Jesus Sees Mark 12:35-44

Aesop has a helpful fable. Once upon a time some mice gathered to decide upon the best means of ridding themselves of the cat who had killed many of their friends and relatives. Various plans were discussed and rejected, until, at last, a young mouse came forward proposing that a bell should be hung around the tyrant’s neck. In this way they would have warning of his movements and be able to escape. The suggestion was received joyfully by all. But one old mouse, who had sat silently for some time, got up, and said: “While I consider the plan to be a very clever one, I would like to know who is going to bell the cat.”

-You have to be careful trying to trap Jesus. You just might catch Him!

-Jesus is the Lord who sees and knows the hearts of people

I. Jesus is Lord vv. 35-37

Over the past several weeks, we have seen as various groups throw questions at Jesus, looking for points of accusation

For the most part, they are not asking good faith questions and are trying to trap Jesus in His words

Over and over again, He has proven His wisdom to them and has confounded His opponents. This has the delight and the attention of the crowds

Now, Jesus is going to turn the questioning around on them

Jesus poses a question, using the Old Testament to testify to the Messiah’s identity

The Scribes (rightly) identify the Messiah as the Son of David, one of his descendants by birth

Meanwhile, David calls Him Lord, indicating something much greater about the Messiah

The question is important for two reasons:

First, it exposes the ignorance of the religious leaders. They do not have a good answer to this question; it is not a hotly debated topic of the day

Second, it raises the stakes. Everything that Jesus has done in His ministry is pointing us to the reality that He is the Messiah. Now, we see that this means that He is also the Lord’s Son

Jesus is inviting the crowd to put the pieces together and to see Him as He really is. This is an invitation to belief

Someone once wrote and asked Emily Post, the etiquette expert of another generation, "What is the correct procedure when one is invited to the White House but has a previous engagement?"

Replied Post, "An invitation to dine at the White House is a command, and it automatically cancels any other engagement."

II. Jesus Condemns Hypocrisy vv. 38-40

Jesus now has the scribes on the run, so to speak, and He will not stop

Jesus issues a warning against the scribes

He begins with a laundry list of seemingly positive attributes

They wear fancy clothes

They are notable in the marketplace

They have the best seats in the synagogue and at the feasts

However, these are not real indications of piety, but are attention seeking and prideful

The scribes’ reality is much different:

They do not build others up; they devour and destroy

They worship in a way that is filled with pretense, attempting to appear more righteous than they really are

They are condemned by God, not confirmed

The world may only see an outward form of religiosity, but the Lord knows the truth of our hearts!

The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott “What Is Good Acting but Convincing Lying?”

Laurence Olivier, actor, producer, director of the National Theatre 1962–1973, was made life peer [in] 1970, died [in] 1989. “I have never been conscious of any need other than to show off.” And “I am far from sure when I am acting and when I am not. For what is good acting but convincing lying?”

III. Jesus Praises Faithfulness vv. 41-44

The scene closes with a favorite moment for many of us as we read Scripture

Jesus positions Himself opposite the treasury box and takes note

This ought to give us pause by itself!

Jesus is paying attention to what people give at the Temple and observes the faithfulness of a widow

What does her faithfulness look like?

It is borne out of her poverty, not prosperity

It is measured by what it costs, not what it can buy

Jesus finds it praiseworthy; He sees faithfulness and He celebrates it!

Revelation 3:8–11

[8] “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. [9] Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. [10] Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. [11] I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. (ESV)

This week, the mail came and I took it on myself to sort it out to the rest of the staff. An envelope came in, addressed to the church, and I assumed it was some sort of letter. Much to my surprise, there was a brief one page note, from a couple I’ve never heard of who lives in our neighborhood. They sent a financial gift to our church: $2. I normally don’t know anything about gifts that come through, but this one caught me as special. God sees and, God knows, even when people don’t, and God rewards.