Hello Internet Land!! We are back again!! I really enjoy doing this blog. I sure hope you are enjoying it also. My little boy is smiling and cooing at me. He is laying on the bed next to me! What a miracle babies are!! Well, if you are a mother you know..we could talk about our children all day!! But, let’s move on to our study!! Hold on to your seats because today is going to be great!!!
The Parable of the Tenants: There once was a man, who planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, hug a pit for the winepress, and built a watchtower. (Boy, was he busy!!!) He rented out the place to some farmers and went away for a while. At harvest time, he sent a servant to collect from them some of the fruit. But, they were greedy–they beat him up and sent him away with nothing. The man sent another servant and the same thing happened only it got worse..this servant was struck on his head and treated shamefully. Again this happened…but this servant was killed! The man had only one person left to send, his son. Well, those tenants plotted against the son, the heir of the vineyard. So, they killed him. Jesus asked them what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. The Pharisees and teachers of the law looked for a way to arrest him, because they knew Jesus was speaking about them. But, they were afraid of the large crowd…so they left.
Paying Taxes to Caesar: The tricky Pharisees tried to catch Jesus by using his words. They came to Jesus and asked if it was right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? But Jesus knew what they were doing, so he called them out! He asked them why they were trying to trap him. Jesus was much smarter than they were. Jesus asked them to bring him a coin. He asked them whose picture was on the front. It was Caesar’s. So, Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
Marriage and the Resurrection: The Sadducees came to Jesus with a question. Remember, the Sadducees don’t believe in resurrection. They said that Moses wrote that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife with no children, the man must marry the widow and ahve children for his brother. They continued..say there is seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving children. The second one married the widow, and died leaving no children. All of them married her and each died. Then, the woman died without any children. At the resurrection..whose wife will she be? Jesus told them that they didn’t know the scriptures or the power of God. When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in married. They will be like the angels in heaven.
The Greatest Commandments: Those tricky teachers of the law overhead them talking. He knew that they didn’t trick Jesus because he gave a good answer. So..it was his turn. He asked Jesus, “Out of all the commandments…which one is the most important?” Jesus told them that the most important one was “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30) Jesus continued with the second greatest, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31). The man told Jesus that he was right. Jesus told the man that he was not far from the kingdom of God. From then on…no one dared ask him any more questions.
Whose Son is the Christ?: Jesus was teaching in the temple courts. He asked the crowd, “How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David?” David had already declared, “the Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” David called Christ, Lord. How can this be his son?? The crowd listened with delight. Jesus warned them about the teachers of the law because they make a big show and still devour widows’ houses. Jesus told them that men like that will be severely punished.
The Widow’s Offering: Jesus watched the crowd putting money into the temple treasury. The rich men gave lots of money. But a poor widow put in two small coins worth only a fraction of a penny. Jesus called the disciples over. He told them that the poor widow has put more into the treasury than anyone. They gave out of their wealth, but she gave out of her poverty, put in everything…all she had to live on.
Mark Chapter 12: Led Astray–Jesus told of the Sadducees’ error. Error means to lead astray. They did not deny the truth outright; instead, they allow their thinking to be led astray by unanswered questions. They deny any truth they cannot prove…such as resurrection and angels. They claim to believe in God’s power but tehy do not live as through they do. Has such thinking crept into your mind? Such negative thought patters can be stopped by reading God’s Word–The Bible! And soon, you will be “fully persuaded that God has power to do what he has promised!! (Romans 4:21). AMEN!!
Just wanted to say HI. I found your blog a few days ago on Technorati and have been reading it over the past few days.