We only have 46 days left. We finished the Gospel today. If you have time (you know you do) Look back not at the 4 overviews.
Category: Mark
Matthew 28, Mark 16
Christianity is the only religion that has an ‘ending’ to the story”. We are set apart from all other religions because of the Resurrection. I never debate or argue about ‘religion’ with anyone, but I love talking to teenagers about “what they believe” and pretending to be interested, only to say…”Wow, how do you know that is true?” “That is fascinating, can you find me some literature proving that” (I did it this week on Reincarnation)
The last words in the book of Matthew are called “The Great Commission”
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 16
I love that the women were heading to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body and on the way had not thought ahead. Who is going to move the stone? It was a 2 ton stone. Did they need to anoint His body? No, it was already done. Six days before His death, Mary (Lazarus sister) had already prepared the body for His burial when they had dinner at Simon’s house (John 12).
MANY people were present at the Crucifixion because they were in town for the Passover. Most had returned home. The news of His death was spreading but the news of His resurrection was seen by few. Jesus gives His apostles the authority and power to prove Jesus was who He claimed to be. They were to preach the Truth but to prove it (we all need a little proof) they would be given the power of the Holy Spirit to perform miracles SO THAT people would believe in Jesus. The next Festival is 50 days away. Many will return to Jerusalem to commemorate the Feast of Weeks (the first fruits for the barley harvest). This old Testament Feast will be fulfilled, just as the Passover was fulfilled with the Crucifixion, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled with the Resurrection. In 50 days, the Feast of Weeks will be fulfilled with the giving of the Holy Spirit for all believers, called Pentecost (Pente=50)
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Matthew 27 and Mark 15
Pontious Pilate: In 26 A.D. the Roman Emperor Tiberius appointed Pontius Pilate prefect of the Roman provinces of Judaea, Samaria, and Idumæa. Pilate is best known for his leadership of Judaea. A Roman prefect was like a governor. He was in charge of taxes and civil order. Pontius Pilate was granted the power of a “supreme judge”, which meant that he had the sole authority to order a criminal’s execution. Ultimately he was in charge of maintaining law and order. (Pontius Pilot wasn’t even Roman, he married well. He married the granddaughter of Augustus Caesar).
Jesus had to be brought to trial for both the Jews and the Gentiles. First, he needed to be accused and found guilty by the Jews and transferred to the Romans. Jews could not issue a crucifixion, only Romans could. Then the Romans need to charge Him guilty.
- The Jews accused him of Blasphemy-saying He is not just from God but He IS God-punishable by death. (but He is, so he is innocent)
- The Romans (Gentiles) brought Jesus to trial for calling himself a king (King of the Jews), which was a threat to Caesar, punishable by death. (but He is, so he is innocent)
The Six Trials of Jesus:
- Three religious (Jewish)
- three civil (Romans)
Three Jewish religious trials where he was proclaimed a sinner:
- Religious Trial: Annas, Jn.18:12-14… Decision: Guilty.
- Religious Trial: Caiaphas, Mt.26:57-68… Decision: Death Sentence, a charge of blasphemy, because Jesus proclaimed himself the Messiah, God the Son.
- Religious Trial, Sanhedrin, Mt.27:1-2, Lk.22:63-71… Decision: Death.
Three Roman Civic trials where Jesus was proclaimed innocent.
- Civil Trial (Roman): Pilate, Jn.18:28-38… Decision: Not guilty.
- Civil Trial: Herod, Lk.23:6-12… Decision: Not guilty.
- Civil Trial: Pilate again, Jn.18:39-19:6. Decision: Not guilty, but turned to the Jews to be crucified (Mt.27:26).
Pontius Pilate asks “Are you the king of the Jews?”
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
Why does Jesus not reply? (last night I posted Isaiah 53)-
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
Barabbas:
Pontius Pilate was in crisis mode. He was in charge of keeping the Peace. It was Passover! Jerusalem had between 2 and 3 million people visiting. Word would spread quickly if this “appointed son-in-law” could not handle his job. For the Romans, (Caesar), Festivals were a cash cow in collecting taxes. In an attempt to maintain law and order he decided to keep with the customary release of a Jewish prisoner was before the feast of Passover. The Roman governor granted clemency to one criminal as an act of goodwill toward the Jews whom he governed. Surely the crowd would make a wise choice:
- a high-profile killer who was unquestionably guilty- (Jesus Barabbas “Son of a father”)
- or a teacher and miracle worker who was demonstrably innocent. Jesus (“Son of the Father”)
The crowd chose Barabbas to be released.
In context who are you?? You are a sinner who deserves death (Barabbas). However, Jesus, without argument, released the one who deserves death and takes his (your) place on the cross so you can be set free.
Only the Romans could order a crucifixion. Pilate does not see Jesus as guilty and “washes His hands of the matter”. (I am amazed by how they use God’s Law when it is convenient and ignore it when it’s not. (Oh wait, nvm, I do that too). Deuteronomy 21: If someone is found slain, lying in a field in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who the killer was… 6 Then all the elders of the town nearest the body shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley, 7 and they shall declare: “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done. 8 Accept this atonement for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, Lord, and do not hold your people guilty of the blood of an innocent person.” Then the bloodshed will be atoned for, 9 and you will have purged from yourselves the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the Lord.
However, that is not the case here but “kudos” for Pilate for trying to twist scripture in his favor. He transferred the verdict to the people as governor. His passing responsible still made him the authority. The crowd says: “Crucify him!”. Together with the Gentiles (Romans) and the Jews collectively order his death.
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
A Roman Flagrum was a whip that was made of leather with weighted metal balls. Small pieces of bone were sewn on so as they pulled the whip back to them, it would act like a fish hook and rip the skin with each flog. A Roman Soldier would stand on the right and one on the left of the person being scourged. They pull in diagonal/horizontal motion.
How many whips did Jesus get? Well, in Deuteronomy 25:3 the Bible says that a criminal would get 40 lashes. The Jews were so concerned that they would “break the Law”, they ordered “40 less 1”, just in case they miss-counted they had room for error. So Jesus received 39 lashes. The Romans adhered to this because beyond 40 lashes, the criminal most often died before the crucifixion from loss of blood or exposed organs from the tearing of the skin.
CLICK HERE FOR THE EXTENDED VIDEO
Jesus was then mocked and beaten by the “Company of Soldiers” (totaled about 600 men). There were several games the Romans would play with criminals before they were executed. First, they would play the “King’s Game”. They would dress them like royalty and mock them. The second game was to blindfold them and punch them. If they could guess who punched them they would “go light” on them. The game was humiliating.
Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the jews.
Growing up in a catholic church I picture: (I.N.R.I)- the Latin translation
In reality, it looked like this, so that everyone visiting for the Passover from different languages would be able to partake in the crucifixion (He died for ALL)
The location was called “The Place of the Skull” due to the shape of the hill that apparently reminded people of a human skull.
- Golgatha-Hebrew for “skull”
- Cranion- Greek for “skull”
- Calvaria-Latin for “skull” (Calvary)
Jog your memory…this is the very place where the Gospel was foretold when Abraham was going to sacrifice his son Isaac, and a substitute was offered in Isaac’s place. A ram caught in the thorns wrapped around his head was provided by the Lord on this very Mountain. The plant/thorns were called Acacia (the very wood that was used to build the Ark that saved lives) (the very wood that was used for the Ark of the Covenant for God’s presence to reside) ( the very wood that was used to make the Crown on Jesus’s head)
Acacia plant:
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
They offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. He did NOTHING to dull the pain. He paid it ALL.
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
We did not take it. He GAVE up His Spirit for us. And what immediately happened??
The Veil in the Temple was torn. The barrier between the people and the Lord was take away. Before Jesus died, one day a year ONLY the High Priest could go behind the veil to make an atonement of sins for all the people. The Veil tore vertically so that we can come to the Lord directly! The Veil is torn!
57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
(From Last night’s post on Isaiah 53
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
And we have 2 witnesses, just like the Law requires. 😊
47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.
Prepare yourself for tomorrow- Isaiah Prophecy 52:13-53:12
Prepare your hearts for tomorrow:
The Suffering and Glory of the Servant
13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
53 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Matt 26; Mark 14
The Plot against Jesus
When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
The city of Jerusalem would be filled with people. Three times a year, adult males (12 and up) were required to go to the Temple for a festival. However, Passover was the “Superbowl” of all the festivals. It is estimated 2.5 million people descended into the city.
The Jewish council met at the High Priest’s palace and plotted to kill Jesus. Do I need to repeat that so you can get the full magnitude of ALL that is wrong with that statement?
The Jewish council met at the High Priest’s palace and plotted to kill Jesus.
The High Priest should have been a descendant of Aaron, passed down through a genealogical line after the elder passed. Right??? Caiphas was the son-in-law of a still-living High Priest named Annas. Caiphas was “appointed” the High Priest as a figurehead from the Romans. Don’t get me started down that rabbit hole!!
Remember, the Jewish Council in JUDEA could have their “own” little government as long as they adhered to the Roman Law, paid their taxes, and did not cause any problems. So they were smart enough to know that this would cause quite the stir with 2.5 million people from ALL over. EVERYONE who lived in traveling distance went to Jerusalem…it was a cash cow for business owners from all over for both the Jew or Gentile.
Jesus anointed at Bethany
So we have covered this account earlier BUT I always read it to see what stands out. I knew the phrase: 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial would strike my heart BUT the one that I think was just added (I promise I never saw it before) was:
13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
And here we are 2000 years later, in a different culture, in a different language, on the other side of the world…. retelling what she did!
Judas agrees to betray Jesus
After Jesus was baptized he was led to the wilderness for 40 days to be tempted by the devil. After that scene, it ended with:13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Well, this is the opportune time. In Luke 22:3, we see that Satan entered into Judas before Judas went to see the chief priests and set things up to betray Jesus. Satan possessed Judas in hopes of using him to destroy Jesus’ ministry and get Him out of the way. In Hebrew culture, thirty pieces of silver was not a lot of money. In fact, it was the exact price paid to the master of a slave if and when his slave was gored by an ox (Exodus 21:32). The slave’s death was compensated by the thirty pieces of silver. Click here for video.
The Last Supper
The Passover was the first day of a weeklong festival of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They were commemorating their redemption from Egypt. They would retell the account of Moses leading them out of Egypt after God proved He was the ONLY God by sending 10 plagues (to combat the 10 godheads in Egypt). The last god was Pharoah. Anyone who shed the blood of a spotless and perfect lamb put the blood on the doorpost and believed they would be saved: the angel of death would Pass-Over them, and they would be free. They would exit Egypt so quickly that they were to make bread for the exodus. They did not put yeast in the bread (ain’t nobody got time for that!!) so they commemorate God’s provision with the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
I am not sure why Leonardo DaVinci painted it this way (“Hey, everyone get on this side of the table for a selfie”).
But the table would be 3 sided, like a U. They would sit on the ground or cushions, leaning on one arm. They would have 4 cups of wine. 1st was for the blessing (The Exodus), the 2nd was the cup of Judgement (the 40 years in the wilderness), the 3rd was the cup of Redemption/the cup of Thanks.4th was the cup of Praise (Psalm 118)
On the 3rd cup Jesus says:
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Jesus celebrates the LAST Passover supper. He is fulfilling it. Salvation comes through Christ and the sacrifice of His physical body on the cross.
(More is added in Luke and John 😁)
Cup 4 (possibly) was Psalm 118. Click here if you would like to read it.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
Jesus quotes from the Messianic prophet-Zechariah! Click here to read. Peter gets a bad wrap as the one that denies Jesus BUT all his disciples flee when they come to arrest him.
Garden of Gesthememe
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Look at a map: Jesus would pass over the Kidron Valley to go to the Garden. On the first day of the Festival (before the Passover Supper), the lambs would have been slaughtered. Approximately 285,000 lambs were slaughtered that day at the Temple. They would build funnels to drain the blood efficiently downhill and away from the city. It would pour down into the Kidron Valley. Picture Jesus crossing over to pray, seeing the blood-soaked land, knowing His will be added to it.
The garden at Gethsemane, a place whose name literally means “oil press,” is located on a slope of the Mount of Olives. (We could sit on this symbolism all day!!…maybe tomorrow). Jesus moved away from the three men to pray, and twice He asked His Father to remove the cup of wrath He was about to drink, but each time He submitted to the Father’s will. (In Luke God sends an angel from heaven to strengthen Him).
Jesus Arrested
Before Judas was even on the scene, Jesus says “the time has come”
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Then Judas came and handed him over with a kiss, a sign used for “honor and respect”. A large crowd armed with swords and clubs arrested him.
6 separate trials
- The trial before Annas-The High Priest (click here for video)
- The trial before Caiaphas (the acting High Priest)
- The trial before the Sanhedrin
- Trial before Pilate
- Trial before Herod
- The trial before Pilate again
Amazing how the Jewish leaders rebuked Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, but they now hated Him so much that they are willing to throw all the Laws out just to kill Him.
- No trial was to be held during feast time.
- Each member of the court was to vote individually to convict or acquit, but Jesus was convicted by the announcement.
- If the death penalty was given, a night must pass before the sentence was carried out; however, only a few hours passed before Jesus was placed on the Cross.
- The Jews had no authority to execute anyone (Only Romans could)
- No trial was to be held at night, but this trial was held before dawn.
- The accused was to be given counsel or representation, but Jesus had none.
- The accused was not to be asked self-incriminating questions, but Jesus was asked if He was the Christ.
We have several days to read this. I will get into more detail as the week goes.
Here is the question: Jesus will be tried by the Romans for breaking the Roman Law. Jesus will be tried by the Sanhedrin for breaking Moses’ Law. They will both find Him guilty for 2 different laws, both punishable by death. Yet, He will be innocent of both?
Peek at tomorrow
I peeked ahead to see what tomorrow is:
- The plot against Jesus
- Jesus anointed
- Judas agrees to the betrayal
- Last Supper
- Jesus predicts Peter’s Denial
- The Garden of Gethsemane
- Jesus Arrested
- Jesus before the Sanhedrin
- Peter disowns Jesus
We will read it in Matthew and Mark tomorrow. An idea is to read 1 account tonight. Take it all in. And then another Gospel view tomorrow.
Mark 13
This is called the Olivet Discourse. Jesus takes the disciples to Mount Olives where they can see the magnificent Temple and tell that the Temple will be destroyed.
At this time, the temple was not even complete.. Construction had begun 30 years prior in 20 BC and it will be complete in 66 AD. Jesus takes them to the very spot Zechariah declared the judgment on Jerusalem. However, its destruction was just a foreshadow of the ultimate destruction that would occur in the End Times. The Olivet Discourse is the longest block of teaching in the Gospel. This chapter is divided:
- 1-13 The End of the Temple
- 14-27 Tribulation and the second coming
- 28-31 End of the Temple (again)
Most importantly, the disciples were told to “watch out” and “be on guard”.
As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”
2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
So here is what happens:
Does anyone know what stands beyond this wall? What was built where the Temple of the Lord once stood?? Where the Ark of the Covenant rested that Indiana Jones went looking for??Go back and watch Raiders of the Lost Ark…
I am so off topic!
We read about the abomination that causes desolation before. During the silent years, Antiochus IV oppressed the Jews and erected a statue of Zeus in the Temple. They would sacrifice the most unclean animal they could find on the altar-a pig. This desecration was a foreshadow of the End Times when the Tribulation will occur.
14 “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
During the Tribulation (in Revelation).17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.
“In those days”-refers to the End Times”-
24 “But in those days, following that distress,
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
When will this happen?? Only ONE knows!32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
Matthew 22 and Mark 12
The wedding banquet:
- The “king” represents God the Father.
- “His son,” the bridegroom is Messiah.
- The “wedding feast” is the Kingdom of Heaven.
- The “servants” are the Prophets
The Servants announced the coming of the banquet and urged those whom God invited (The Jews) to prepare for it. However, most of those who heard about it did not respond to the invitation.
Here is the best part…now think about this: A king invites guests to a banquet and they refused to come! Only THE KING of Kings would ask again!
4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
(The Lord came first for the Jew, then to Gentiles)
8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. ❤️
Now the hard part: “a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.”
The “man” who did not wear the proper garments was unprepared for the banquet. (Jesus wants us to BE PREPARED) In that culture, the proper garment was just clean clothes. However, the host often gave special garments to the invited guests, which they wore for the celebration.
Isaiah 61:10 says:
I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
Some think they can plead their case, or get into Heaven on their own merit or good deeds will be thrown out into the darkness. We cannot dress ourselves.
Imperial Tax to Ceasar:
15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.
The Herodians were a non-religious Jewish party that supported the dynasty of Herod and the general policy of the Roman government. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were members of an ancient Jewish sect who believed in the strict observance of oral traditions and the written Law of Moses. They didn’t believe that Christ was the Messiah, despite His many miracles during His earthly ministry. Although Herodians and Pharisees were at opposite ends of the political spectrum, their common hatred of Christ was enough for them to join forces to try to destroy Him.
It was a trick question. If Jesus answered, “No,” the Herodians would charge Him with treason against Rome. If He said, “Yes,” the Pharisees would accuse Him of disloyalty to the Jewish nation.
A Denarius was a Roman coin that had Caesar’s face on one side and on the back, it had Caesar wearing priestly garments with the words “Son of the Divine” (what???). Obviously, the Jews were majorly offended by this (as I am too).
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Jesus turned a lose/lose question into a win/win answer! He was drawing a sharp distinction between two kingdoms.
Marriage/Resurrection
23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.
What in the world? I picture them in a “tag-team” game…”Tag, your turn”. So the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, angels, the supernatural, and ONLY adhered to the first 5 books of the Bible (The Torah). So we know the Sadducees are going to ask what they think is a ridiculous question as a trap BUT you can be certain Jesus will quote from the Torah every time to the Sadducees to shut them up!
They ask a question about the resurrection wrapped in a Law (Deuteronomy 25). They think they can trick Jesus because they don’t believe in the resurrection so how can it be wrapped up in law? So this concept of marrying brothers is actually true. It is called Levirate Marriage. Levirate marriage is literally a “marriage with a brother-in-law.” In ancient times, if a man died without a child, it was common for the man’s unmarried brother to marry the widow in order to provide an heir for the deceased. In ancient Israel, the passing on of the family name and the inheritance within a tribe was very important.
After he answers the question he adds on a major reference from when Moses was standing at the Burning Bush (of course he quotes the only author the Sadducees read…MOSES) (Exodus 3:6)
31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you,32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
It doesn’t say “I WAS”, it says “I AM”!
I know this is a long post so I will skip to Mark 12
- ✅ The parable of the tenants. (after the other day’s read you should be able to substitute them in your head)
- ✅Imperial Tax
- ✅Marriage/Resurrection
The Greatest Commandment
“Tag-your turn”. They tagged in a Lawyer. He is an expert on the Law! So he asked him-
“Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
Well, that’s a hard question! At this point, the Pharisees and Scribes had written laws to protect the law. There were 613 Laws!! (all offshoots from the 10 Commandments). How can he pick the right one out of 613? How you ask? Easy, He is God.
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 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: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Two verses in the Torah were merged together. Deuteronomy 6:4 “Shema” is the Hebrew word that begins the most important prayer in Judaism “To hear”.
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
and Leviticus 19:18-19
18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
19 “‘Keep my decrees.
These two verses sum up the 10 commandments. Commandments 1-4 are “vertical”. Honoring God. Commandments 6-10 are “horizontal”. Honoring others.
Mark 11 and John 12
✅ Mark 11- even though it was been covered, I did some extra research so I can learn something new every time. Why were palm branches used? Well, here is what I found out… If you read the post about the ‘400 Years of Silence’, the Maccabees overtook Antiochus, releasing them from his captivity. When they celebrated their independence from him, they used Palm Tree branches. As Jesus made his first pubic profession as king (riding in on a donkey) the crowd yells Hosanna! The Hebrew words yasha (“deliver, save”) and anna (“beg”) combine to form the word that, in English, is “hosanna.” Literally, hosanna means “I beg you to save!” or “please deliver us!”. The people want to be saved from the Romans and be independent. They were ready for Jesus to once again make them a nation!
If you go back to the Luke account-it now makes sense WHY Jesus wept when they were quoting Psalm 118-Hosana. He knew that they thought He was coming as a King to bring them independence. So it says back in Luke 19:
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
- ✅Jesus comes to Jerusalem as King
- ✅ Fig Tree
- ✅ Jesus clears the temple
- ✅ Authority questioned
John 12-Jesus anointed in Bethany
So this is actually taking place at Simon’s house. Simon was a leper that Jesus healed. Can you imagine the dinner small talk “Dude, my skin was so rotten my fingers were falling off-and Jesus healed me” “Oh, yeah…well I was dead for days- so beat that!!”
You have to just take a moment to feel all the characters in this scene.
- Martha-her gift is serving
- Mary-the worshiper
- Judas-the greedy one
- Lazarus-the witness
- Simon (not mentioned in this book)-the testimony
- Crowds-indifferent, looking for entertainment
- The Jewish leaders-The unbelievers
Sounds like my house on a Friday night to be honest. I could write a lot about this passage but for today, I am going to let you sit with it. I really want to save time for the last verses.
✅ Jesus predicts his death
Verse 37-50
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Do you know where in the Bible this is quoting?? Flip to Isaiah 53:1 (I attached it here starting at 52:13)😢. Then, a very difficult scripture is quoted. Jesus then quotes Isaiah 6
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
This is hard to chew on. Think of it this way: Do you remember back in Exodus the Pharaoh’s heart was hardened by the Lord? The Lord did this AFTER Pharoah had already made his choices. The Lord had a plan to free HIs people and to do what He needed to “debunk” all the false gods. Not 4 of them, not 6 of them…ALL 10 so that He could prove there was only ONE God. WELL, we have the same concept here. After 3 years of the most amazing teaching, healing, and fulfilling detailed prophecies, many still did not believe. We are DAYS away from the Cross. So now what??
For those that were invited, the door is now closed. He hardened their hearts. It is time. Jesus needs to be rejected by both Jew and Gentile. If the Jewish leaders suddenly believed, then Jesus would be dying just for them. If the Gentiles suddenly believed, then Jesus would be dying just for them. He came to die for all. So just like the Pharoah’s heart was hardened right at the end, so now are those that were invited to believe are “blinded” from seeing who He is. It is time now to be crucified for those that do believe, both Jews and Gentile.
If you glazed over this you missed something HUGE:
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
The Law of Moses makes it punishable by death to blaspheme the Lord’s name. Jesus is saying I AM not just Jesus, I AM God. Since they do not know this is true, they can convict Jesus for the death penalty, find him guilty in their “blinded eyes” BUT be innocent (sinless) of any accusation since HE IS GOD.
They don’t have to trick him anymore…they don’t have to try to find a way to arrest him. Jesus did it for them with this statement. He gave them the “arrest” statement and yet remained sinless doing it.
Jesus ends this teaching with a reminder that the 1st coming is not a time of judgment. However, when He returns, the 2nd coming, there will be a Judgement. You and I live in between the two time periods.
47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
The last week before the Crucifixion
If October flew by, this is a great place to jump in. (invite a friend to jump in)
Click here to print the timeline
Look at the timeline. This week we are about to begin the last week of Jesus’ ministry. Some call it the Holy week, others call it the Passion Week.
The next 2 weeks are going to be deep. If you have read some, most, or all of the Bible in 2021 it has been eye-opening. Years ago, I thought the Bible was individual stories in a bound book. I never knew it was one chronological book without gaps! It is pretty amazing. Reading it in chronological order, I think is the best thing I ever did to strengthen my knowledge of who God is and His full complete plan. The next 2 weeks are:
Nov 1: Matt 20-21
Nov 2: Luke 18:15-19:48
Nov 3: Mark 11; John 12
Nov 4: Matt 22; Mark 12
Nov 5: Matt 23; Luke 20-21
Nov 6: Mark 13
Nov 7: Matt 24
Nov 8: Matt 25
Nov 9: Matt 26; Mark 14
Nov 10: Luke 22; John 13
Nov 11: John 14-17
Nov 12: Matt 27; Mark 15
Nov 13: Luke 23; John 18-19
Nov 14: Matt 28; Mark 16
Nov 15: Luke 24; John 20-21
Reading the Bible - 2021 