Sharing in The Lord or Denying Him?

Mark 14:12-31

Jesus Celebrates the Passover with His Disciples

12 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?"

13 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. 14 Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"' 15 Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us."

16 So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.

17 In the evening He came with the twelve. 18 Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me."

19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, "Is it I?" And another said, "Is it I?"

20 He answered and said to them, "It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. 21 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born."

Jesus Institutes the Lord's Supper

22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."

23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

27 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep will be scattered.'

28 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."

29 Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be."
30 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."

31 But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!"
And they all said likewise.

The disciples set about preparing for the Passover celebration with the Lord and needed to find a quiet place to gather.  Jesus told them to find a certain man carrying water and follow him.  There they would ask the owner of that house in His name where they could eat the Passover meal with them.  They did not ask if it was possible but where they would eat together to share that meal celebrating deliverance from the wages of sin, death, as in Egypt long ago by the blood of the lamb sacrificed for His chosen people (Exodus 12:27).  The man showed them the upper room of the house already prepared for them as if he knew what was planned by the Master but not communicated or arranged except in a supernatural manner.  They prepared the Passover and then Jesus came with the disciples to that place where they shared in the Lord as their Lamb slain before the foundation of the world for their sin to deliver them as no previous Passover celebration ever could.  Then the Lord dropped the news that one of them was about to betray Him to the religious leaders out to stop Him.  They all were shocked and began asking and wondering who this could be.  Jesus made it clear that the path to the cross was set in stone yet also that the one who betrayed Him would have been better off never to have been born.  He is sovereign but we are still each accountable.  Jesus then related the acts of the traditional Passover meal to the new supper of the Lord which we call communion because we are communing or sharing in the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:16) Himself as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).  The bread now symbolizes the body broken in the suffering of the Lord in place of the slaughtered lamb in Egypt as the destroyer approached, and the wine now represents His blood shed and marking the doorposts of our souls to be set aside for eternal salvation from the penalty of sin which is spiritual death and exclusion from His eternal presence in the New Jerusalem.  His suffering allowed Jesus to take our place of eternal punishment and His blood covers our sin as the sacrifice once and for all, not needing to be repeated every year by a human high priest.  The Passover was therefore transformed into our Lord’s supper of communion with Him as we share in His suffering and death on our behalf (1 Corinthians 5:7).  We will drink that wine of the New and eternal Covenant with Him when He returns into His kingdom and brings us there to be with Him forever!  We then either share in communion with Christ or deny and reject Him as the betraying Judas had done.  Even for those who did not reject Him there was faltering and failure as we see the disciples swearing to never deny the Lord and yet Peter later did so because he was frail as we all are and yet was also forgiven afterwards.  Yes, Jesus had told them ahead of time so they could look back to His sovereign omniscient statement of the Shepherd being struck down and they as the sheep running for the hills in fear.  We are like them also at times in avoiding identifying and sharing in His sufferings (2 Timothy 1:8) because we are weak, but because He is strong we can find forgiveness and grace to carry on and grow in faithfulness and stay behind the Shepherd of our souls (1 Peter 2:25) as He leads us through the valley of the shadow of death and into green pastures (Psalm 23:4, 1-3).  Are we sharing in the Lord or denying Him?  May we therefore learn to faithfully follow Him through our faltering failures as we learn to trust Him more. 

Who Do We Serve?

 Mark 14:1-11

The Plot to Kill Jesus

1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people."

The Anointing at Bethany

3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply.

6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.

Jesus was the target of the religious in power who wanted desperately to stop Him because the Lord was exposing their hidden motives and opposition to God and His word.  They looked for ways to trick Him that they could accuse Jesus of blasphemy because He claimed to be the Messiah they all awaited.  The problem was that they only looked for an earthly deliverer from the Roman occupying rule and not the deliverer from the rule of sin and death which hung over all Adam’s descendants.  Their trust in a religious position under Moses as the chosen nation of Israel did not, unfortunately, make each of them individually chosen by God for salvation.  May we never fall into that trap of reliance on anything but the grace of God in Christ alone by faith alone for our salvation and sanctification!  They therefore do their work in the darkness to avoid being exposed to the people and cause an uproar since the masses were listening to Jesus and observing how He did all things well (Mark 7:37).  Jesus journeyed to the abode of a leprous man in Bethany to share a meal and fellowship.  There a woman was moved by God to anoint Him with a very expensive oil by pouring it on His head.  The others were indignant at the supposed waste of a valuable commodity because they reasoned it would have been better sold to use to help the poor and berated the faithful woman.  The Lord set them straight and reminded them of her faith and love to prepare Him for the burial after His death for their sakes which they could not see at the time.  This is why Jesus said this event should be celebrated and told wherever and when the gospel was told as a testament to the faithful service and sacrifice of giving all we have to follow Him.  Unfortunately, the son of perdition, Judas, did not like to see the chance at getting his hands on that pricey spice to sell that he might add to the collection of filthy lucre he had been accumulating for himself from the money bag (John 12:4-6).  He misappropriated the mission ministry funds for his own gain, a warning to those who would so betray the Lord today.  He went and made a bargain with the religious powers to betray Jesus much as the Roman church tried with Luther and others before and after him when He sought to worship and serve God and not fill the church with gain at the expense of the truth and conscience toward God (Acts 24:16).  May we likewise strive to worship and serve for God’s glory and not for our own gain (1 Timothy 6:6, 9-10).  Who do we serve? 

The Hidden Hour of Christ’s Return

Mark 13:24-37

The Coming of the Son of Man

24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

28 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! 30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

32 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"

Jesus made it clear that the hour of His return, the second coming, was hidden in God’s sovereign will and providence.  After great pressing suffering on earth He will return from heaven amidst the dissolution of the physical universe around us (Isaiah 34:4, 2 Peter 3:11-12).  The sun will go dim enough that the moon fails to reflect any of its light on earth and the very stars will fall from heaven as it is shaken and God’s vengeance on sin is executed upon all who defy and reject Him in unrepentant disbelief.  The heavens of the universe will be rolled up and put away by their Creator against all our cries of disbelief in what we imagine is impossible; we forget that nothing is impossible to the One who spoke the universe into existence out of nothing.  The Big Bang of God’s creative word will in the same manner and power turn to the Big Dissolution shutdown of all the universe in the sight of rebellious mankind.  This announcement is for His arrival to hold everyone accountable in judgment acc to the word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ who alone is the solution to the eternal suffering we all deserve for our cosmic rebellion against our Maker by refusing to believe His word and live accordingly.  The only safe place in that time is found by accepting His Son according to His Word as John 6:29 tells us is the only work of our deliverance, our salvation, from the wrath to come (Revelation 6:17, 1 Thessalonians 1:10).  Repentance from our dead and ineffective works and trust (faith) in His revealed will is our only hope to meet and sur this end of all creation.  It is not man’s destruction of the world but God’s we need to be ultimately concerned with.  When this time of the end appears suddenly and unexpectedly we who have been called and chosen (2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Peter 2:9, Romans 8:30) in Christ will be gathered together by His infinite power and glory.  God left hints to know the general season of these times but not the exact timing of His return to test our hearts to see whose are His and demonstrate His righteousness and mercy in the grace of Christ to all who believe and receive Him (John 1:12) according to His word.  His word is absolute and absolutely insoluble which will endure even as heaven and the earth pass away.  They will be remade by that same word anyway.  God the Father has set the time and it is hidden from us until it is revealed as it happens at the return of Jesus Christ our Lord.  This is absolute.  What are we to do?  Watch and patiently await that day as we are about our Father’s business of bearing witness to the gospel of hope no matter the opposition of disbelief that those He calls will join us with Him in the new earth in the new universe of God’s promise.  His word to us then is, “watch!”  and be ready.  We are to watch and pray until that day, not fret or scramble to determine the hidden hour of His return as we live for Him as long as this world endures.  Amen! 

The End and a New Beginning

Mark 13:1-23 

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple

1 Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!"

2 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?"

5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and will deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

9 "But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

The Great Tribulation

14 "So when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. 16 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18 And pray that your flight may not be in winter. 19 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. 20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

21 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.

The end times we speak about with fear should really make us stop in awe of the new beginning which God is working as He does away with this corrupted old world ruled by the presence and power of sin.  He will wipe away every single tear and sorrow will leave us (Isaiah 35:10, Revelation 21:4) together with them.  Sin will no longer be present to ravage God’s creation (Romans 8:22) and the temporary ruler of this world will no longer hold anyone in his sway (1 John 4:19) to lead into eternal dismay.  It began with the destruction of the temple that was no longer able to offer sacrifices to cover sin as only the Son of God and Man could do as foreshadowed by the body of Christ as His temple being destroyed by death but resurrected in eternal life and so able to cover our sins in an act once for all (Romans 6:10, Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 10:10) whom He calls to Himself (John 6:44).  This destruction made the disciples ask about the end of all things, for they still thought that the temple meant everything until they later understood the temple of His body was the crucial point Jesus was making to them.  Jesus answered by warning of those who would tell you they knew the end times and could tell you all the details.  Many would present themselves as the Savior instead of Him and mislead multitudes.  They were to listen to Jesus instead as He warned of global upheavals of war and natural disasters, things which signaled the beginning of the end and not the precise timings of events which many have concocted together as if to reveal what God has chosen not to detail to us that we might always be ready for His return (Luke 12:40, 1 Peter 1:5) as He tests our hearts (Proverbs 17:3, 1 Thessalonians 2:4).  The reality of the approaching end is not a better world which we enact by moral living or political persuasion and influence but is one of increasing persecution for the message of judgment and life we offer as witnesses to God’s forgiveness and grace.  We speak therefore of the end as a way to a new beginning which starts here in a conversion of the regenerate souls of men and women and ends a new heaven and earth begin where righteousness lives (2 Peter 3:13) forevermore.  That is the hope of the end times, the new times rising out of that judgment on sin to set us free from it ever coming on us again.  Because the world is under the influence of the enemy of God and His Christ we will suffer as we speak the truth of the gospel and even be betrayed by close family members who do not know the Lord and are opposed to His message of hope and deliverance.  God promises to give us the words to say in those times of persecution (2 Thessalonians 1:5, 1 Timothy 4:10, 1 Peter 3:17) to encourage our faith and resolve to honor and glorify Him.  We persevere and endure to the end because He has saved us as promised.  There was one main event Jesus did mention to mark the end time, that of the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of in Daniel 12:10-11 (Matthew 24:21-22, 29, 31) as the consummation of all things draws to a close and suddenly Jesus comes form his own without warning.  Such a time of pressing troubles will be unmatched by any preceding times ever seen, a great time of tribulation as judgment falls and the redeemed are released afterwards.  As He forewarned us, we are not to be deceived by anyone who tells us when Jesus is coming back, especially when they display great miracles of signs  and wonders to mislead and cause us to stumble.  We have been forewarned and hold to the course of proclaiming the gospel instead.  The end times are coming but the gospel must be proclaimed.   

Humble Service to the Messiah, Son of God

Mark 12:35-44

Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?

35 Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36 For David himself said by the Holy Spirit:

'The LORD said to my Lord,
"Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'

37 Therefore David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?"
And the common people heard Him gladly.

Beware of the Scribes

38 Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

The Widow's Two Mites

41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

Jesus taught the common people contrary to the religious interpreters of the scriptures, the scribes, concerning their teaching that the Christ-Messiah is only the Son of David.  Of course in the flesh of Christ’s human side He was a descendant of King David as the scriptures show quite plainly, but they also bear witness in a more subtle way to His divine nature as the Son of God, the Messiah who is anointed beyond that anointing of David in a temporary and limited capacity.  Jesus Christ is the bodily fullness of God (Colossians 2:9) which no mere mortal man can ever contain or aspire to.  Jesus proceeded to exposit the scripture in Psalm 110:1 that He quoted here to demonstrate that the Lord or ruler, David, was subservient to the LORD God who spoke to him to promise victory over his enemies.  When the people heard this clear explanation of the word of God and that He was more than a physical descendant of the one whom the Messiah was promised to come to earth through, they were overjoyed with that revelation of the One they chose to listen and learn from.  They then were told to be wary of those wanting control by proud recognition of their self-importance and pompous use of the scriptures not explained clearly for their good according to the truth.  These teachers preferred to be recognized and respected more than the Lord!  They even fooled people into giving them their wealth and made pious public prayers to impress and get what honor and substance they were after.  Jesus came as the truth because He was the way and true life (John 14:6).  He gave a demonstration of humility and generosity in worship by pointing to a poor widow who gave all she had to God despite having nearly nothing herself.  She did not announce her giving or demand respect to honor her sacrifice, but humbly offered all to the Lord as an example in the shadows of life to those who would but observe and take notice of what the scriptures and Jesus the Son of God and Man was teaching them.  Do we fall into the subtle trap of wanting others to see our good works and reward us or even misuse our authority to take from others for ourselves, or do we imitate this poor but heavenly important person to give God our all in service and worship?  We worship the long awaited Messiah, the Christ anointed by God as His Son who existed before time began (Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5:2).  May we do this in spirit and truth in all devotion and humility and not seek to serve ourselves but the Lord and others (Mark 10:45). 

Which Is the First Commandment of All?

Mark 12:28-34

28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?"

29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments 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, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

32 So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 

33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

But after that no one dared question Him.

A certain scribe asked Jesus, “Which Is the First Commandment of All?” after hearing the reasoning about the resurrection from the scriptures, for they spent their days in pursuit of interpreting them to explain God’s commandments to the people as if an arbitrator between the religious rulers and the common man.  These listened carefully to the words of the Lord and then asked this vital question after hearing His wise answers.  Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18 that explained the twofold aim of true love we are to exhibit in our hearts, minds, and lives with all the body and soul.  We are first to love the LORD God unconditionally and without reservation with all we possess and are within and without.  This love is with our complete desire of the heart and thoughts as we give our lives to serving and worshipping Him with all the effort of strength we can muster, holding nothing back for another or ourselves in our life’s primary aim.  This is summed up in the first four of the Ten Commandments.  Then the other six commandments are summed up in our sacrificial love for others after our LORD God.  We are to display sincere love (1 Timothy 1:5) for our neighbors who are all that we meet and live around, not just the ones loving us (Matthew 5:43-44, 46).  These then are the two greatest commandments which summarize the ten for us to follow in pleasing the Lord as Jesus told all those sincerely seeking to know and follow God in true worship of the life.  The scribe who sought such wisdom to interpret and apply the scriptures may have expected a different answer, but was left in silent awe of the truth which he received from Jesus.  He then echoed back what he heard in agreement with the word of the Lord and added that such love is more excellent than any mere sacrificial offering done by rote in the temple, comprehending this truth of sincere love for God and man was the aim of all the commandments of God.  This man may not have fully understood that we are to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), but was on his way to that knowledge because Jesus told him he was very near to the kingdom of God with that understanding in his reply.  This passage leaves us with the others listening in and being afraid to question Jesus further for fear of confronting truth and having to submit to the Lord or argue a losing battle, as well losing face with the people they sought to control with their own laws and rules added to the core essentials of doctrine that were written in the scriptures and taught by Jesus.  We do well to comprehend the essentials of God’s word and follow it wisely as well.  Our comprehension of the answer is essential. 

Resurrection and Everlasting Life

Mark 12:18-27

The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?

18 Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: 19 "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. 22 So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. 23 Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife."

24 Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know 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 But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken."

The resurrection and everlasting life are the hope of the good news which Jesus earned for us and offers to all He calls and opens the eyes and ears to turn from sin to Him (Mark 1:15, Acts 20:21) and receive Him in faith (John 1:12) as Savior and Lord (Isaiah 45:21-22, Luke 2:11, 2 Peter 1:11).   Those Sadducees who confronted Jesus were sad you see because they had no hope after death, only an annihilation of existence in their minds, thinking we are just temporal beings without an immortal soul.  They tried to trick Jesus into their sad outlook on life and the Law by proposing a preposterous situation of a woman who had married and widows seven brothers and died childless.  They slyly asked Him whose wife would she be in the resurrection after death to confuse Him and prove there was no life after death as if such an improbable situation would prove that.  The Lord and Savior spoke plainly and directly to the real issue of disbelief in the immortal nature of man and the word of God which proved their assumptions wrong.  He explained what the scriptures taught of life after death and the power of God to do what He said and was written for them to understand.  We will live again with bodies that do not ever degrade or die again (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-52), and continue to live forever with Him.  The simple answer from the scriptures already written when Yahweh showed Himself that Jesus used was the fact that the LORD is the “God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” as we read in Exodus 3:6, 14-15, all dead but living beyond death in immortality.  The three disciples even witnessed (Matthew 17:3) Moses and Elijah speaking with Jesus even though their bodies were long dead.   God is the God of the living!  To ignore, deny, or explain away everlasting life is to be gravely mistaken about what God has said concerning the resurrection to come and eternal life after mortal death.  There is no eternal elimination of the soul because the “eternal destruction” in scripture refers to a forever apart from God in the torment of the lake of fire for rejecting Christ who alone can forgive sin once and for all (Hebrews 9:12, 10:10) and give an everlasting presence in company with God (1 Thessalonians 4:17, Revelation 22:3-4) after He raises us from death to unending life on that day of judgment and great reward.  There is also no need anymore for marriage because no more dying means there is no need to multiply and fill the new earth as Adam was commissioned to do.  We all will live forever after we die and leave this mortal coil behind, because as the bride of Christ we are already joined to Him in perfect unity with no more need of the representation seen in this earthly union of the institutional covenant of mortal marriage, a mere shadow and portent of that which is to come which we cannot see now (Ephesians 5:30-32).  The resurrection and the life are found in union with Christ, a certain hope we eagerly anticipate, for we are not as others without this hope and who are so sad you see in disbelief and rejection of Him. 

Give God His Rightful Due

Mark 12:1-17 

The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers

1 Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 2 Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. 3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. 5 And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. 6 Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 7 But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8 So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.

9 "Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not even read this Scripture:

The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
11 This was the LORD's doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes'?"

12 And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?

13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?"

But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it." 16 So they brought it.

And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's."

17 And Jesus answered and 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.

The lessons of this parable and answer of Jesus both point us to give Gospel what is due to Him.  This includes all honor and praise in willing obedience to His sovereign reign over us and all of creation because all is made by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16-17).  The parable of the vinedressers who were given charge of looking after the master’s vineyard while he was away on business comes first.  He sent messengers to receive the profits when harvest came, but they acted as though the vineyard was theirs just because they had taken care of it.  Their greed led them to not only refuse to give the own what was due to him, but they beat and even killed the messengers (from where we get our saying of don’t kill the messenger).  Finally, the owner sent his only son thinking they would respect him because he was the heir and not a hired hand.  Their sinful greediness moved them to murder him to steal the land for themselves!  What the master of the land did in response was to enact justice over the criminals by destroying them and then handing over the vineyard to others more willing to honor the owner and his son as heir to that kingdom.  We see the Son of God being dishonored and murdered as the real story that the parable spoke to the religious leaders and self-serving of that day.  They beat the prophets who faithfully delivered His word to be good stewards of the land of milk and honey given them to serve Him with the fruits of their righteousness and obedience (Deuteronomy 4:1-2), but they mistreated and killed them (2 Chronicles 36:16, Acts 2:23).  In the final act of disobedience and rejection of the sovereignty of God, they killed His only Son to take everything they had been given for themselves, not grasping that they were only stewards of what always belonged only to the Lord.  Like the devil, they chose to exalt themselves and attempt to rise to sit on God’s throne (Isaiah 14:13-14) to rule instead of Him over His vineyard which is the world entrusted as a stewardship to Adam and all his descendants.  Jesus reminded them of the scripture in Psalm 118:22-23 to point out their rejection of Him as the Son of God and right ruler over them who they were attempting to kill and throw out of the world so they could steal the inheritance.  They understand the meaning of the accusation and were incensed against Him for exposing them.  They feared the people who believed and supported Jesus, so they had to leave until the time was right to be able to enact their insurrection against God.  

After this, Jesus faced a feeling attempt by those set against Him by baiting Him on who is due the taxes that they might show Him to be unworthy of supporting the nation against the Romans.  They hissed like sly serpents as they calmly asked by a cunning argument if it was lawful (by the Law of religious and not worldly rules) to pay taxes to the ungodly government they were under.  Jesus wisely went to the real issue of their test to show what honor was due to who and why.  He simply asked who owned the money which they used by the government who minted and owned it.  They had to admit the obvious fact that is was Caesar’s and not theirs.  They were commanded therefore to give what was due by ownership to Rome and what was due by ownership to God and not mix the two together for a single incorrect answer.  We see the same today among “Christian nationalists,” who suppose to overthrow or control governments to conform to their religious ideals to gain their own rule of power and pride instead of giving God His just due in worship and willing obedience while submitting to the government placed by God over them as a separate thing (Romans 13:1-4, 6-7).  We are to be heavenly minded which means we pay taxes to the earthly Caesars of the land we live in while not neglecting to give God His due obedience that includes such submission to these rulers in a display of righteousness and godliness.  Our kingdom is not of this world, but we also live in this earthly one to do good and not evil as a demonstration of the theocracy only existing in the heavens that rules over any and all governments on this earth, including our precious democracies.  We are to give God His due and not strive to kick Him out of the vineyard to take over and dispossess or disobey those put over us for this time.  We are salt to flavor and preserve the citizens of earthly kingdoms and His light to shine the the gospel on them, which brings the only true freedom any man or woman can have.  Our faces are not on the money we give back in taxes but God’s image is placed on us (Genesis 1:26-27, James 3:9), so let us give God His due and not neglect to give our country’s rulers theirs in obedience to the true Vinedresser (John 15:1). 

Response of Disbelief and Rejection or Faith?

Mark 11:27-33

Jesus' Authority Questioned

27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?"

29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me."

31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 32 But if we say, 'From men'"—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. 33 So they answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know."

And Jesus answered and said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day confronted Him and kept questioning His authority because they had rejected His divine identity and right as creator (John 1:1, Colossians 1:15-17) and Sovereign Ruler over them.  They even denied the works He did which proved who Jesus is (John 10:25, 37-38) and yet they chose to reject even what the evidence before their eyes witnessed to them.  They were blind because they were hardened and stiff-necked to the word of God and His wisdom which fell on deaf ears; all they could think of was losing their status as all-knowing among the people they religiously ruled over.  That is ironic considering that the omniscient One was standing before them and their interrogations fueled by disbelief and pride.  But God is not mocked and so He wisely asked them a question which they could not answer without either admitting the truth of who John the Baptist was and the source of his baptism for repentance that he brought.  Their response was also in disbelief and dishonesty, saying they did not know so they did not bring the people against them who believed John to be a prophet and so they did not get caught in the next question of Jesus as to why they did not believe the messenger Elijah as scripture foretold and repent (Malachi 4:5-6, Matthew 11:13-14) from their sin and turn to Him.  When they refused to answer the question and lied to God about this, the Lord told them He would likewise not answer their questions about His authority which they had already rejected.  He had shown and told them often e where His power and sovereign authority came from and they refused to submit to God and His word in their prideful desire to hold the power and authority of knowing good and evil to themselves as they imagined.  That is the source of Adam and Eve’s sin to want to usurp God’s revelation of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17, 3:5, 17) and which we need to listen to the Lord teach us as Hebrews 5:14 reminds us.  Anyone calling themselves a religious leader who teaches us to question and doubt or reject any part of God’s word is like a serpent inspired Pharisee who repeats this original sin.  We are instead to remember the scriptures are God’s very word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) given to accept by faith that we may accept the speaker of those words and heed them to learn from God what is good and evil and not by man’s reasoning or philosophical arguments as we see so often today to nullify the word and authority of God in Christ alone.  We must never respond with disbelief and rejection of the truth that sets us free so we may honor God with trust to take Him at His word instead of repeating the original sin of spiritual rebellion because man is made to live by every word (Matthew 4:4) of God. 

Proper Prayer and Personal Holiness

Mark 11:12-26

12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again."

And His disciples heard it.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. 17 Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"

18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. 19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.

The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree

20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Forgiveness and Prayer

25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

Jesus taught by word and example about the necessity of holiness to worship and the impact of faith in prayer according to His will and word.  He was hungry as they left Bethany after the triumph was still lingering in the air and they passed a fig tree with only leaves and no fruit.  Even though it was not the season for the fruit, Jesus expected it and found none.  Therefore, the Lord told the tree that it would never bear fruit again because it was not ready in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Peter 3:15) just as we are to be always ready to bear fruit for the Master in proclaiming the gospel.  May we not be found only covered only in the leaves of learning and not in the fruit (John 15:8) to feed the souls of others to be well-pleasing (2 Corinthians 5:9, Hebrews 13:21) to our Lord.  The disciples heard this and did not ask further questions until they passed by that tree the next morning and noticed it had completely withered away into a dried up dead stick.  They pointed that out to Jesus in astonishment.  He told them as a matter of fact that this was a lesson on prayer as much as fruitfulness.  They were to persist in prayer with conviction and confidence that God would answer according to His will if they had the faith to trust Him and His word.  This certainly does not mean that we should blindly name and claim whatever we desire, but what God does (John 14:13, 16:23).  He gives us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4-6, Job 22:26-27) as His desires are made yours and not what we desire apart from that will of his desire which is in His name and according to His word.  Confidence in prayer with absolute trust must needs to know His will to ask what then fills our will to act in response and not just to have power or get things to happen because we desire them to.  But when we have confidence that we ask rightly for His glory alone, then we can be confident He will answer and give us what we need without fail in His time.  The time may be immediate as with the fig tree or much later as we anticipate with enduring trust in His work.  We are also to learn the necessity of holiness in worship.  Jesus was indignant over the unholy worship in the temple when He arrived and saw the money changers making profit over selling wares to the visiting worshipers.  They had made God’s house of prayer (Isaiah 56:7) into a den of thieves (Jeremiah 7:8-9, 10-11) who robbed God of His glory and made the worship unholy along with those participating in that endeavor as they sought personal gain instead of prayers for the will of the Lord to be answered for His glory and honor (Malachi 1:6-7).  This prayer was further explained as being impeded by our lack of forgiveness for those who sin against us as we have been forgiven by Him (Matthew 6:12, 14-15, 18:35), a reason why holiness in the temples of our bodies is the basis of prayer being heard by God.  This holiness is in our morality and humility as well as our willingness to forgive and right attitude and aim in our prayers of faith.  Proper prayer and personal holiness are kinsmen of grace.