge or call down divine wrath on His enemies. Yet, He knew that this would be a temptation for His disciples. In fact, just days earlier, as they made their way to Bethany, Jesus sent a few of His disciples into a Samaritan city to find accommodations for the night. When they returned, they announced to Jesus and the other disciples that the Samaritans wanted nothing to do with Jesus. This news infuriated James and John, the “Sons of Thunder,” and they asked Jesus for permission to use divine power to destroy the entire town.

“Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” – Luke 9:54 ESV

But Jesus rebuked them for their spirit of revenge and their desire to use the power of God for self-centered purposes. If they had recalled His Sermon on the Mount, they would have responded differently.

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:44-45 ESV

Faith and fruitfulness. These two vital characteristics are inseparable. Without faith in God, you cannot produce fruit, and the absence of fruit is evidence of a life devoid of faith in God. But as Jesus had told His disciples, God would be glorified by their future fruitfulness, and the key would be their faith.

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” – John 15:7-8 ESV

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Prince of Peace

1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before 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 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. – Mark 11:1-11 ESV

According to John’s gospel, when Jesus and His disciples arrived in Bethany, just east of Jerusalem, they attended a dinner given in His honor. It was held in the home of Lazarus, the man Jesus had recently raised from the dead. John indicates that a large crowd had gathered outside the home where the dinner took place, hoping to get a glimpse of Jesus and Lazarus, who had become something of a celebrity because of His unique death-to-life experience. John adds that while Lazarus’ newfound fame brought adoring fans, it also earned him serious enemies.

…the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. – John 12:10 ESV

It was now just six days until the Feast of Passover and Jesus had His sights set on the task at hand. He knew He was nearing the final days of His earthly life and would soon be facing the prospect of a horrific death by crucifixion. The events in Bethany and Bethpage were preparatory, setting up what would happen in the days ahead. Even at the dinner in Bethany, Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly nard, a humble act of gratitude for what He had done for her brother, and when His disciples had expressed concern over what they believed was Mary’s wasteful use of the expensive ointment, Jesus told them, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial” (John 12:7 ESV).

The next day, Jesus sent two of His disciples on a rather strange assignment to the nearby village of Bethphage. They were given specific instructions to find a donkey’s colt that no one had ever ridden. When they found it, they were to bring it back to Jesus. If anyone questioned what they were doing, they were simply to respond, “The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately” (Mark 11:3 ESV). Matthew adds that the disciples were instructed to bring the colt and its mother, which indicates that the colt was not yet weaned. In chapter 21, verse 5 of his gospel, Matthew indicates that this entire episode fulfilled two Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.

Say to the daughter of Zion,
    “Behold, your salvation comes. – Isaiah 21:11 ESV

Behold, your king is coming to you;
    righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey. – Zechariah 9:9 ESV

Looking back on the events of that day, Matthew understood that everything Jesus had done was purposeful and in keeping with God's long-standing plans.

The disciples found everything just as Jesus had predicted, and as soon as they returned, He mounted the young colt and began the last leg of His journey into Jerusalem. As He made His way, the crowds grew. Some had come with Him from Bethany, while others were among the many pilgrims lining the streets leading into the city.

A festival-like atmosphere was already in the air because of the Passover holiday. Throngs of people were making their way into Jerusalem, eager to participate in the Passover celebrations. But suddenly, all eyes seemed to fix on this strange scene: Jesus riding a very undersized donkey. One of the disciples likely led the female donkey, and the colt simply followed its mother wherever she went. This entire scene must have been somewhat embarrassing to the disciples. Despite what the prophet Zechariah had written, this was not how a King should enter His own royal city. The disciples had expected Jesus to enter Jerusalem as a military hero, riding a white horse and leading His army in victory over the Roman occupying forces. But here was Jesus, making His way into Jerusalem “mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9 ESV).

And yet, what happened next must have taken the disciples by surprise. As their little procession made its way from Bethphage to the city gates, people in the crowd began to take off their outer robes and cast them down the road before Jesus. Others cut palm branches and used them to pave the path into the city. The disciples must have been shocked and pleased by these displays of homage to Jesus. It would have been totally unexpected, and when the disciples heard what the people were shouting, their hearts must have soared.

“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!” – Mark 11:9 ESV

This must have been music to the disciples’ ears. The crowds shouted Jesus' praises, clearly indicating their belief that He was the Messiah, the son of David, and the rightful heir to the royal throne. This was exactly what the disciples had been hoping for all along. At this point, thoughts of Jesus’ suffering and death must have disappeared. The disciples must have been euphoric, joyously taking in the thrill of the moment as they walked alongside their triumphant King.

The people, who would have been singing the Psalms of Ascent as they made their way to Jerusalem, began shouting the words of another psalm, proclaiming Jesus to be its fulfillment.

Save us, we pray, O Lord!
    O Lord, we pray, give us success!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! – Psalm 118:25-26 ESV

Hosanna is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew phrase, hosi ah na, which means “Lord, save us!”

When we read the gospel accounts of this remarkable scene, we envision Jesus as the focal point of the procession, like a celebrity on a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. But much of what the gospel writers describe may be nothing more than the normal activities of pilgrims making their way into the city. Singing and celebration were a normal part of the day because Passover was one of Israel's annual mandatory feasts. Their shouts of “Hosanna!” were part of the Passover celebration because it commemorated God’s past deliverance of His people from slavery and subjugation. As the throng of travelers caught sight of the gates of Jerusalem, they would have shouted with joy, crying out to God for yet another deliverance from their enemies.

Had Jesus been the main attraction that day, the crowds' actions would have drawn the Romans' attention. But evidently, the Roman authorities saw nothing unusual. It was all just part of the annual activities surrounding the Jewish Feast of Passover.

It almost seems Jesus was taking advantage of the usual Passover frenzy to accentuate His entrance. While the people shouted and proclaimed God's salvation, the Son of God rode in their midst. He entered the city of David, mounted on a lowly colt; their salvation had arrived, in the form of the Savior of the world. But despite all the throwing of cloaks, the casting down of palm branches, and the shouts of “Hosanna,” the people failed to recognize Jesus as who He truly was. It seems that as soon as Jesus entered the city, the crowds quickly dispersed. To the disciples' disappointment, Jesus was no longer the focal point of the moment; He was just another pilgrim walking the city's crowded streets.

Some of the hype surrounding Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem can be explained by those who had accompanied Him from Bethany. According to Matthew, these people were the ones who started the shouts of “Hosanna!” When the crowds began to ask what was going on, they were told, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee” (Matthew 21:11 ESV). Luke’s account also shows that the Pharisees demanded that Jesus rebuke His disciples for stirring up the crowds. But Jesus refused, saying, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40 ESV).

Luke also adds that Jesus knew the people did not understand the significance of what they were saying. Their shouts were meaningless, and their cries for deliverance would go unheeded because they would not recognize Jesus as their Messiah. Luke indicates that Jesus wept over the city, saying, “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes” (Luke 18:41 NLT). This statement is significant because Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) means “City of Peace.” The Prince of Peace had entered the city of peace, but the people failed to understand who He was and what He had come to do. 

Centuries earlier, Isaiah had prophesied Jesus’ coming and His role as the Prince of Peace. 

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6 ESV

The crowds would have truly rejoiced had they believed Jesus was their long-awaited Messiah. But He didn’t look like a king. His arrival in Jerusalem was well-timed, and their shouts of “Hosanna” sounded sincere, but they failed to understand who Jesus was. Soon, their shouts of acclaim would turn to jeers and cries of “Crucify Him!” 

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, had come to sacrifice His life, not sit on a throne. His mission was to offer sinful men a way to have peace with God, not the Romans. Jesus had repeatedly warned His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem to die, not reign. But He had also told them He would rise again. And long before He entered Jerusalem for the last time, the Prince of Peace gave His disciples the promise of peace, even in the face of uncertainty.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.” – John 14;27-29 ESV

The joyous, celebrating mass of people were oblivious to what was taking place around them. Despite all the hoopla surrounding His entrance, Jesus quickly became an afterthought, lost in the season's hustle and bustle. He was just another Jew among the tens of thousands of pilgrims crowding the streets of Jerusalem. So Jesus made His way to the temple without trouble and without further fanfare. Mark indicates that after taking stock of the scene taking place at the temple complex, Jesus returned to Bethany with His 12 disciples. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Restoring Sight to the Blind

46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. – Mark 10:46-52 ESV

Jesus and the disciples continued their journey to Jerusalem. James and John must have been demoralized by Jesus' response to their request that He grant them positions of authority in His new Kingdom. They hoped for key roles in His royal administration, but instead received a lecture on servanthood. He told them the path to glory was through humility and sacrifice, which was not what they had hoped to hear.

The disciples struggled to understand what Jesus was trying to tell them. They were suffering from spiritual blindness, an incapacity to comprehend all that was taking place around them. It seems that no matter what Jesus said or did, their spiritual eyesight remained darkened by doubt and false perceptions. What happens next drives home their need for enlightenment.

As they passed through Jericho, Jesus and the 12 disciples encountered a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. Both Matthew and Luke provide their versions of the same event, but with slightly different details. Mark is the only one of the three who notes the beggar’s name, even telling us who his father was. Matthew reports two blind beggars, while Mark and Luke mention only one. But their stories share a common link: it took place not long after Jesus revealed for the third time that He was going to Jerusalem to die.

“Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.” – Luke 18:31-33 NLT

All three gospel authors note that the disciples struggled to comprehend the significance of Jesus’ announcement.

But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about. – Luke 18:34 NLT

This wasn't the first time the disciples found Jesus’ words hard to understand. In chapter 8, Mark records Jesus trying to warn them about the leaven of the Pharisees. But while Jesus was talking about the pervasive and dangerous nature of the Pharisees’ teaching, the disciples misunderstood and thought He was upset with them because they had failed to bring bread. This led Jesus to rebuke them for their hard hearts.

“Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” –Mark 8:17-19 ESV

On that occasion, Jesus followed up their display of spiritual blindness with a miracle of healing. He met a blind man in the town of Bethsaida, and “he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly” (Mark 8:25 ESV).

Now, as Jesus entered Jericho, He had another “chance” encounter with a blind man. This was no coincidence; it was a divinely timed opportunity to give the disciples one more living object lesson. As if to prove this was a real story about a real person, Mark gives us the man’s name: “Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus” (Mark 10:46 ESV). If any of Mark’s readers ever passed through Jericho, they could look the man up and hear his story firsthand.

But Bartimaeus, upon hearing that Jesus had come to Jericho, began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47 ESV). This physically blind man could “see” something about Jesus that many sighted individuals had failed to comprehend. He called Jesus the Son of David, acknowledging His royal lineage and verifying His legal right to inherit the kingdom of His forefathers. The Jews used the title, “Son of David,” to refer to the coming Messiah. This long-anticipated Savior of Israel was to be a descendant of King David, fulfilling God's promise to David.

“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.…And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16 ESV

While this prophecy was partially fulfilled by David’s son, Solomon, his kingdom was far from everlasting; it ended in disappointment. Solomon failed to remain faithful to God, worshiping the false gods of his many wives and concubines. So, after Solomon’s death, God divided his kingdom. Ten tribes formed the nation of Israel in the north, and two tribes formed the kingdom of Judah in the south. Most of the kings who reigned over these two kingdoms would also prove unfaithful. Eventually, God punished both kingdoms by causing their defeat at the hands of their enemies and sending their people into exile.

But this blind man could see Jesus for who He really was. He believed Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, the Son of David, and the rightful heir to the royal throne. He cried out, begging that Jesus might show him mercy, but “many rebuked him, telling him to be silent” (Mark 10:48 ESV). Luke indicates that “those who were in front” tried to silence him, and this group likely included some of the disciples. I can imagine Peter being one of the first to silence this poor beggar. After all, Peter was the one Jesus had blessed when he rightfully confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16 ESV). Peter wasn’t about to share his glory with some disheveled blind beggar living in the middle of nowhere.

But Bartimaeus refused to be silenced. As they tried to stifle his cries, he called out even louder. He would not allow this opportunity to pass him by. The Messiah was nearby, and he longed for his sight to be restored. So, when Jesus called for Bartimaeus, he responded as quickly as he could, despite his disability. Then Jesus asked the blind man a question with a seemingly obvious answer.

“What do you want me to do for you?” – Mark 10:51 ESV

Jesus did not ask this question because He was unaware of the man’s problem. He gave Bartimaeus an opportunity to express his desire and, in doing so, reveal his faith. And Bartimaeus did not disappoint.

“Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” – Mark 10:51 ESV

Bartimaeus addressed Jesus as rhabbouni, which means “Lord and master.” He believed Jesus could restore his physical blindness. He longed to regain his sight and knew that Jesus was his only hope. And Jesus graciously fulfilled the man’s request and expectations. But before Jesus healed Bartimaeus, He gave him a command:

“Go your way; your faith has made you well.” – Mark 10:52 ESV

The Greek word Mark used is hypagō, meaning “to depart” or “to go away.” It is the same word Jesus used when speaking to Satan during His temptation in the wilderness. When Satan offered Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” (Matthew 4:9 ESV), Jesus responded, “Be gone (hypagō ), Satan!” (Matthew 4:10 ESV).

Jesus commanded Satan to leave, and Matthew records, “the devil left him” (Matthew 4:11 ESV). But when Jesus told Bartimaeus to “depart,” the blind man did just the opposite. Mark reports that, with his sight miraculously restored, Bartimaeus “followed him on the way” (Mark 10:52 ESV). He had what he longed for: restored sight. At that point, he could do whatever he wanted. No longer hampered by blindness, Bartimaeus could have gone anywhere, but he chose to follow Jesus. Just imagine the distractions that appeared before his eyes. For the first time in a long time, he could see the sun, the trees, and the long-forgotten faces of friends. Yet, when Jesus told him to go, Bartimaeus chose to follow.

Now, consider the disciples. They were also following Jesus to Jerusalem, but somewhat reluctantly. They were not thrilled by Jesus’ reports of what awaited Him in the royal city. They couldn’t see the benefit of going to Jerusalem if it meant that Jesus was to be arrested, tried, and killed. But Bartimaeus, his sight newly restored, got in line behind Jesus and gladly followed the one who had delivered his life from literal darkness.

You almost expect to see Jesus turn to His disciples and ask them again, “Having eyes, do you not see?” His journey to Jerusalem was a necessary part of God’s divine plan to bring healing to the nations. In time, the disciples would have their eyes opened as well, allowing them to see the true nature of Jesus’ mission. While the announcement of His pending death shocked and saddened them, the day would come when the message Jesus spoke in the synagogue in Nazareth would all make sense.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” – Luke 4:18-19 ESV

Bartimaeus’ blindness had been healed by the Messiah, but his real problem wasn’t physical; it was spiritual. Even with his restored sight, Bartimaeus remained spiritually blind. He believed Jesus was the Messiah, but he knew nothing about Him being “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:19 ESV). He would have been shocked to know that Jesus was headed to Jerusalem, where He would be arrested, tried, and crucified. Like the disciples, that narrative didn’t fit his understanding of the Messiah’s role. 

Even John the Baptist, the one who called Jesus “the Lamb of God,” struggled to understand who He was and what He had come to do. When he found himself in prison, he sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” (Matthew 11:3 NLT). Jesus replied: “The blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor” (Matthew 11:5 NLT).  John, Bartimaeus, and none of the disciples understood that the good news had a dark side. Jesus was the Messiah, but He had not come to set up an earthly kingdom. Yes, He could restore sight, cure diseases, and even raise the dead, but His mission had a more long-term objective. 

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep…The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” – John 10:11, 17-18 NLT

Jesus would continue to tell His disciples, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28 BSB). That was the mission. Restoring sight to the blind and making the lame to walk might be impressive, but they did nothing to change one’s spiritual condition. They were simply meant to demonstrate Jesus’ authority and power. 

“Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” – Mark 2:9-11 NLT

Jesus came to provide forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation with God, and it required His death and resurrection. The disciples were still blind to that reality, but one day they would see the truth and rejoice.  

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

God of the Impossible

24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” – Mark 10:24-31 ESV

By this time, the disciples were wishing they had never argued over who was the greatest. Ever since Jesus overheard their childish squabble, He had been giving them a non-stop lecture about what it means to be great in the Kingdom of God. The latest iteration of that lesson came in the form of a rich young man seeking his rightful inheritance. He wanted to know what was keeping him from enjoying the riches and rewards of eternal life right here, right now. He saw himself as a good and righteous man who had kept God’s commands, and he believed his wealth proved God’s blessing on his life. But he wanted more. He sought the ultimate reward: eternal life.

And Jesus confirmed that the man “lacked one thing” (Mark 10:21 ESV). So, He told him to “go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (Mark 10:21 ESV). In essence, Jesus told the man he would have to let go of everything he treasured in this life if he wanted to receive the reward of eternal life. This statement from Jesus should have sounded familiar to His disciples. Three years earlier, they had heard Him say something similar in His Sermon on the Mount.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21 ESV

The young man, unwilling to wait for the treasures of heaven, walked away from Jesus. He ignored Jesus' call to follow Him and instead returned to his life of wealth and earthly greatness. In doing so, he became an illustration of what Jesus talked about in His sermon.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” – Matthew 6:24 ESV

After the man left, Jesus turned to His disciples and said, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23 ESV). This statement shocked them; it went against all their preconceived notions regarding righteousness and rewards. They were raised to believe that wealth was a sign of God’s blessing. After all, even Abraham, the great patriarch of the Hebrew people, had been blessed by God with abundant livestock and great wealth. God had even blessed Joseph, the son of Jacob, who had been sold into slavery by his own brothers. He became the second-most-powerful man in Egypt, and enjoyed great power and prominence. He used these “blessings” to protect his family when a famine came to Canaan.

But Jesus was not saying riches are never a sign of God’s blessing; He was trying to help the disciples understand that the material and physical blessings God bestows can become replacements for God. The gifts begin to take precedence over the Giver. How easy it is to begin worshiping the things of this earth rather than the God of heaven, who gives all good gifts.

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father… – James 1:17 NLT

We should receive any earthly blessings we get in this life with open arms, but hold them loosely in our hands. The story of Lot vividly reminds us of this. God had greatly blessed Lot with a large family, abundant livestock, riches, and good health. Yet, when tragedy struck and he lost it all, his response was: “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” (Job 1:21 NLT).

But Jesus knew His disciples found it hard to accept what He was saying. So He repeated His words in a slightly different, even more controversial way.

“Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!” – Mark 10:24 ESV

It must not have escaped the disciples that Jesus addressed them as teknon, the Greek word for a male child. Twice, He had used children to drive home His message concerning greatness in the Kingdom of God. 

“Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child (paidion) in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child (paidion) like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.” –Mark 9:35-37 NLT

“Let the children (paidion) come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child (paidion) shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. – Mark 10:14-16 NLY

Mark used a different Greek word to record how Jesus addressed His disciples. Jesus wasn’t just calling these grown men children; He was declaring them to be His “sons.” Yet, His point was that they were displaying an ignorance and inability to understand what He was trying to teach them. Like a father, Jesus cared for them deeply and wanted them to understand these deep truths concerning the Kingdom of God. He knew they struggled to accept what He was saying because they needed to unlearn so much. They were weighed down by so many misconceptions concerning the Kingdom of God and how to enter it.

Wealth could not buy you entry into the Kingdom. A good track record of law-keeping could not earn a spot in God’s Kingdom. Gaining access into God’s presence was difficult, and the rich young ruler had failed the test. This left the disciples a bit concerned about their own prospects for success, and what Jesus said next didn’t restore their confidence.

“…it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” – Mark 10:25 NLT

This little parable did nothing to ease their concerns. In fact, Mark describes them as being “exceedingly astonished” at this news, and it led them to ask, “Then who can be saved?” (Mark 10:26 ESV).

You can sense their anxiety. Jesus went from describing entrance into God’s Kingdom as difficult to being impossible. It didn’t take a genius to understand that a camel cannot pass through the eye of a needle. Yet, Jesus was saying the odds were better for that to happen than for a rich man to enter eternity. So, what hope did they have? The disciples had no visible manifestations of God’s blessings. They weren’t rich, influential, or powerful. In their minds, they had nothing going for them. But they failed to recognize that they were teknon, the children or sons of Jesus. They belonged to Him and, as a result, shared an intimate, personal relationship with the Son of God.

But their minds were stuck on Jesus’ camel metaphor.  They understood it was impossible for a camel to pass through the eye of a sewing needle, so was Jesus saying their entrance into the Kingdom was also impossible? Was their salvation at risk?

But Jesus attempted to calm their anxiety by stating, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27 ESV). Jesus wanted His “sons” to know that salvation was God's work, not based on human effort. Entrance into the Kingdom was impossible. Nothing man could do could earn God’s favor or guarantee him a place in the eternal Kingdom. The apostle Paul made this point repeatedly.

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. – Romans 3:20 NLT

Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law. – Galatians 2:16 NLT

If the rich couldn’t buy their way into the Kingdom and law-keeping was not the key that opened the door, what were the disciples to do? They were at a loss for what it would take to secure a place in God’s eternal realm. This led Peter to blurt out, “See, we have left everything and followed you” (Mark 10:28 ESV). He had taken to heart what Jesus had said to the rich young man:

“…go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven…” – Mark 10:21 ESV

Peter assumed the key to eternal life must be a life of sacrifice. If the young man had done what Jesus had said, he would have received exactly what he desired. But Peter missed the point. He wrongly concluded that Jesus meant salvation was reserved for those willing to sell out and follow Him. Like the rich young ruler, Peter wanted Jesus to confirm his suspicions. He hoped Jesus would declare that his life of sacrifice had earned him a place in the Kingdom.

Like a loving father, Jesus let Peter know that he was partially right. Salvation did require self-sacrifice, a point Jesus had already made clear.

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” – Matthew 16:24-26 NLT

Following Jesus was costly. Becoming one of His disciples required letting go of the earthly and temporal in order to gain the eternal. But Jesus assured Peter that whatever he had given up in this life would be well worth it. He would be repaid in full and in ways he could never have imagined.

“I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.” – Mark 10:29-30 NLT

Yes, Peter and his companions had walked away from their careers and families. But Jesus assured them that their sacrifice would come with great blessings. They would become part of a larger extended family and enjoy careers far more fulfilling and impactful than the ones they had given up. And any sacrifices they made in this life would be rewarded in the next one. By making Jesus first and themselves last, they would enjoy eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

Then Jesus added one last lesson on greatness.

“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” – Mark 10:31 ESV

The scribes and Pharisees, the rich and influential, the powerful and the outwardly righteous were not guaranteed a spot in God’s Kingdom. Citizenship in the Kingdom was reserved for those who recognized their own inadequacy and their need for a Savior. Those who think they are healthy don’t think they need a doctor, but the sick do. And while it was impossible for any man to enter the Kingdom on his own merit or effort, all things are possible with God.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Another Costly Lesson On Leastness

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 

23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” – Mark 10:17-23 ESV

What happens next perfectly juxtaposes what Jesus has been trying to teach His disciples. He has addressed their pride and the unhealthy competitive spirit that caused them to argue over who among them was spiritually superior. Peter, James, and John likely bragged about their adventure with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, leaving the other disciples envious of the special treatment Jesus gave them. Each of the 12 disciples tried to earn his way into Jesus’ good graces, hoping to secure a prominent position in His coming Kingdom. John revealed their disdain for anyone outside their circle who might encroach on their territory and rob them of glory. When he and his fellow disciples found someone casting out demons in Jesus' name, they rebuked him, demanding that he stop. But Jesus surprised John by commending the stranger for his actions, saying, “the one who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40 ESV).

To convict the disciples of their unhealthy obsession with greatness, Jesus repeatedly used children to illustrate the attitude He sought in His followers. When the disciples tried to send away the parents who brought their children to be blessed by Jesus, He declared, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it” (Mark 10:14-15 NLT).

The disciples viewed these children as a distraction. From their perspective, children were non-contributors who required too much attention and could offer no help with the work that needed to be done. They had no rights, no money, no skills, and no way of helping Jesus usher in His Kingdom. So, why waste time with them?

At this point, a young man approached Jesus and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17 ESV). Matthew adds that the man’s request was focused on what “good deed” he must do to inherit eternal life. From the conversation that followed, it seems clear that the man believed he had already done enough. He was young and rich, and from a common Jewish perspective, his wealth signaled that God had already blessed him. He was also religious: when Jesus listed six of the Ten Commandments and told him to keep them, he proudly announced, “All these I have kept from my youth” (Mark 10:20 ESV).

This man sought confirmation, not a list of things to do. As a faithful Jew, he believed he was a child of Abraham and, therefore, a rightful heir to eternal life. As Abraham's descendant, he was guaranteed a place in God’s eternal Kingdom. Now, he was asking Jesus to place His Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval on his life.

The man’s question was carefully worded. He uses the word klēronomeō, which means “to obtain by inheritance.” This reveals that he believed eternal life was already rightfully his, but he wanted to know how he could receive it now. He did not want to wait. His attitude is similar to that of the young man in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son. In that story, Jesus described another young man from a wealthy family who was destined to inherit his father’s vast riches. But unwilling to wait for his father to die, he demanded that he be given his inheritance immediately.

“I want my share of your estate now before you die.” So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. – Luke 15:12 NLT

The father graciously complied. But blessed by his father’s generosity and the sudden influx of wealth, the young man wasted his inheritance on a life of excess and immorality. He got what he wanted but misused and abused it.

Similarly, the rich young man who knelt before Jesus demanded what was rightfully his: his guaranteed inheritance of eternal life. This man had it all, but he wanted more. He coveted the one thing missing from his portfolio: Eternal life.

Because of his wealth, social standing, and success in religious rule-keeping, this young man believed God had blessed him. He saw himself as a good man who deserved everything due to him. If Jesus could help him get eternal life, he would have it all. But Jesus emphasized that “No one is good except God alone” (Luke 18:19 ESV). As David wrote in his Psalm, “They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3 ESV).

While this man could brag about keeping six of the Ten Commandments, Jesus knew the truth about his heart. Notably, Jesus listed only the five commandments that deal with horizontal relationships between individuals.

“Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.” – Mark 10: 19 ESV

These five commandments remind us of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In that message, Jesus stated, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19 ESV).

Jesus went on to explain what it looked like to “relax” one of God’s laws. He put hatred on the same par as murder (Matthew 5:22). He compared lust to adultery.

“…everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:28 ESV

Lust, like adultery, is taking what does not belong to you; it is a form of stealing. And Jesus said, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:29 ESV).

Throughout His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus painted a radically different picture of what it means to keep God’s law. It wasn’t just about rule-keeping; it was about a change of the heart. Those who hoped to inherit God’s kingdom would have to live sacrificially and selflessly. Their adherence to God’s laws had to show up in their relationships with others. That’s why Jesus said, “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42 ESV).

Which brings us back to the rich young man. Jesus turned to him and said, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Mark 10:21 ESV). This proved to be the deal-breaker. This one “good deed” was more than the man could handle because he was unwilling to part with his wealth. All his law-keeping had cost him nothing. But now Jesus demanded one thing that would cost him everything.

Think about what this man was giving up. He was turning his back on the assurance of eternal life to keep living the “good life.” Mark sadly reports that the man “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22 ESV).

He was possessed by his possessions. He was held captive by worldly things. His love of material goods and temporal pleasures proved too great. Years later, the apostle John would likely recall this sad scene when he wrote the following words:

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. – 1 John 2:15-17 NLT

This man had been young and full of life. He was wealthy and blessed with every earthly pleasure imaginable. He was a ruler who wielded tremendous power and responsibility. In other words, He was great. He was all that the disciples hoped to become. When they looked at the rich young ruler, they saw the image of what they aspired to be. As the disciples stood in stunned silence watching the young man walk away, Jesus further shattered their misconception of greatness, saying, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23 ESV). 

This was not an indictment of wealth or financial security; Jesus was simply warning that temporal treasures and earthly pleasures can become distractions. The love of money can replace our love for God. Financial independence can foster self-reliance rather than a trust in God. And those who believe their wealth is a sign of God’s blessing can easily miss the reality of their spiritual poverty. 

Each of these encounters that Jesus had was intentionally designed to redefine the disciples’ view on greatness. From their perspective, this rich young man was the epitome of greatness; he was to be envied and emulated. Yet Jesus told them to model their lives after little children, who had no rights or privileges but displayed innocent faith and trust. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Lessons on Leadership and Leastness

13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. – Mark 10:13-16 ESV

Sometimes it seems as if Jesus’ 12 disciples are a few bricks short of a full load, and this occasion is one of them. After reading this passage, it’s difficult not to draw one of two conclusions: Either the disciples are stubborn or simply stupid; they just don’t seem to get it. No matter how many times Jesus addresses an issue with them, they fail to grasp His meaning. Even all His after-class, one-on-twelve tutoring sessions don’t seem to help.

Before we look at the scene in today’s passage, let’s revisit a few earlier, closely related exchanges between Jesus and His disciples. First, while they were back in Galilee, Jesus overheard the disciples arguing over who was the greatest. This debate came fast on the heels of Jesus’ announcement that He would soon be delivered into the hands of men and be killed (Mark 9:31). So, immediately after hearing Jesus announce that He was going to lay down His life, they got into a heated argument over which of them was the greatest. This led Jesus to give them an object lesson.

And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” – Mark 9:36-37 ESV

Jesus used this small, seemingly insignificant child to drive home an important point. With the prideful disciples gathered around Him, Jesus stood among them, holding this unnamed child in His arms. He placed the least significant in the place of greatest prominence. The child had done nothing to earn the special favor Jesus extended to Him. He was not powerful, impressive, gifted, or even capable of repaying Jesus for His kindness. We’re not even told his name. But the child trusted and was willing to place his full confidence in Jesus.

Yet, immediately after witnessing this living object lesson, John brought up what he believed was a more pressing matter. He reported that an unnamed individual had been casting out demons in Jesus’ name. This unidentified competitor concerned the disciples so much that they repeatedly tried to issue him cease-and-desist orders, but their efforts failed. John told Jesus, hoping He would shut down this rogue exorcist. But instead, Jesus rebuked His own disciples.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” – Mark 9:42 ESV

The Greek word Mark uses is mikros, meaning “small” or “least.” Jesus seems to be referring to this unknown exorcist as one of His children. Although he wasn't one of the 12 disciples, this man was casting out demons in the name of Jesus. He was performing the same good deed that Jesus had commissioned His disciples to do. That’s why Jesus told John, “Don’t stop him!…No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:39 NLT). This man was on their side. Yet Jesus calls him one of the “least.” He was so insignificant that the disciples didn’t even know his name. However, he was important to Jesus. 

This brings us back to the scene taking place in chapter 10. Jesus and His disciples are back in the region of Perea, just east of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River. Mark opens this chapter by noting that Jesus’ arrival in the region drew the usual large crowds. While many hoped to see Jesus perform a miracle, others came out of curiosity because Jesus was a 1st-century celebrity. But Mark indicates that some “were bringing children to him that he might touch them” (Mark 10:13 ESV). Evidently, parents brought their young children to Jesus so He might bless them. But Mark states that “the disciples rebuked them” (Mark 9:13 ESV). These men took it upon themselves to restrict access to Jesus. They wrongly assumed they had the authority to decide who was worthy to enter Jesus’ presence.

This whole scene makes even more sense when you consider Luke’s account. He provides essential details that make the disciples' actions even more egregious. He records a parable Jesus told “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt” (Luke 18:9 ESV). In this parable, “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector” (Luke 18:10 ESV). The Pharisee stood before God and, in a blatant display of self-promotion, bragged about his superior righteousness, evidenced by his unparalleled fasting and tithing. But the other man stood before God, eyes lowered, and declared his abject sinfulness and desperate need for mercy. And then Jesus said, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14 ESV).

Superiority and inferiority. Pride and humility. Greatness and weakness. This parable prefaces the arrival of the parents with their children and explains why Jesus became so indignant with His disciples and demanded, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14 ESV). Their parents brought the children to Jesus. Too young to come on their own, they were at the mercy of others, showing complete dependence and trust. They showed no self-righteousness or moral superiority, yet the disciples deemed them unworthy to enter Jesus’ presence. Had these men so quickly forgotten the young boy Jesus had held in His arms? Had the words Jesus spoken to them simply gone in one ear and out the other?

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” – Mark 9:37 ESV

Yet here was Jesus having to rebuke them again for their arrogant display of moral superiority. They didn’t get it. They were still harboring their own false conceptions about status in the Kingdom. In their eyes, children were non-contributors because they had nothing to offer. They were takers, not givers. But Jesus had a different perspective. To the disciples’ surprise, Jesus “took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them” (Mark 10:16 NLT).

The disciples had been right; these “little ones” had nothing to offer Jesus, but Jesus had something to give them: His divine blessing. They came before Jesus as helpless and hopeless children, most likely carried in the arms of their parents. Some were probably too young to walk or talk. But each one, regardless of age, intellect, family background, or prospects for success, received the same undeserved gift from Jesus' hand. The Son of God touched and blessed each one.

The Kingdom of God will not be comprised of the successful, gifted, morally exceptional, intellectually superior, or socially acceptable. In fact, Paul reminds every Christ-follower that their adoption into the family of God had nothing to do with them. They brought nothing to the table and did nothing to deserve the grace and mercy God showed them.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. – 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NLT

Jesus had repeatedly shown His disciples that He had come to minister to the weak, helpless, and hopeless. He went out of His way to heal the sick and minister to the outcasts and socially unacceptable. He exposed the hypocrisy of the self-righteous religious leaders of Israel. He willingly associated with tax collectors and prostitutes. Yet His disciples still struggled with thoughts of their own superiority and hoped to earn a place of honor and distinction in His coming Kingdom.

But the lessons would continue until the end. Even in the upper room on the night Jesus was betrayed, He gave them another illustration of humility and service by washing their feet. Ultimately, Jesus performed the greatest act of humility by offering His life as a ransom for many. The greatest of all would become the least of all so that the foolish, the powerless, the despised, and the unimportant might become children of God.

The disciples continued to wrestle with how their concept of leadership differed from Jesus'. His emphasis on “the least of these” didn’t make sense to them. Not only that, it was unattractive and uninspiring. They were interested in prominence and power. In fact, Matthew records that 10 of the disciples became indignant when they overheard the mother of James and John ask Jesus, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left” (Matthew 20'21 NLT). 

Rather than rebuke the well-meaning mother, Jesus addressed James and John.

“You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” – Matthew 20:22 NLT

Unaware of the meaning behind Jesus’ question, the two men responded, “Oh yes…we are able!” (Matthew 20:22 NLT). They had no idea that He was talking about His arrest, trials, and crucifixion. Had they known about the two thieves who would be crucified on either side of Jesus, they would never have had their mother pose the question.

Sensing the other disciples' jealousy, Jesus gave them another lesson on servant leadership.

“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:25-28 NLT

The disciples had a lot to learn, and time was running out. But Jesus would patiently continue to teach and model the life of “the least of these.” Every day, He would sacrifice and serve, loving the lowly, feeding the hungry, healing the hurting, and calling the hopeless to place their trust in Him. This wasn’t what the disciples had signed up for, but it was why they were called. And, one day, it would all make sense. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Least of These

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” – Mark 9:30-37 ESV

For a brief time, Jesus tried to keep some secrecy about His whereabouts so He could spend more time instructing His disciples. This was not easy because Jesus attracted large crowds wherever He went. But Jesus did what He could to remain incognito as He passed through Galilee. He needed to prepare His disciples for what was to come, and the information He was about to share with them was for their ears only and not for mass distribution.

These men, who had confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, needed to confront the reality of His earthly mission. Jesus knew they had drawn wrong conclusions about His role as the Messiah and were still expecting Him to set up His earthly Kingdom. To them, all the miracles and messages were simply the opening acts of the main event: Jesus establishing Himself as Israel's next king. And because they were His faithful followers, they believed they were destined to play significant roles in His royal administration.

So, for the second time, Jesus attempted to realign their expectations by revealing the facts concerning His coming death in Jerusalem. The first time Jesus broached this uncomfortable subject, Peter sternly rebuked Him. This outspoken, overly impulsive member of Jesus’ inner circle found the news disconcerting and unacceptable and told Jesus so. And a closer look at what Jesus told them makes Peter’s reaction somewhat understandable.

Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and after three days rise again. – Mark 8:31 NLT

For Peter and his companions, this information seemed outside the realm of possibility. If Jesus was the Son of God and the Messiah for whom they had long been waiting, how could His life end in death? What possible good could come from a dead Messiah? How was He supposed to rescue His people from their enslavement to Rome if He was dead?

Jesus had spoken plainly and quite bluntly. He did not sugarcoat the news or present it in terms the disciples might find more palatable. At the same time, He offered little further explanation. Yes, He mentioned His resurrection, but so briefly that the disciples failed to grasp what He meant.

So, Jesus revisited the topic. But it’s important to recall the event sandwiched between these two disclosures. The transfiguration of Jesus was intended to give the three disciples who witnessed it a glimpse into the future. They were privileged to see Jesus in His glorified state as He discussed His coming departure from this earth with Elijah and Moses. That remarkable experience must have sealed the deal for Peter, James, and John. The vision of Jesus in His glory, the presence of Israel's two prophets, and God's audible voice declaring Jesus His Son provided incontrovertible evidence that Jesus was the Messiah. The time to establish His kingdom had come, yet as they came down the mountain, they could think of only one thing: what Jesus meant by “rising from the dead” (Mark 9:10).

The transfiguration likely made Jesus’ comments about His death and resurrection even more confusing to the disciples. They struggled to reconcile what they had seen on the mountaintop with what Jesus described as His future fate. Fully aware of their lingering inability to process His words, Jesus simply repeated them.

“The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” – Mark 9:31 ESV

And Mark indicates that they remained just as confused as before.

…they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. – Mark 9:32 ESV

These men weren’t afraid to ask Jesus questions; they did so all the time. But they feared the truth, so they kept their mouths shut. As the old saying goes, “Ignorance is bliss.” Little did they know they were on their way to Jerusalem, where everything would take place just as Jesus had predicted. They could ignore the topic, but it wouldn't go away.

When they returned to Capernaum, their unofficial headquarters, Jesus asked the disciples what they had been discussing along the way. Once again, they chose to remain silent, and rightfully so, because an admission would have been embarrassing. But Mark spills the beans, revealing that “they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest” (Mark 9:34 NLT).

Before we paint the disciples as egotistical, self-centered power-mongers, let’s look at the facts. They had been handpicked by Jesus. Jesus had chosen them as His followers and given them authority to heal and cast out demons. When Peter had confessed that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus had said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19 ESV). Jesus had chosen Peter, James, and John to witness His transfiguration. So, these men were justified in assuming they would play important roles in Jesus’ coming kingdom.

The problem was that they argued over who was the greatest. They had taken their eyes off Jesus and begun focusing on their own self-worth. There is little doubt that Peter, James, and John were justifying their superiority with tales of their experience at the transfiguration. Rather than discussing Jesus' death and what His reference to rising again might mean, they were busy debating their own value to the kingdom. This jockeying for position will continue in the next chapter, where Mark reveals that James and John come to Jesus and make a bold request: “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left” (Mark 10:37 NLT).

These men operated from a purely secular, temporal perspective. They saw Jesus as the coming King of Israel and hoped to secure key posts in His administration. While Jesus spoke of self-sacrifice, they argued over their perceived value and qualifications for promotion within the new kingdom. But Jesus gathered the 12 together and gave them a much-needed lesson on spiritual leadership.

“Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” – Mark 9:35 NLT

This comment must have caught the disciples by surprise. First, it revealed that Jesus knew the topic of their conversation, which must have been embarrassing for them. Secondly, His words were incongruent; they didn’t add up. In their culture, servants were considered inferior and unfit for leadership. Leaders were meant to be first, not last. The thought of willingly subjugating yourself to serve someone else would have made no sense to these men. They had spent their entire lives in subservient roles and hoped that their relationship with the Messiah would improve their status.

To drive home His point, Jesus gave them an object lesson. Picking up a small child in His arms, He said, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me” (Mark 9:37 ESV).

In their culture, children were considered the least of the least. They had no rights or privileges, and were viewed as powerless and helpless. Yet Jesus stood before the disciples, holding one of these seemingly insignificant children in His arms. Four times, Jesus used the word “receives.” He spoke in Aramaic, but Mark recorded his words in Greek. Dechomai can be translated as “receives,” but carries a fuller meaning: “to embrace, make one’s own, approve, not to reject.” 

In their society, people often ignored children, but by holding this child in His arms, Jesus gave “the least” the highest honor. He embraced the overlooked and disenfranchised. But this message escaped His disciples. On another occasion, some parents brought their children to Jesus to be blessed, but the disciples tried to chase them away. When Jesus saw what they had done, He became angry and rebuked them.

“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. – Mark 14:14-16 NLT

Jesus wanted the disciples to see the children as models of innocence and trust. Children lack duplicity and pretense. They are naturally dependent and understand their need for protection and provision. They recognize their weakness and rely on others for help. Jesus wanted His disciples to know that entrance into His Kingdom had nothing to do with merit, approval, status, or superiority. It was all about faith. 

When Jesus spoke of receiving a child in His name, His words should have sounded familiar to the disciples. Just prior to sending them out on their first missionary journey, He said something similar.

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.” – Matthew 10:40 ESV

He used the very same formula: To receive the least — is to receive Jesus — is to receive God.

The disciples were to be the least and the servants of all. In other words, their role was to be the lowest, not the highest. Their status was to be measured by humility, not glory. From a worldly perspective, a child has no inherent worth or value because he has yet to accomplish anything with his life. A child can’t boast about his education or business accomplishments. But Jesus chose to use an insignificant child to convey a deep spiritual truth. The disciples didn't understand that Jesus would use them to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth, not because they were great, but because they were the least. All who receive the disciples and their message receive Christ, and receiving Christ restores their relationship with God. 

God sent His Son to become the least. As Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi, Jesus “gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8 NLT). And Paul reiterated this willing subjugation on Jesus’ part when writing to the believers in Corinth.

You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. – 2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT

Jesus was willing to become the least of these. He was born an innocent, helpless baby who required the constant care of His earthly mother and father. He left His Father’s side in heaven to take on human flesh and sacrifice His life for sinful humanity. Jesus didn’t die for the healthy, whole, and holy. His crucifixion wouldn’t benefit the self-righteous and unrepentant. But if someone comes to Him with childlike faith, placing all their hope in Him, they will be blessed. 

“I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. – Mark 10:15-16 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

All According to Plan

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.” – Mark 9:9-13 ESV

Being a disciple of Jesus must have been an emotional roller coaster. For three years, these 12 relatively uneducated men were exposed to mind-blowing, never-before-seen miracles and received a daily dose of profound, difficult-to-understand teaching that left even the scribes and Pharisees dumbfounded. Their time with Jesus was an adventure but also a head-spinning whirlwind of cryptic sayings and confounding experiences.

As Peter, James, and John made their way down the mountain, their minds must have been reeling from what they had just witnessed. Just minutes earlier, they watched Jesus transform right before their eyes. Suddenly, without warning or explanation, Jesus began to emanate a brilliant light. Mark described it this way: “his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them” (Mark 9:3 NLT). These three men had seen Jesus do many inexplicable and unprecedented things over the last three years, but nothing quite like this. Seeing Jesus walk on the water in the midst of a storm made a distinct impression. In fact, they had initially thought He was some kind of ghostly apparition. So what must have been going through their minds as they saw Jesus transfigured?

When the long-departed prophets Moses and Elijah suddenly appeared, the disciples seemed to begin putting two and two together. They knew that something spectacular was happening. As they took in the scene unfolding before them, they must have wondered if this was it — was Jesus getting ready to usher in His Kingdom? Had Moses, the great deliverer, come to help Jesus in His quest to free the people of Israel from their captivity under the Romans? Was Elijah's appearance proof that the time had come? Was this the fulfillment of the long-awaited prophecy?

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” – Malachi 4:5-6 ESV

But the miracle on the mountain ended as quickly as it began. Suddenly, Elijah and Moses were gone, and Jesus stood before them just as He had been before. The glory was gone, but the moment's impact lingered with the disciples. Peter, James, and John must have been bursting at the seams, eager to tell the other nine disciples what they had witnessed, but Jesus threw cold water on their plans, commanding them to keep it all to themselves until the proper time.

…he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. – Mark 9:9 NLT

Now stop and think about that statement for a moment. The disciples had just witnessed Jesus speaking to Moses and Elijah, and their minds must have been filled with thoughts of the coming Kingdom. Their hopes and dreams of Jesus being the long-awaited Messiah were about to come true. Yet He brings up the same topic He had raised before the transfiguration.

Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. – Mark 8:31 NLT

Peter found this news unacceptable and told Jesus so. But his verbal dismissal of Jesus’ words earned him a stern rebuke. Now Peter, James, and John were hearing Jesus bring up the same incomprehensible and objectionable subject again, and Mark makes it clear that they had no idea what Jesus was talking about.

…they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. – Mark 9:10 ESV

The disciples didn’t lack a concept of the resurrection; as Jews, they believed in a future resurrection of the dead. They were familiar with the writings of Isaiah and Daniel.

Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise.
    You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!
For your dew is a dew of light,
    and the earth will give birth to the dead. – Isaiah 26:19 ESV

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. – Daniel 12:2-3 ESV

John would later record another occasion when Jesus told Martha that her dead brother Lazarus would “rise again” (John 11:23 ESV). She responded, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (John 11:24 ESV). She believed in a future resurrection at the end of the age, and so did the disciples. But they struggled to understand how any of this related to Jesus establishing His Kingdom.

Confused by Jesus’ words, the disciples ignored them and focused on the scene they had witnessed on the mountaintop. They had seen Elijah with their own eyes, and this most likely had led them to believe that the prophecy of Malachi was being fulfilled. So, searching for clarification, they asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?” (Mark 9:11 NLT).

Their question had a purpose. They had just seen Elijah, so they were asking Jesus to confirm that His messiahship was about to begin. One thing was meant to follow the other. Elijah had appeared; now it was time for Jesus to do His part. The disciples must have been thinking of another familiar Messianic passage from Malachi.

“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past.” – Malachi 3:1-4 NLT

Malachi’s imagery seems to corroborate what the disciples saw on the mountaintop: the blazing Messiah, reigning from His temple, and restoring Israel to its former glory.

The disciples seem to have linked their sighting of Elijah to the timing of the Messiah’s appearance. They had just seen Elijah, so it must be time for Jesus to drop the charade and reveal Himself for who He really was: The Messiah of Israel. It was time for Him to get down to the serious business of ruling and reigning from David's throne. They no longer needed miracles or difficult-to-understand messages.

Jesus assured them that their interpretation of Malachi was correct. “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready” (Mark 9:12 NLT). But the scribes and the disciples had left out an important part of the prophecy: Elijah would come first, but the Messiah would also have to endure great suffering. The people of Israel had conveniently ignored the many Old Testament passages that alluded to the Messiah’s death. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, King David wrote about how men would treat the Messiah.

But I am a worm and not a man,
    scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
    they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
“He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him;
    let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” – Psalm 22:6-8 ESV

Matthew records this prophecy's fulfillment.

So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” – Matthew 27:41-43 ESV

The prophet Isaiah predicted the tremendous suffering and agony the Messiah would endure at the hands of sinful men.

See, my servant will prosper;
    he will be highly exalted.
But many were amazed when they saw him.
    His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human,
    and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. – Isaiah 52:13-14 NLT

He was despised and rejected—
    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care. – Isaiah 53:3 NLT

But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed. – Isaiah 53:5 NLT

He was oppressed and treated harshly,
    yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. – Isaiah 53:7 NLT

Jesus wanted His disciples to know that the same Scriptures that predict Elijah's coming also predict the suffering of the Son of Man. So, He asked them, “Why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with utter contempt?” (Mark 9:12 NLT). He wasn’t expecting an answer; He was making a point. God has a divine order; He has a plan, and every detail of that plan must unfold in order, including the Savior's suffering. Then Jesus dropped the real news that must have exploded like a bombshell on the unsuspecting disciples.

“But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted.” – Mark 9:13 NLT

Jesus wasn’t referring to the Elijah they saw on the mountaintop; He meant John the Baptist. The angel who visited Zechariah, John the Baptist's father, confirmed this in his message.

Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” – Luke 1:13-17 NLT

When Jesus and His disciples descended the mountain, John the Baptist was already dead, a victim of King Herod’s wrath. Jesus let the disciples know that John's death would precede His own.

“…they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” – Matthew 17:12 ESV

The disciples’ experience on the mountaintop left them eagerly anticipating the long-awaited Kingdom. But something else had to happen first; the Son of Man must suffer and die. The cross had to precede the crown. Ridicule and rejection must come before resurrection and reigning. Jesus would have to endure the pain and ignominy of crucifixion before He could experience the joy of glorification. It was all part of God’s plan, and while it made no sense to the disciples, the apostle Paul later explained the method behind God’s seeming madness.

Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
   he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:6-8 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

You’re Not Listening

1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. – Mark 9:1-8 ESV

Verse 1 of Chapter 9 links the teachings of Jesus in the previous chapter to Mark’s account of Jesus’ transfiguration. Everything in Chapter 8 serves as a preface to what Mark describes next, including Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus’ revelation of His coming death, and His rebuke of Peter for refusing to accept God’s will.

The discussions recorded in Chapter 8 reveal the growing tension among Jesus’ disciples as they try to reconcile their understanding of His role as the Messiah with what they hear Him say and see Him doing. His actions and words confuse them, and His talk of suffering and death seems senseless to them. When they heard Him tell the crowd, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34 ESV), they were stunned.

Jesus knew His disciples well, so He understood their apprehensions and fears. Some of them were likely having second thoughts about their decision to follow Him. His arguments with the religious leaders had become embarrassing, and all kinds of rumors were circulating about Jesus and His followers. People pointed fingers at them, and the disciples must have cringed every time someone said Jesus was crazy or possessed of a demon. His cryptic teaching style left many confused, including them. So, when Jesus said, “Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38 ESV), it was a not-so-subtle reference to their doubts and fears.

That is why Jesus quickly added, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!” (Mark 9:1 NLT). He was not done providing His disciples with further proof of His identity and mission. He was about to confirm Peter’s earlier confession with incontrovertible evidence that He truly was the Messiah. A handful of His disciples would get a glimpse behind the curtain, with front-row seats to a spectacular display of Jesus’ glory. Instead of the plainly clad, thoroughly human Rabbi they saw every day, they were going to see the glorified Son of God.

Mark’s buildup to this remarkable event is somewhat disappointing. He simply states that six days later, Jesus took three of His disciples “and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them” (Mark 9:2 ESV). Not exactly a riveting description of what must have been a momentous, life-changing experience for Peter, James, and John. Mark simply states that Jesus was transfigured before them. The Greek word is metamorphoō, which means “to change into another form, to transform.”

In an instant, Jesus’ appearance changed radically. Mark gives few details, but he does describe the result: “his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them” (Mark 9:3 ESV). This imagery recalls John’s description of Jesus at the opening of his gospel.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1:4-5 ESV

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. – John 1:9-10 ESV

The fact that John was one of the three disciples privileged to witness Jesus' transfiguration helps explain his description of Jesus as light. Mark’s account of the transfiguration seems to subtly link to another spectacular event where God’s glory was put on full display. It is recorded in Exodus.

Then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud. To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. – Exodus 24:15-18 NLT

Notice the reference to six days. Perhaps Mark is trying to connect these two events, linking the manifestation of God’s glory to Moses at Sinai to the manifestation of Jesus’ glory to His disciples. Jesus, the Son of God, appeared to them like a dazzling light, like a consuming fire, and Moses and the prophet Elijah accompanied him.

Just imagine this spectacular scene. The three disciples watch in stunned silence as Jesus, ablaze with glory, speaks with two of the great patriarchs of the Hebrew people. We’re not told how the disciples recognized these two men, whom they had never seen before. Perhaps, as the disciples overheard the discussion between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, their names were mentioned, or some clue revealed their identity. Luke provides a bit more detail about what these two Old Testament saints discussed with Jesus.

Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem. – Luke 9:30-31 NLT

Peter, James, and John listened in as Jesus, Moses, and Elijah discussed His “exodus.” Luke uses the Greek word exodos, which means “departing.” No two people were better qualified to discuss this topic than Moses and Elijah. Moses led the exodus, the departure of the people of Israel from Egypt, but He also “departed” this life in a rather extraordinary manner.

Then Moses went up to Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab and climbed Pisgah Peak, which is across from Jericho…So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, just as the Lord had said. The Lord buried him in a valley near Beth-peor in Moab, but to this day no one knows the exact place. Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. – Deuteronomy 34:1, 5-7 NLT

When Moses’ work was done and his life’s days were finished, God Himself conducted his burial service.

Elijah’s “exodus” from this life was no less spectacular. 2 Kings records that Elijah was walking with his successor, Elisha, when something remarkable happened.

As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. – 2 Kings 2:11-12 NLT

So, these two “departure experts” shared their insights with Jesus. They discussed with Him the events that would surround His coming exodus from this world. Their words reinforced everything Jesus had told the disciples. They likely discussed the very events Jesus predicted would happen in Jerusalem and that Peter had rebuked Him for sharing. That’s when Peter spoke up; he couldn’t remain silent any longer.

Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified. – Mark 9:5-6 NLT

Nervous excitement got the better of him. Whether he realized it or not, Peter stuck his foot in his mouth again. Hoping to prolong this amazing moment, Peter suggested that he, James, and John build three small shelters for Jesus, Elijah, and Moses. The Greek word Mark used is skēnē, which translates as “tabernacle.” It is almost as if Peter wanted to set up three little temples or holy structures to house these extraordinary individuals. We can only speculate what Peter was thinking, but he may have seen the appearance of Elijah and Moses as a sign that Jesus was about to set up His Kingdom on earth. As a good Jew, he would have been familiar with God’s promise, found in the Book of Malachi.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.” – Malachi 4:5 ESV

He would also have known what Moses said about the coming Messiah.

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him…” – Deuteronomy 18:15 NLT

And God had given Moses further insight into the role of this coming prophet.

“I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him. I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.” – Deuteronomy 18:18-19 NLT

The final words in God’s prophecy are particularly pertinent to what happens next. Peter had expressed his misguided desire to prolong this holy convocation on the mountaintop. But God interrupted his little speech and declared, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him” (Mark 9:7 ESV).

In essence, God told Peter to stop talking and start listening. Peter had no business rebuking Jesus, and no one had asked him to build tabernacles. Peter could have used the advice that James would later give: “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (James 1:19 NLT). Peter didn’t need to say or do anything; he simply needed to shut up and listen.

As quickly as it started, it was over. The glory diminished, Elijah and Moses vanished, and the three disciples found themselves standing alone with Jesus. The two Old Testament prophets had departed the scene, and now all that remained was for Jesus to face His own exodus from this world. He still had to face the reality of the cross, and soon Jesus would find Himself alone. No Elijah or Moses would appear to comfort Him. His disciples would abandon Him. Instead of being cloaked in glory, Jesus would be mockingly draped in a purple robe and a crown of thorns. He would be ridiculed, beaten, and nailed to a wooden cross. Then He would make His exodus from this life — all according to the sovereign will of His Heavenly Father.

When Jesus told the disciples about His pending death, Peter rebuked Him. Now God told Peter, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him” (Mark 9:7 ESV). Peter needed to stop talking and start hearing what Jesus was trying to tell him. Jesus had warned His disciples that His message was not His own; it came from God and had eternal consequences.

“…all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.” – John 12:48-50 NLT

The quick-tongued Peter needed to slow down and process the message Jesus was trying to tell him. It would have paid to remember God’s warning in the Book of Exodus: “I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf” (Deuteronomy 18:19 NLT).

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Blind to the Truth

31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” – Mark 8:31-38 ESV

When Jesus asked the disciples who they thought He was, Peter quickly answered correctly: “You are the Christ” (Mark 8:29 ESV). But Jesus knew Peter's understanding of what he meant was somewhat cloudy. Like the blind man Jesus had just healed, Peter vision of Jesus was initially fuzzy, and his understanding of Jesus’ identity was  incomplete. But Peter wasn’t the only disciple with a foggy perspective on Jesus.

So, in an attempt to add context and clarity to Peter’s answer, Jesus “began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead.” (Mark 8:31 NLT).

When Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ, he had none of those things in mind. The suffering, rejection, and murder of Jesus were not on his radar screen. His concept of the Messiah didn't include any of these things and, without them, there was certainly no need for a resurrection.

This announcement from Jesus made no sense to the disciples. They knew He and the religious leaders didn’t get along, but they would never have dreamed that these holy men would attempt to kill the Messiah of Israel. Yet Jesus made it clear that “the elders and the chief priests and the scribes” would be the ones behind His death. These three groups comprised the Sanhedrin, the high council of Israel, which consisted of 70 members. The men who sat on this council were powerful, influential, and revered by the people. They were considered the spiritual elite of the day, and it was incomprehensible to think that they would conspire to kill Jesus.

Peter was appalled by this grim announcement and pulled Jesus aside to rebuke Him. Matthew tells us what Peter said.

“Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” – Matthew 16:22 ESV

It is hard to fully appreciate the force behind Peter’s statement. The NET Bible offers a more literal translation that shows how shocked and upset Peter was by Jesus’ words.

“God forbid, Lord! This must not happen to you!” – Matthew 16:22 NET

This time, Peter didn’t understand what he was saying. He meant well, but his words were spoken rashly and without any thought as to their import. But Jesus’ response was quick and harsh. Mark indicates that Jesus looked at His disciples, and He likely saw eyes filled with fear and confusion. He could see the state of turmoil they were in and knew they shared Peter’s concern. But He quickly turned His attention to Peter and rebuked him in front of his peers.

“Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” – Mark 8:33 ESV

Jesus accused the very man who had just confessed Him to be the Christ of being “Satan.” This public rebuke was meant to send a message, not just to Peter but to each of the disciples. By opposing God's revealed will, Peter unknowingly aligned himself with the enemy. When Peter shouted, “God forbid,” it was as if he were demanding that God alter His plans. Jesus had just revealed the Father’s will for His life, but Peter didn’t approve. He found any mention of suffering, rejection, and death to be unfathomable and, therefore, unacceptable.

Matthew adds that Jesus accused Peter of being “a stumbling block,” using the Greek word skandalon to make His point. Peter’s rebuke was like Satan throwing a rock in Jesus’ path to cause Him to stumble. The enemy wanted Jesus to fail in His God-ordained mission and was using Peter to make it happen. Rather than help Jesus fulfill His role as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), Peter acted as an impediment. His well-intentioned desire that Jesus avoid suffering and death was more in line with the will of Satan than it was with God’s divine redemptive plan. Satan had been trying to derail the mission of Jesus from the beginning. Even after Jesus’ birth, Satan attempted to use King Herod to eliminate the Christ child. And more than 30 years later, after Jesus was baptized by John and led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Satan repeatedly tempted Jesus to disobey His Father’s will and abandon His mission.

Now, here was Peter, one of the 12, declaring his opposition to Jesus' divinely ordained ministry. Jesus had plainly stated that He must suffer, die, and then rise again. Every aspect of God’s plan was non-negotiable and completely necessary, and Jesus had come to fulfill the Father’s will to the letter.

“I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.” – John 6:38 NLT

“My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.” – John 4:34 NLT

“I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.” – John 14:31 NLT

Jesus told Peter that his perspective was skewed.

“You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” – Mark 8:33 NLT

Without realizing it, Peter was demanding that his will be done. He had put his expectations and desires ahead of God’s. He could see no personal benefit from Jesus suffering and dying, and he had no need for a dead Messiah, or so he thought.

Peter didn’t realize that his wish for Jesus to escape death was actually a nightmare waiting to happen. Little did he know that, without Jesus’ death, there would be no Kingdom and no forgiveness of sin. Jesus had made it clear that He must be “lifted up” (John 3:14). Just as the bronze serpent was lifted up in the wilderness and brought healing to all those who were guilty of sin and facing death, so Jesus must be lifted up on the cross so that mankind’s sin debt might be paid in full. Only through Jesus’ sacrificial death could sinful men and women find restoration and redemption. Clinging to a living Jesus couldn't save Peter; he was going to have to embrace the crucified Christ as his only hope of being reconciled to God.

Having rebuked Peter in front of his peers, Jesus expanded His audience by calling a crowd to join them. The message He delivered was meant to give Peter and the disciples further insight into His mission and their role in it.

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” – Mark 8:34-35 NLT

Jesus was calling Peter and his companions to abandon their agendas. He knew they had all kinds of expectations concerning His role as the Messiah. They hoped that when Jesus finally established His Kingdom on earth, they would play vital roles in His royal administration. But Jesus was letting them know His Kingdom would come only through sacrifice. He would have to take up His cross, and they would have to do the same. He would willingly lay down His life so He could take it up again (John 10:17-18), and He expected them to follow His example.

Peter and the rest of the disciples couldn’t help but focus all their attention on the present. They were in it for what they thought they could get out of it. But Jesus had a much longer perspective. He realized that humiliation must precede glorification. Death had to come before life. Sacrifice was the key to obtaining the riches of God’s goodness and grace.

The disciples had short-term outlooks. They sought immediate gratification and hoped to enjoy their best life in the here and now, not the hereafter. Jesus’ emphasis on the soul was meant to realign their thinking by reminding them that there was a spiritual dimension to their lives. Their souls would outlast their physical bodies. They were eternal creatures living in a temporal world, and Jesus was trying to clarify their vision so they would embrace God’s plan of redemption with open arms and willing hearts.

Years later, long after Jesus suffered, died, was resurrected, and returned to His Father’s side in heaven, the apostle John wrote powerful words of admonition and encouragement to believers in the 1st Century AD. The members of his audience were facing persecution, suffering, and even death because of their faith in Christ. They were experiencing what it means to take up your cross and follow Jesus. But they were constantly being tempted to lose sight of the future and to pursue the pleasures of the present. So, John warned them:

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. – 1 John 2:15-17 NLT

Jesus closes His message with a sobering word clearly intended for the ears of His disciples.

“If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” – Mark 8:38 NLT

Jesus was not insinuating that Peter could lose his status as one of God’s chosen; He was simply warning Peter and the other disciples that they were about to face a difficult period that would test their allegiance and tempt them to abandon all hope. But Jesus assures them that, despite all that will happen, He was coming back. That was to be their focus. Yes, they will see Him arrested, tried, humiliated, crucified, killed, and buried. But they will also see Him raised back to life and watch Him ascend into heaven. And, at His departure, He left them with comforting words concerning His eventual return.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” – John 14:1-3 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Here We Go Again

1 In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” 4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” 5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha – Mark 8:1-10 ESV

There is the School of Hard Knocks, and then there is the lesser-known but equally popular School of Repetitive Lessons. The first provides unsolicited educational opportunities through difficult, often unexpected life experiences. These painful, often self-inflicted life lessons are a vital part of the human growth process. Friedrich Nietzsche said, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”

But many of us have spent more time in the second educational venue without even realizing it. Like the main character in the movie Groundhog Day, we wake up each morning with the eerie sensation that we’ve been here before. But we can’t quite put our finger on it. Everything feels a bit repetitive, almost as if someone has rewound the video of our life and hit replay. Like a child who must repeat second grade, we find ourselves reliving and relearning certain life experiences because we failed to grasp their significance the first time around. I affectionately call it God’s School for Remedial Slow Learners.

Today’s passage feels eerily familiar. As you read it, it’s hard to ignore the impression that we’ve been here before, because we have. In a sense, Mark lets us watch as the 12 disciples re-enter the School of Repetitive Learning, where they get a second chance to learn what they missed the first time.

Chapter 6 contains Mark’s account of the feeding of the 5,000. On that occasion, Jesus fed a large crowd, probably more than 10,000 people, with nothing more than five loaves of bread and two fish. He miraculously multiplied those meager resources so everyone in the crowd could eat as much as they wanted. When the people walked away full and satisfied, the disciples filled 12 baskets with the uneaten bread and fish. Those 12 baskets were a visual answer to Andrew's question: “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” (John 6:9 ESV).

Andrew deemed the five loaves and two fish insufficient to meet their needs. But in doing so, he failed to understand Jesus' sufficiency. Even after Jesus proved His power to provide, the disciples failed to learn the lesson. Mark records, “they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened” (Mark 6:52 ESV).

So here we are again, watching the disciples reenter Jesus’ School of Repetitive Learning, and Mark makes sure we don’t miss the repetitive nature of this scene.

…again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat… – Mark 8:1 ESV

It was déjà vu all over again, but the disciples didn't recognize they had been here before. So, Jesus sets up the scene for them.

“I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.” – Mark 8:2-3 NLT

Jesus lobs them a softball, but they swing and miss. He graciously gives them a chance to prove they learned the lesson from the previous experience, yet one of them ignorantly responds, “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?” (Mark 8:4 NLT).

The quiz had one simple question, and sadly, they revealed they had no idea what the answer was. They show no sign that they recognize anything familiar about this scene. So, once again, Jesus asks them to assess what resources they have.

“How many loaves do you have?” – Mark 8:5 ESV

All they can muster is a scant seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. By this time, you would expect at least one of the disciples to recall the earlier episode and make the connection. Surely Peter and Andrew could remember what Jesus had done with the five loaves and two fish. Wasn’t John smart enough to recognize what was happening and express confidence in Jesus’ ability to meet the moment's need? Evidently not.

So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd. – Mark 8:6 NLT

Jesus performed yet another miracle and let His hard-hearted disciples participate; they became the means of distribution. The bread, broken and blessed by Jesus, passed from His hands through theirs. They took what Jesus provided and made it available to those in need. These slow-to-learn, quick-to-doubt men were given a glimpse of the future role they would play as Jesus’ ambassadors. The day was coming when His body would be broken for sinful men and women; the Bread of Life would offer Himself so the spiritually hungry might be satisfied. When that day came, the disciples would be tasked with distributing the Bread of Life to all who would receive it.

“…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8 ESV

Little did they know that these lessons were intended to prepare them for something far more significant and life-changing. They remained oblivious to the lesson that Jesus was trying to teach them. It would not be the last time Jesus used the metaphor of broken bread to convey the reality of His life’s mission. On the night Jesus celebrated His last Passover meal with His disciples, He revisited these two earlier experiences and connected the dots for them.

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” – Luke 22:19 ESV

It had never been about loaves and fishes, satisfying temporal needs, or filling empty stomachs. Jesus had come to offer His life as a sacrifice for the sins of fallen mankind. And one day, these very same men would find themselves distributing the good news of Jesus’ sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection to the spiritually hungry. Jesus would offer His life to be broken, and they would have the joy and privilege of sharing the news of His gift with all who would accept it.

Jesus declared Himself the bread sent from heaven by God the Father.

“For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” – John 6:33 ESV

And He offered Himself as the means by which the hungry and thirsty might find satisfaction.

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger…” – John 6:35 ESV

So, as the disciples distributed the broken bread, they probably had the nagging sense that they had been here before. It all felt eerily familiar. The people ate, were satisfied, and, as before, the disciples picked up seven baskets of leftovers. But they remained just as oblivious, having failed to learn the lesson Jesus was trying to teach them. But He would lovingly and patiently repeat the message because He knew the day was coming when the light would go on, and all the lessons would make sense. These men, who found themselves in God’s remedial school for slow learners, would become His primary means of distributing the Bread of Life to a spiritually famished world.

For the second time, Jesus fed a hungry crowd with a few loaves of bread. But that was just a picture of the day when His body would be broken so that a host of hungry sinners could find spiritual sustenance and new life.

“Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.” – John 12:23-24 NLT

The apostle John records that the day after Jesus fed the 5,000, the people showed up again hoping to get another free meal, but Jesus responded, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you” (John 6:26-27 NLT). And people confirm Jesus’ suspicion when they respond, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat’” (John 6:30-31 NLT).

They were still looking for a handout, but Jesus warned them that they were missing the point. He replied, “My Father did…offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:32-33 NLT). This message was intended for His disciples. He wanted them to understand His true identity and mission. 

“I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” – John 6:49-41 NLT

The crowd and His disciples found His message confusing. His talk of eating His body and drinking His blood was hard to understand. But again, Jesus was trying to help His disciples grasp the real purpose of His incarnation. 

“I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” – John 6:57-58 NLT

Jesus had not come to fill stomachs and provide temporary relief from sickness; He was on a mission of redemption and restoration that would bring eternal life to those enslaved to sin and condemned to death. Yet, the disciples struggled to understand what Jesus was trying to tell them. His actions and words left them confused and conflicted. But rather than giving up on them, Jesus lovingly, patiently, and methodically revealed His identity through His miracles and messages. And, one day, they would graduate from the School of Repetitive Lessons and hear Jesus give His commencement address.

“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20 NLT 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Great and Merciful Shepherd

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” – Mark 7:24-37 ESV

After His lengthy, heated debate with the religious leaders over ritual cleansing and defilement, Jesus took His disciples on an unexpected journey outside Israel's borders. The Jewish Messiah, who had come “to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:11),  took His message to the Gentiles. In a sense, Jesus was leaving behind the legalistic, self-righteous law-keepers and choosing to align Himself with the unclean and lawless pagans living in the land of Phoenicia.

The scribes and Pharisees were appalled that Jesus and His disciples did not follow the traditional rite of hand-cleansing before eating bread. What would they think when they heard that Jesus had defiled Himself by traveling outside Galilee and associating with non-Jews?

But that seemed to be the point of Jesus’ excursion outside the land of Israel. God had promised Abraham, “in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 22:18 ESV). Not long after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the apostle Paul took the gospel message to the people of Galatia, where many of them turned to Christ. Later, in a letter he wrote to the churches he helped to start, he echoed the words of Jesus.

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” – Galatians 3:7-8 ESV

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. – Galatians 3:16 ESV

In traveling to the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon, Jesus demonstrated the truth of the Father’s promise to Abraham. Abraham's “offspring” was about to “bless” the nations.

Mark indicates that, upon arrival, Jesus “entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden” (Mark 7:24 ESV). This statement carries great weight. According to Jewish law, by entering the house of a Gentile, Jesus defiled Himself and rendered Himself ceremonially unclean.

“The strict Jew would not enter a Gentile’s house, nor sit on the same couch, nor eat or drink out of the same vessel. The very dust of a heathen city was defiling.” – Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

A second-century text called The Book of Jubilees contains the following warning against any association with Gentiles.

“And you also, my son, Jacob, remember my words, and keep the commandments of Abraham, your father. Separate yourself from the Gentiles, and do not eat with them, and do not perform deeds like theirs. And do not become associates of theirs. Because their deeds are defiled, and all their ways are contaminated, and despicable, and abominable.” – Jubilees 22:16

So, Mark’s reference to Jesus entering a Gentile home was meant to shock his readers. Yet rumors about Jesus and His miraculous powers had reached Phoenicia. Mark records, “immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet” (Mark 7:25 ESV). Matthew calls her “a Canaanite woman” (Matthew 15:22 ESV). The term “Canaanite” was an all-inclusive term for any and all Gentiles who lived in the land originally known as Canaan. This woman was a Gentile, and yet she was willing to seek out the Jewish Messiah in the hopes that He could help her with a pressing problem. Mark wanted his readers to grasp how shocking this encounter was.

Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. – Mark 7:26 ESV

The woman was not a Jew, so she was considered unclean and unholy. To make matters worse, her daughter was possessed by a demon. Everything about this scenario is meant to stress her defilement and to place Jesus in a potentially compromising position. But in his account, Matthew adds an interesting and important detail. In begging Jesus to help her daughter, the woman reveals an uncharacteristic understanding of who Jesus really was.

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” – Matthew 15:22 ESV

By calling him “Son of David,” she acknowledged her belief that he was the Jew’s long-awaited Messiah, the promised descendant of King David. This wasn’t necessarily an expression of saving faith, but a confession that she believed Jesus was a man of great power and significance. And because she had heard of His many miracles, she begged this powerful man to show her mercy by helping her daughter.

Only Matthew indicates the disciples' reaction, revealing that these good Jews were appalled at the woman’s unmitigated gall and begged Jesus to get rid of her.

“Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” – Matthew 15:23 ESV

Everything about this trip must have had them shaking their heads in wonder. Why would Jesus drag them on a 30-mile journey to a place like Tyre. It’s likely none of these men had ever ventured outside Israel's borders, so they might have seen this trip as an adventure. But when Jesus began to interact with the local inhabitants, they must have been surprised and confused. What Jesus says to the woman echoed the disciples’ sentiments.

“Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” – Mark 7:27 ESV

The Jews considered dogs to be unclean. Rarely kept as pets, they were typically used for security, and the streets of most Israelite towns and villages were filled with strays that scavenged for food and could threaten public safety. So, when Jesus referred to this woman as a “dog,” He was expressing the common Jewish perception concerning Gentiles.

According to Matthew, Jesus told the woman, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24 ESV). He made it clear to her that His original mission was to His own people. But she was not willing to give up so easily; her need was great, and Jesus was her only hope.

Unphased by Jesus’ comments, she responded, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” (Mark 7:28 ESV). She didn’t debate His assessment of her social standing or take offense at His seeming slight. Instead, she acknowledged her unworthiness and humbly begged for a “crumb” of His goodness and mercy. She knew she was undeserving of His mercy, and was willing to take anything He gave her. And to the disciples’ amazement, Jesus gladly obliged her request.

“For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” – Mark 7:29 ESV

Matthew reveals that the statement itself did not produce her daughter’s miraculous healing; it was the faith that motivated it. Jesus told her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly” (Matthew 15:28 ESV). Her belief in Jesus' power and authority was rewarded.

And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. – Mark 7:30 ESV

When she arrived home, she found her daughter whole and in her right mind. But Jesus and His disciples left Tire, headed north to the city of Sidon, then back through Galilee to Decapolis on the southeastern side of the Sea of Galilee. This long, arduous trip would have taken anywhere from a few weeks to a month. When they arrived in this predominantly Gentile region, Jesus once again found Himself confronted with a request for healing.

…they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. – Mark 7:32 ESV

Mark doesn’t say whether this man was a Jew or a Gentile, but like the Canaanite woman, he had a pressing problem that required Jesus' power. Mark’s description of the man’s condition is critical to understanding this miracle's meaning. The man suffered from a “speech impediment,” and Mark used a rare Greek word, mogilalos, to describe it. The only other time this word appears is in the Greek Septuagint rendering of Isaiah 35:4-6.

Say to those who have an anxious heart,
    “Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
    will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
    He will come and save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue ofthe mute [mogilalos] sing for joy. – Isaiah 35:4-6

This Messianic passage prophesies the Messiah's coming and portrays the amazing miracles He would perform upon His arrival. Here, Jesus is given yet another opportunity to reveal His true identity through another supernatural display of His power.

The way this miracle was enacted is truly unique. Jesus “put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue” (Mark 7:33 NLT). None of this was necessary. Mark had just described Jesus healing the Canaanite woman’s daughter from a distance with nothing more than a spoken word. But in this case, Jesus touched the man and, in doing so, became ceremonially defiled. This man’s condition rendered him unclean because the Jews believed that disease and disabilities were the result of sin. Yet, Jesus touched the man’s ears and tongue, then declared, “Be opened” (Mark 7:35 ESV). And immediately, the man’s hearing and speech were fully restored, leaving the onlookers “astonished beyond measure” (Mark 7:37 ESV). Stunned by what they had just witnessed, they responded, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak” (Mark 7:37 NLT).

Jesus warned them not to tell anyone what they had seen, but they couldn’t help themselves; the news of this miracle spread throughout the region. These two miracles, the healing of the girl in Tyre and the healing of the man in Decapolis, sparked interest in and a hunger for the Messiah among the Gentiles. This matters because, after His resurrection, Jesus commissioned His disciples to be His witnesses “in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 ESV). When they arrived in places like Phoenicia and Decapolis, they found an audience ready to hear the good news of Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus had primed the pump and prepared the Gentiles' hearts to receive the message of salvation His disciples would bring. 

The offspring of Abraham had come to bless the nations of the earth. As the seed of David and the Son of God, Jesus was on a mission to restore the lost sheep of the flock of Abraham, but, as He later declared, “I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd” (John 10:16 NLT). As the Son of God, Jesus came “to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10 NLT), including people from every tribe, nation, and tongue. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Scandal of Disbelief

1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. – Mark 6:1-6 ESV

After healing the woman with a discharge of blood and raising Jairus' daughter from the dead, Jesus and His disciples went to Nazareth. But there is one last thing we need to look at before leaving these two amazing miracles behind. In recording the events of these miracles, Mark provides two details that, at first glance, seem unimportant. First, when describing the medical condition of the woman who touched Jesus’ robe, Mark states that she “had had a discharge of blood for twelve years” (Mark 5:25 ESV). One might assume that he included this detail simply to emphasize the long-term and hopeless nature of the woman’s condition.

But then, just a few verses later, in describing the healing of Jairus’ young daughter, Mark adds another interesting detail.

And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age)… – Mark 5:42 ESV

Why did Mark feel the need to provide the girl’s age? Perhaps he did so to explain her ability to walk when commanded. But why did he think it was important to share her exact age? Even a toddler could have responded when Jesus called out, “Little girl, I say to you, arise” (Mark 5:41 ESV).

Did Mark use these two references to years to connect these two miracles? Consider the fact that the very year the woman’s debilitating medical condition began would have been the same year the young girl had been born. While this woman spent the next 12 years visiting physicians and spending all her financial resources seeking a cure, Jairus's young daughter would have lived a protected, privileged life. After all, her father was a well-respected leader in the local synagogue. For 12 years, the woman’s life would have been marked by pain and suffering, while the young girl most likely experienced a happy and carefree existence. But to the surprise of her family and friends, her young life ended suddenly and tragically in death. No one saw it coming. Although her anxious father sought out the miracle worker Jesus, his efforts proved futile. It was too little, too late.

It would be natural to expect the older woman, who suffered from an incurable medical condition, to be the first to die, but she was spared because she placed her faith in Jesus. Her condition was fatal, and she was close to death; however, she was delivered from death’s door. But the young girl, whose best years were ahead of her, ended up surrounded by mourners grieving her premature and pointless death. But because of her father's faith, Jesus raised her back to life. Upon hearing the devastating news that his daughter had died, Jairus was told by Jesus, “Do not fear, only believe” (Mark 5:36 ESV). Jesus didn’t tell Jairus why or what he should believe. But the distraught father followed Jesus and witnessed his 12-year-old daughter be miraculously restored to life.

Two women, one old and one young, one sick and the other whole. One anticipated death, and the other was completely surprised by it. And yet, both women were delivered from death by the same man. The one who was near death was prevented from having to experience it. The one who experienced death was brought back from it through the power and authority of Jesus. This reminds us of the words He spoke to Martha just before He raised her brother, Lazarus, from the dead.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26 ESV

When we read the words, “…though he die, yet shall he live,” we should think of the 12-year-old girl. When we read the words, “everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die,” we should think of the woman who had been sick for 12 long years. These two women provide us with living proof of Jesus’ statement. Yes, both would end up dying at some later date. But, in healing them and delivering them from death when He did, Jesus was demonstrating for His disciples that He had power over death and the grave. And, one day, He would prove it with His own death and resurrection.

But back to today’s passage. Jesus and His disciples made their way to Nazareth, the town where He grew up. This is where Mary and Joseph had settled and raised their family. After Jesus' birth, they had additional children who, unlike their older brothers, all chose to remain in Nazareth.

The next Sabbath, Jesus and His disciples went to the local synagogue, where Jesus was honored as a visiting Rabbi or teacher. He was given the opportunity to address the congregation, and what He said that day made a strong impression on those in the room. But His words received mixed reviews.

“Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” – Mark 6:2-3 NLT

Some marveled at His eloquence and His ability to perform such amazing miracles. News of His most recent demonstrations of power had likely reached Capernaum. But others in the crowd that day were unimpressed because they saw Jesus as nothing more than a common carpenter. They knew His family and were probably aware that even His own brothers thought He had lost His mind (Mark 3:21). His own family refused to believe He was the Messiah of Israel (John 7:5). It seems likely that Jesus’ siblings shared their opinions about their famous brother, and this negative publicity appears to have jaded the minds of those who had known Jesus since He was a child. Mark reveals that the naysayers' opinion prevailed that day.

They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. – Mark 6:3 NLT

“‘Offense’ comes from the Greek root word skandalizo. It means a stumbling block that causes someone to sin or to distrust another. Jesus expounds on this theme in Matthew. There, He calls Himself a capstone on God's plan of salvation that the religious leaders stumble on, making it impossible for them to receive Him (Matthew 21:42-46). Luke explains that the people of Nazareth aren't just doubtful; they try to push Jesus off a cliff (Luke 4:28-30).” – https://www.bibleref.com/Mark/6/Mark-6-3

They were “scandalized” by Jesus’ words and actions. They found Him offensive and off-putting, not someone worthy of their belief and trust.  Mark goes on to note that Jesus “marveled because of their unbelief” (Mark 6:6 ESV). Those who knew Him best rejected His message and refused to believe the rumors that He was the long-awaited Messiah. They knew the rumors about His miracles, and when they heard Him speak, they were amazed at His wisdom. But they couldn’t get past the fact that this was the same man whom they had seen running and playing in the streets of Nazareth as a boy. How could the local carpenter's son be the long-awaited Messiah? The old adage, “familiarity breeds contempt,” comes to mind. They knew too much, and their knowledge blinded them to the truth.

Sensing their disbelief and outright rejection of His message and ministry, Jesus said, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family” (Mark 6:4 NLT). Even the Old Testament prophets found it hard to get those who knew them best to listen. Their claims to be spokesmen for God went unheeded, and their calls to repentance fell on deaf ears. Jesus joins the rejected and disrespected prophets of God. He was in good company and experienced the same bad outcome.

Their refusal to accept Jesus as the Son of God prevented them from experiencing God’s power. Jesus' miracles would remain nothing more than rumors. The healings they had heard about would not take place in their community. The sick would find no relief. The demon-possessed would experience no release. The blind would remain sightless and doomed to walk in darkness. The disbelieving citizens of Nazareth would allow the Light of the world to walk away, leaving them wandering in the darkness of their own sin.

Mark paints a pathetic, pitiable picture of the scene as Jesus prepared to leave His hometown.

…because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. – Mark 6:5 NLT

The entire town of Nazareth lacked faith. Despite all they had heard and seen, they couldn’t get past the fact that this was Jesus, the son of Joseph and Mary. He was just a man and no better than them. So, why should they honor Him? Why should they believe Him? Sadly, the Messiah, the anointed one of God, had grown up among them, but their stubborn pride and sin would prevent them from recognizing Him. While Jesus would mercifully heal a few, the rest would be left to die in their sins. Their refusal to believe would have dire, deadly consequences. The real scandal was that the people of Nazareth missed the opportunity to receive new life from the Light of life. Standing outside Lazarus' grave, Jesus told Martha, “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26 ESV). Then he asked her, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26 ESV). 

The two women in Chapter 4 were living witnesses of Jesus’ authority and power, and could testify to His identity as the Son of God. They would have been scandalized by the people of Nazareth’s disbelief. Who, in their right mind, would reject the words and works of someone like Jesus? What could justify such dismissive treatment of the one who could prevent death and restore life? But Jesus, while amazed at the disbelief of His family, friends, and neighbors, was not deterred from His mission. Mark says He “went about among the villages teaching” (Mark 6:6 ESV). He remained committed to His Father’s will and determined to finish what He came to do. The apostle Paul describes Jesus’ unwavering dedication to His Father’s plan. 

Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. – Philippians 2:5-8 ESV

Jesus Himself described how He would fulfill that plan and demonstrate His Father’s love for sinful humanity.

“…the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:14-16 NLT

God showed His love by sending His Son to die for sinful men; that is the real scandal. Choosing to disbelieve that truth is not only shocking but sad. By rejecting Jesus, the people of Nazareth made a fateful decision with eternal implications. The apostle John offers a sobering reminder that disbelief has consequences, but so does belief. 

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. – John 1:10-13 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.