Mark Sermon Manu - Week 28 -- Come to Christ, the Living God

Context:

Mark 12:12 (CSB)

12 They were looking for a way to arrest him but feared the crowd because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. So they left him and went away.

Who is they?

The Chief Priests, the Scribes and the Elders (Mark 11:27)(

Mark 11:27 (CSB)

27 They came again to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came

Round 1 - The Herodians

Means: Politics, Power and Money

Mark 12:13 (CSB)

13 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Jesus to trap him in his words.

Pharisees: Religious Leaders - Pious

Herodians: A loosely organized group that sought to advance the political and economic influence of the Herodian family

These are on opposite sides of the political spectrum

Heroidans — Are pro-Roman rule

Pharisees — Anti-roman rule

This is like sending Democrats and Republicans to Jesus.

There’s nothing like a common enemy/perceived threat to power that can bring two politically opposed faction together.

This is a true Bi-partisan endeavor.

What’s their angle?

Mark 12:14 (CSB)

14 When they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

The Trap

A rejection of paying taxes would seem to entail rebellion against Caesar;

a willingness to pay taxes appears to compromise devotion to God

Don’t we do this today?

Jesus is a Republican or a Democrat

Jesus would hold this view.

Mark 12:15–17 (CSB)

15 But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you testing me?

Bring me a denarius to look at.” 16 They brought a coin.

“Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them. “Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.

Hypocrisy = their acting, their ‘simulation’

Matt 22:18 adds “perceiving their malicious intent”

Why are you testing me?

this is a heart level question — what is their intent?

This is what we should do more of in our political conversations

image - εἰκὼν

εἰκὼν - used 32x in the entire OT

3 of those in the first 9 ch’s of Gen refer to ‘image of God’

Genesis 1:27 (CSB)

27 So God created man in his own image (εἰκὼν); he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.

inscription= ἐπιγραφή = “epi - graphe”

Think autograph

only other place this is used is in Mark 15:26 (Luke 23:38)

Mark 15:26 (CSB)

26 The inscription of the charge written against him was: The King of the Jews.

In others words who has autographed this?

Who does it belong to?

Give to God what is God’s, give to Caesar what is Caesar’s

Give what is God to God’s and what is Worldly to this world.

Two Points:

Everything Belongs to God

Human beings are ‘inscribed with the image of God”

in other words, they belong to God

What they fail to see is that Jesus is the perfect/exact image of God

Colossians 1:15 (CSB)

15 He is the image (εἰκὼν) of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

By stating this he is revealing where their heart lies, where their loyalty lies

He is saying to them — do you belong to this world? or do you belong to God?

How about you?

Do you belong to the things of this world? Or do you belong to God?

Are you living as if that is true?

What would change if you were actually living as though you belonged to God?

Round 2 - The Sadducees

Mark 12:18–23 (CSB)

18 Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and questioned him: 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife behind but no child, that man should take the wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

20 There were seven brothers. The first married a woman, and dying, left no offspring. 21 The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 None of the seven left offspring. Last of all, the woman died too.

23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her?”

Sadducees = only believe in first 5 books of the Bible — the Torah — The Pentateuch

missed out on the Psalms, Proverbs, the Prophets

They are quoting Deut 25:5-10.

They are hoping to show the ridiculousness of resurrection

Jesus again answers brilliantly.

Mark 12:24 (CSB)

24 Jesus spoke to them, “Isn’t this the reason why you’re mistaken (erred):

you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God?

WOW — 2 points

You don’t know / understand the Scriptures

you don’t even have all of them

You don’t know the power of God

Does that describe anyone in this room

are you lacking understanding of the Scriptures?

Are you lacking knowledge of the power of God?

Mark 12:25 (CSB)

25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven.

When (NOT IF) they rise — they will be like the angels.

And concerning the resurrection

Mark 12:26 (CSB)

26 And as for the dead being raised—haven’t you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God said to him: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?

He applies their scriptures — the book of Moses (the Penteteuch)

He’s quoting Exod 3:6

Exodus 3:6 (CSB)

6 Then he continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

Read = means to discern, to exact the meaning out of

Jesus’ conclusion

Mark 12:27 (CSB)

27 He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken.”

Do you know that God is a living God?

not a dead, or distant God of the secular world

not a uncaring God, but one deeply involved in the world

and can be deeply involved in your life

Jesus is the living God, the Living Word

and the Word became Flesh

The Scriptures reveal Jesus, point us to Jesus

Jesus is the True and Living Word of God

The Bible didn’t die for our sins and rise again — Jesus did

Jesus is alive today

He is the Living God

Do you experience God as alive in your life?

What might change if you did?

Paul teaches that if we have believed that Christ is living in us!

Galatians 2:20 (CSB)

20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Summary

We belong to God b/c he has autographed his image on us

Jesus is the perfect image of God

We serve a Living God not a dead or distant God

Lastly, we’ll see that Jesus is the Living God

Round 3 - The Scribes

Mark 12:28–31 (CSB)

28 One of the scribes (a pharisee, expert in the Law (mt 22:34-35)) approached.

When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?”

29 Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”

This is the Shema, every jewish boy would have memorized this growing up.

Ok, pretty good so far

Where’s the trap?

Mark 12:32–33 (CSB)

32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher (not rabbi). You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one else except him.

33 And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

He emphasizes that God is ONE and no one else except him

Why?

B/c clearly Jesus had claimed to be God

and he’s about to do so again.

Perhaps the scribe was hoping to incite Jesus to a response

basically he’s saying God is one and you are not God

I think this is confirmed by one word change he has in his response to Jesus

Jesus said love God with…heart, soul, mind, strength

Scribe answers love God with… heart, understanding, strength.

This is intentional on the Scribe

and intentionally recorded by Mark

What’s the point?

The Scribes knew a lot about God but they did not Know God

did you know that’s possible?

The didn’t know him personally — this was the the point of the Sacrificial System so that sin could be dealt with and people could be reconciled to God

that is in RIGHT RELATIONSHIP

This is where we can go wrong

we depend on our ‘understanding of the scripture” rather than the scripture itself

What do we need to illuminate Scripture?

We need the authors intent

Where do we get the Author’s intent?

from the Author himself

who is the Author? — The Holy Spirit

Who is available to us now if only we ask? (Luke 11:13) — the Holy Spirit.

I’m convinced this is where so may theological divisions come form, we lob our understanding over the text and others disagree.

this may sound confusing, but it is why we absolutely need the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our life

we cannot understand the scriptures with out him (Phillip and the Eunuch)

Eph 1 — heart of our eyes enlightened.

That’s why Jesus says what he does next.

Mark 12:34 (CSB)

34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question him any longer.

This man is so close

literally he is standing next to God in the flesh

If only he could see that Jesus is the One True God come in the Flesh

The Incarnate God

The Living Word

The Living God

Then he would enter the Kingdom of God.

I think that’s why he goes where he goes next

He goes to one of the most well known messianic texts of the OT

The most oft quoted psalm in the NT — Psalm 110.

He has all the RL’s standing their

Here is their chance for repentance

To have their eyes opened to the Christ, the Living God

Round 4 - Jesus and the Scriptures

Mark 12:35–37 (CSB)

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David?

36 David himself says by the Holy Spirit: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’ 37

David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

He’s quoting Psalm 110 — a clear messianic psalm

the most quoted psalm in the NT

The Religious Leaders now are getting nervous.

What is he doing?

Simply pointing them to Himself

He is both the Son of David — by geneology

And the Lord of David — as God in the Flesh

He is the Messiah

He is again clearly alluding to this fact.

but John 5:39-40

John 5:39–40 (ESV)

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

We may search the scriptures

we may search other holy scriptures

we may search the wisdom of this age,

we may search ourselves

we may search experience

we may search...

But at the end of the day, the problem is their (OUR) refusal to come to Jesus.

And so this is the invitation for you today.

What have you been searching in for true life? to be alive?

political power or processes?

Money and wealth?

Political views

The Word of God devoid of the Spirit of God?

Other religious texts?

The answer is Jesus

to come to Jesus right now, right here

with whatever you are struggling with

We serve the LIVING GOD, not a dead God

A god that is here now with us

whom Paul says, lives inside of us

Jesus says will make his home in us

So we are going to come to Jesus right now as we close with song

I’m going to pray

I want you to pray, to ask God

and then to listen to him

Closing Prayer

Why?

As we have seen

They trusted in Political Power and Money — the Herodians

They trusted in their own version of the Scriptures

They trusted in their own ability to understand the scriptures

Jesus’ Warning

Mark 12:38–40 (CSB)

38 He also said in his teaching “Beware of the scribes,

who want to go around in long robes

and who want greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.

40 They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”

In the Gospel of Matthew all of Chapter 23 is devoted to this

This is just a summary of a longer view that Jesus had against the Religious Leaders

Jesus Point:

These men were in love with things of this World

Power, Prestige, Political Leverage

Being seen as great

honored

Jesus Sermon on the Mount talks directly against these things

When you are Worldly — you do horrible things to people

devour — exploit those who are vulnerable — widows

honor God with your mouth, but your heart is far from him.

That’s no way to live

Here in the U.S.

The temptations to live worldly lives are legion

Closing Exhortation - Come to Christ, the Living God.

How do we fight against this?

See and believe that you belong to God

his image is imprinted on your soul

if you have believed

his name is inscribed on your heart

“mine”

Only when we see our selves as belonging to God will we be free of the allures of the world

John 17:14–16 (CSB)

14 I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Come to the Word of God which points us to Christ, reveals Christ

2 Timothy 3:16–17 CSB

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

If we come to meet Jesus in the Word, Jesus will reveal himself to us

Why do you think it is so hard to read your Bible?

God promises to reveal himself to us in his Word, the Truth

John 17:17 (CSB)

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Come to Christ, the Living God

Christ is alive

He lives in you

He walks with you

He is with you

He will reveal himself to you.

John 17:26 (CSB)

26 I made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them and I may be in them.”

Pray

Cut

the only one who can save him from his intellect.

The Scribe didn’t have the category for a trinitarian God

or the Fact that God could become a man

Muslims share this concern today

Jesus: soul/life (psche) mind (dianoia) — devotion

Scribe: understanding (σύνεσις) that which is understood or comprehended, insight

The scribe — the expert in the OT

cannot see Jesus for who he is

he is bound by his own ability to understand and comprehend

He has not been “born from the Spirit”- John 3:10?

He has not had the ‘eyes of his heart enlightened” - Eph 1:14?

He cannot “discern the things of the Spirit” - 1 Cor 1:30?

How about you?

is your faith in God limited by your inability to understand him or what he is up to?

is your intimacy with God hindered by your own intellect?

We will never understand the Trinity, the dual nature of Christ, in this life

Yet we are called to Him

to the living God

The God’s whose image we bear

It is going to take Faith — Trust

the release of control and understanding

to experience Christ.

Jesus says to him