True Devotion
Text: Mark 12:35-44
Core Idea: Jesus is the Son of David and the Son of God, who comes to destroy sin and death by giving away His life for us. And He is inviting us to give away our lives to Him for this alone is the way to our salvation. Then may we humbly, joyfully, and willingly entrust ourselves to Him for He alone is the Giver of life.
INTRODUCTION
Well, after a long break, we are finally back in the Gospel of Mark exploring the life of Jesus. Then to refresh your mind, let me remind you of the story so far. On the first day of the Passion week, Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey – signifying that He is the humble King who saves us from the power of sin (Mk. 11:1-11). Then on Monday, the second day, Jesus cursed the fruitless fig tree and drove out those who were buying and selling in the temple – showing us that He didn’t come to restore the temple but to replace it (Mk. 11:12-26). Now, Jesus’ action may have amazed the people, but it certainly provoked the religious leaders. So, on Tuesday, the third day, Jesus was greeted with fierce opposition from the religious leaders as they brought a series of controversial questions to publicly discredit Him while privately plotting to kill Him. If you remember, the Pharisees and the Herodians brought a political question – a question on the imperial tax. The Sadducees came with a theological question – a question on the resurrection. A teacher of the law brought a religious question – a question on the greatest commandment (Mk. 11:27-12:34). But Jesus answered all of them so wisely that Mark says in 12:34, “And from then on no one dared ask Him any more questions.” Jesus has effectively silenced His opponents and His authority remained unchallenged. But He wasn’t done yet – He now had a question for them. After a day of questions, this would be the most important question of the day – the one that would shed light on their understanding of the Messiah. Then with this in mind, please turn your Bibles to Mark 12:35-44. Let me read this for us.
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ 37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can He be his son?” The large crowd listened to Him with delight. 38 As He taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” 41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.”
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Let me point out three things from this passage:
· THE SON OF DAVID
· FALSE DEVOTION
· TRUE DEVOTION
1) THE SON OF DAVID
Verse 35. Jesus begins with a premise that was common throughout Israel in His day – namely that the Messiah would be a descendant of king David. This was what the OT taught (Ps. 89:3-4; Isa. 9:2-7; 11:1-9; Jer. 23:5-6; 30:9: 33:15-22; Ezek. 34:23-24; Amo. 9:11), and the teachers of the law taught exactly that. Then here, what Jesus wanted to point out wasn’t the accuracy of their teaching but the understanding of their teaching – He wanted to show them that their understanding was incomplete by referencing Psalm 110 in verse 36. Psalm 110 describes a messianic figure who will come to judge the nations and crush the rulers of the earth. Then Jesus was basically saying, “As you know, Psalm 110 is written by David himself who undoubtedly was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Keep that in mind because he was the one who wrote, ‘The Lord said to my Lord.’ It seems like there was a dialogue between the first Lord (referencing God) and the second Lord (referencing the Messiah to come). Then here’s what’s odd. If the Messiah is David’s son, why would David call Him, ‘My Lord’? What father calls his son, his Lord? It doesn’t make sense. How can David’s Son be David’s Lord?” Again, He wasn’t saying that the Bible was wrong – He also believed that the Messiah would be a descendant of David. But He was simply asking, “Do you truly understand what this means? – because if you did, you would know that the Messiah will be much greater than what you expect Him to be.”
D.A. Carson said, “Jesus’ purpose is not to debate but to elicit from them what the Scriptures themselves teach about the Messiah – thus, helping people recognize who He really is.” In other words, through this question, Jesus wanted to point out that their understanding of the Messiah was too small. Many Israelites thought of the Messiah as a political King. So, for centuries, the Jewish people have been waiting for a Messiah who would deliver them from their oppressors and make their nation great again – a Messiah who would restore their wealth, power, and fame. In essence, they were looking for a Messiah who would make their lives better. No wonder Peter rebuked Jesus when He shared that He would save the world through His death (Mk. 8:32). This kind of Messiah was not in their category – it didn’t make sense. But what they didn’t realize was that the Messiah was going to be a suffering Servant. It’s true that the Messiah would come to establish God’s Kingdom – He is a divine figure who would have authority over all people and whose rule would be everlasting. But at the same time, He would establish God’s Kingdom through His death – as Isaiah 53:3 says, “[He will be] a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.” The Messiah would be stunningly different from their expectation – He would be much greater than they could ever imagine. This Messiah would come not just to put down the political enemies of Israel, but the ultimate enemies of the whole human race – He would come to destroy sin, evil, and death. And the most ironic thing about this scene was that that Messiah was standing right in front of them – and yet they didn’t get it. David’s Lord became David’s Son when He was conceived in the womb of Mary and was born in Bethlehem – the city of David. In Jesus, the Son of God became the Son of David.
Now, what do we learn from this? First, let me speak to all my non-Christian friends here. It’s possible that you arrived today with questions that you would like to ask God. And I’m so glad that you did – please continue to bring your questions because we want to do our best to help you answer them. But friends, do you know that Jesus has a question for you? Up until this point in the passage, Jesus was bombarded with questions from His skeptics – those who didn’t accept Him and those who refused to believe Him. What’s amazing is that Jesus didn’t ignore them, but He answered them wisely. And now, He finally had an opportunity to ask them a question. If you were Jesus, what would you ask these skeptics – these people who didn’t just hate Him but wanted to kill Him? He could’ve reasoned with them – inviting them to ask more questions so that He can convince them intellectually. But He didn’t. He could’ve performed incredible miracles to prove that He really was God – that they ought to believe Him. But He didn’t. Instead, He asked a question that would clarify who He was. In other words, He simply showed His skeptics more of Himself. This speaks volumes. Friends, I wonder if you’re waiting for Jesus to give you a water-tight logical argument that will get you to believe. Or you might be waiting for Him to do something that would crush logic – a miracle that will unmistakably show His existence. Now, I can’t promise you that He will give you those things, but I know what He is giving you right now – He is making Himself available to you right now. He is inviting you to see Him for who He really is. Do you know why? Because in the end, what will transform your heart won’t be this undeniable intellectual argument or an out-of-this-world experience but a relationship with a person. Unless you look to the person of Jesus in the Scriptures, you’re going to wait forever. He is what you’re looking for. Then I invite you to simply look to Him today. Get to know Him and surrender your life to Him because He alone will be able to save you from God’s righteous wrath, bring you forgiveness, and give you life and life to the full.
What about Christians? Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” In other words, we already have a relationship with Jesus. Then let me ask you, “Does this truth still cause your heart to respond with praise and worship? Does this truth still fill your heart with affection and adoration for Him? Does this truth still move you to joyfully surrender and trust Him every single day? Does this truth still inspire you to devote yourself to Him with love and eagerness” I pray that all of us can confidently say, “Yes” to these questions. But if you can’t, that’s okay. I simply pray that the Holy Spirit will open your hearts so that you will recapture the beauty of His grace once again today. Brothers and sisters, don’t be too quick to move away from the hope of this gospel. Don’t be too quick to allow the busyness and distractions of the world to lose sight of our Lord. Let us continue to fight the good fight so that we may deepen our relationship with our Savior every single day.
2) FALSE DEVOTION
Verse 38. Jesus continued to expose the teachers of the law – but the issue was no longer what they were teaching but how they were living. And He warned the crowd to watch out for them. Now, it’s important to note that Jesus was still in the temple courts because this meant that many teachers of the law were present – listening to the words of Jesus. The teachers of the law were respected by the people. William Lane wrote, “Their words were considered to possess sovereign authority.” And James Edwards wrote, “The scribes commanded unrivaled authority in first-century Palestine.” Then you can imagine how Jesus’ words would’ve been a huge threat to their power, status, and reputation. I wonder if they were visibly expressing their anger toward Jesus. But regardless, Jesus didn’t back down – instead, He went on to give them five reasons for His criticism.
First, they craved recognition – “they like to walk around in flowing robes.” These robes were flashy and showy to make them stand out from others. They didn’t look around to help others – instead, they wanted others to look at them and admire them. Second, they demanded acknowledgment of status – they liked being “greeted with respect in the marketplace.” They expected people to rise and honor them when they appeared. They wanted others to treat them with respect, but they didn’t treat others with respect. Third, they demanded acknowledgment of their position of authority – they wanted to “have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.” They expected to be treated the way they deserved – there was no humility in their hearts. And note that they liked all these things. They were incredibly self-centered and self-absorbed. Fourth, they took advantage of the weak – “they devour widows’ houses.” Widows at that time were among the most vulnerable, helpless, and defenseless individuals in the culture – and yet these leaders enriched themselves at their expense. Instead of serving the people of God, they plundered the people of God. Fifth, they were experts in false piety – they “for a show make lengthy prayers.” Their public prayers may have been eloquent, but Jesus judged them empty. Their prayers were nothing but a performance to honor themselves – they were putting on a show. All this to say, they were all about them – everything they did was calculated to draw the attention of others to themselves. Jesus said in Luke 12:48, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” The greater our revelation, the greater our accountability will be. No wonder Jesus condemned them harshly in verse 40, “These men will be punished most severely.” In one sense, they got what they wanted (the attention of others) but Jesus says that they will also get what they deserve.
Then what do we learn from this? Personally, there’s a lot for me to learn as a pastor. I was praying that I will never be like them – that my ministry to you will not be about me but about God’s glory and your joy, that my preaching won’t be about me but about Christ’s beauty and your delight, that I would never be the point of everything I do here but the pointer to the One who alone is worthy of our worship. So, please pray for me, the pastors, the leaders, the small group leaders, the parents, the teachers, and the disciplers that those who have been given greater revelation will not misuse our knowledge and authority but that we will continue to point the attention of the people to Christ. But at the same time, guard your hearts because no one is exempted from this temptation. Left unguarded, we are all prone to make everything about ourselves – doing everything to call attention to ourselves. So, brothers and sisters, if you are in any way guilty of this, I urge you to repent today. And I pray that you will have the attitude of John the Baptist who humbly confessed, “He must become greater; I must become less” (Jn. 3:30).
3) TRUE DEVOTION
Verse 41. The scene suddenly shifts – and we encounter a story that forms quite a contrast to the previous scene. If Jesus was showing us an example of false devotion in the teachers of the law, we’re about to see an example of true devotion. “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.” Now, remember that this was the week of Passover. And it was estimated that the population would jump from 50,000 to 200,000 during this season. Then in a sea of people, this is what Jesus observed: “Many rich people threw in large amounts.” Actually, it wouldn’t have been so difficult to identify who the rich were because they were often distinguished by their dress. And it wouldn’t have been so difficult to discern that they gave a large amount because their offerings would’ve made a lot of noise as they gave in coins. Remember, there was no paper money back then. So, even though you might not have seen what they were giving, you were able to hear what they were giving – the louder the noise you made, the bigger the amount you gave. Now, in contrast, verse 42, “But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.” These two small copper coins were the smallest coin in circulation at that time – it would be like pennies to us. Now, the point of this was that her contribution was absolutely insignificant. It probably wouldn’t have even made a sound when she dropped them in the box. No one paid attention. No one thought much of her – except Jesus. She had the attention of Jesus. Think about the significance of that. The teachers of the law did everything they could to bring attention to themselves, but they failed to draw the attention of the One who mattered the most.
Well, what she did didn’t go unnoticed by Jesus – and He was going to make sure it didn’t go unnoticed by His disciples. So, He said to them in verse 43, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.” Now, how can Jesus say that this widow gave more than others when she gave the equivalent of cents? It’s because while everyone else contributed out of their abundance, she, out of her poverty, gave everything she had. Jesus was basically saying, “Though the amount of her gift was the smallest, her sacrifice was the greatest.” To Jesus, what mattered the most wasn’t how much was given but how much was sacrificed – not what was given but what was left. She put in all she had to live on. She has entrusted herself completely to His care.
Then what does this mean for us? I think this story does teach us something about godly stewardship – how her example inspires us to give joyfully, generously, and sacrificially. No doubt, that’s what we should do knowing that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). But something didn’t sit right with me. Looking at the context of this passage, this story seemed so out of place – why would Mark add this random story about sacrificial giving in the midst of all these intense confrontations with the religious leaders? Again, I think it’s okay to come out of this story being convicted of giving generously to the Lord – but I think the main implication can be found in verse 44. “They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.” Those words at the end in Greek literally mean, “the whole of her life.” In other words, she gave her life away. Then let me explain how this ties in with everything else. I shared earlier that as a way to respond to His skeptics (those who opposed Him), He simply clarified who He was – namely that He was the Son of God who comes to destroy sin and evil through His death. Then how do we receive Him? What’s the right response to this Messiah – the Savior King? Just as this widow did, we ought to give our lives away to Him. That’s the point of this story. Friends, you might say, “I have trouble believing because I have all these intellectual doubts.” But what Jesus is telling you is that the reason why you don’t believe isn’t necessarily that you can’t believe intellectually, but ultimately that you don’t want to trust Him – you are afraid to give your life away. In other words, your problem may not be the disbelief of the mind but the fear of the heart. You’re scared of losing control. Then what can you do? How can you overcome this fear? You need to look at who Jesus really is.
The Bible tells us that unlike the teachers of the law who exploited the poor, Jesus Christ became poor and was exploited by the very people He came to save. When David’s Lord became David’s Son, He literally gave His life away. On the cross, He was stripped naked and became absolutely penniless for us. On the cross, He lost control and was devoured for us. On the cross, He received condemnation so that you and I would receive mercy. On the cross, He paid the penalty for our sins so that we could be saved by faith. Then Jesus is saying to all of us, “I gave away My life for you. If I did this for you, you can give your life away to Me for I am gentle and humble in heart. You can trust Me. I will give you rest. And I will give you life and life to the full.”
Then let me end with this story. On the morning of June 30th, 1859, Charles Blondin, a famous tightrope walker, stretched a cable across Niagara Falls and walked across it. There were about 25,000 people watching – and in order to draw more people, he began to do crazy things. Here’s a list of things he did: he drank a whole bottle of wine on the cable, he paused to dangle from the cable with one hand, he walked backward, he wore a sack over his head so he couldn’t see, he pushed a wheelbarrow, he backflipped his way across, he crossed at night, he crossed with his body in shackles, he crossed carrying a table and chair, he ate a piece of cake, and he even carried a stove and utensils on his back, started a fire, cooked, and ate an omelet. Now, he was running out of ideas. So, in order to draw the biggest crowd, he decided to carry someone with him. The problem was finding someone. So, he put out an ad in the paper, promising that they would be rewarded $1,000 – and a number of people actually came for the recruitment. Now, just to boost their confidence, he actually did a few more stunts on the cable in front of them – and no doubt, they were all impressed. After the performance, he finally asked them, “Do you believe that I can carry you across?” Everyone said, “Absolutely. Yes.” So, he asked again, “Will you let me carry you across Niagara Falls on the cable?” And everyone said, “Absolutely not.” Nobody would do it. Our problem is not just intellectual – it’s that we aren’t willing to give up our life. Now, what happened was that his manager, Harry Colcord, had no choice but to go with Blondin. Harry was terrified but he did it. On the day, they did get the biggest crowd – around 100,000 people. But halfway across, because of the weight and the wind, Blondin started to sway – and whenever this happened, Harry started to sway back, trying to counterbalance. And at that point, this is what Blondin said, “Look up, Harry. You are no longer Colcord, you are Blondin. Until I clear this place, be a part of me – mind, body, and soul. If I sway, sway with me. Do not attempt to do any balancing yourself. If you do, we will both go to our death.” Blondin was basically saying, “If you try to save yourself, you will lose yourself.” And Jesus is saying the same thing to us. Friends, this is how you can truly become a disciple of Christ. It’s not having all your intellectual questions answered but it’s ultimately seeing Christ on the cross, giving His life away for you, losing control for you, and now choosing to give yourself to Him. I pray that you would let Him carry you today.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, Jesus is the Son of David and the Son of God, who comes to destroy sin and death by giving away His life for us. And He is inviting us to give away our lives to Him for this alone is the way to our salvation. Then may we humbly, joyfully, and willingly entrust ourselves to Him for He alone is the Giver of life.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) After silencing all His opponents in chapter 12, Jesus could’ve asked them any question He wanted. Why was it important for Jesus to point out that David’s Son was also David’s Lord? What was He trying to tell them?
2) While we might confess the right things about Jesus, sometimes we fail to live them out. Why do you think there is a disconnect between what we say we believe and how we live?
3) Why was Jesus’ attention given to the widow? How can we live in such a way that would draw His attention, not the attention of others? How can we live out John 3:30 in our lives?
4) What would it look like for you to give your life away to Jesus today? Share and pray for each other.