Day 12: Jesus’ Final Lesson

Welcome to day 12 of our study of the Gospel of Mark, and we are going to pack it in today because it's Tuesday. And it'll be the last public teaching that Jesus has, and He's going to cover a lot.

Let's pick up the context. We know on Sunday there was the triumphal entry, right? Hosanna, palm leaves, blankets, coming in on the colt. Then on Monday He's walking into Jerusalem because He's going to clear the Temple and He cursed the fig tree.

So, now, it's Tuesday. And He and the disciples are, coming into Jerusalem for round two. Jesus knows what's going to happen on Friday. Disciples are with Him. He said, this shall be a house of prayer. Tension is everywhere.

Picking it up in, verse 20 of chapter 11. In the morning, they went along. They saw the fig tree withered from the roots. And Peter remembered and said to Jesus, Rabbi, look, the fig tree that You cursed has withered. Response, have faith in God, Jesus answered. I tell you the truth. If anyone says to this mountain go throw yourself into the sea and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

Teaching time. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in faith, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him. Why? So that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins. Jesus takes this moment to talk about faith yet again. Will you follow Me? How do we follow? By faith. What does faith evidence? It evidences a life of obedience, of following Him in service, first half of the book, and following Him in suffering, second half of the book. Now, the battle begins.

They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the Temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders came up to Him. By what authority are You doing these things? Referring to turning over all those tables and calling the Temple My Father's house, etc. Who gave You authority to do this? And Jesus is as shrewd as a serpent and as innocent as a dove. His response, He answers the question with a question. I will ask you one question. Answer Me and I will tell you by what authority I'm doing these things. John's baptism, was it from Heaven or from men? Tell Me!

They discussed it among themselves. You can see them going over in the little corner and talking about this. If we say from Heaven, He will ask, Well, why didn't you believe him? But if we say from men, they feared the people. For everyone held that John really was a prophet. So, they answer Jesus. We don't know. Jesus said, Neither will I tell you by what authority I'm doing these things.

He, turns the tables, lovingly, kindly, but I mean in their face. And then what He's going to do is He's going to tell the crowd a parable so that they see the real picture and then watch the response. He then, notice the author, Mark wants us to know, this is all happening at the same time.

He then began to speak to them in parables. Here's the parable. A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower.

Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. This is very, very common practice. But they seized him, and they beat him, and they sent him away empty handed. Then he sent another servant to them, and they struck this one on the head, and treated him shamefully. He then sent another, and that one they killed.

And then he sent many others. Some of them they beat, others they killed. He had one left to send. A son whom he loved. He sent him last of all saying, They will respect my son. But the tenants said to one another, This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and the inheritance will be ours. So, they took him, and they killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

Question. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants, and give the vineyard to others. And then He makes this application. Haven't you read this scripture? And He's quoting one of the psalms. The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, or the most significant stone. The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Then they looked for a way to arrest Him, because they knew He had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left Him, and they went away.

Do you see what he did? By what authority? You answered this question. And then He gives this parable. And the owner of the vineyard is God. The one He sent was His Son. And notice this. The Pharisees knew He's talking about us. But that little phrase, the inheritance will be ours. They were so committed to having their position. And the money and the power that came from their position. And yet, think of this.

They knew God's Word better than anyone. They'd gone to the best schools, had the scrolls, had the most material. They were actual teachers of all the Old Testament. And when they stare into the truth, they say no. And what do they want to do? They want to kill him. Well, when you want to get rid of someone, the goal is to get rid of them in a way where you don't have to do the dirty work. And then the other problem is if you're a Jew, because you're under Roman rule, you don't have the right to exercise capital punishment.

So, let's try a sneak attack. Let's see if we can catch Him in a way so that no matter what He says, he'll be condemned.

Verse 13. Later, they, religious leaders, sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch Him in His words. They came to Him and said, Teacher, we know that You're a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men because, You pay no attention to who they are, but You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. This is so syrupy it's sick.

Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn't we pay? But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. Why are you trying to trap Me? He asked. Bring a denarius, which was the coin of the day, and let Me look at it. They brought the coin, and He asked them, Whose portrait is this and whose inscription? Caesar's, they replied. Then Jesus said to them, Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God’s. And they were all amazed at Him. Again, He's so wise.

Now the Sadducees come. They don't believe in the resurrection, and they're going to try and trick Him with a hypothetical story.

Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him with a question. Teacher, they said, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving children. The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no children. It was the same with the third.

In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. And here's the trap. At the resurrection - which we don't believe in - whose wife will she be since she had seven marriages? We gotcha, right? We gotcha, again.

Notice His response. Jesus replied, are you not in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God? When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. They will be like the angels in Heaven.

Now about the dead rising. If you want to know about resurrection, let Me make this clear. Have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, I am - present tense - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken.

He defends the resurrection on the tense of a verb. I mean, look at this. It's not, I was the God of Abraham, he's dead, of Isaac or Jacob. He defends the resurrection on, Have you never read, God said to Moses, I am, present tense. In other words, Abraham is living, Isaac is living, and Jacob is living. He says, you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God.

At this point, one of the teachers of the law, who's very sincere and he's been watching these different debates and he has a genuine question. And so, in verse 28, one of the teachers of the law came and he heard them debating and noticing Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked, of all the commandments, which is the most important?

The most important one, Jesus answered, is this. And He's going to quote Deuteronomy 6:4 and following. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, monotheism, there's only one God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength. And the second is this, love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.

Now here's the response of this teacher of the law. This guy knows the Scriptures backward and forward, and he's got a tender heart. Well said, Teacher, the man replied. You are right in saying that God is the one and there is no other but him. To love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.

What's been the theme with these religious leaders? Tradition versus truth. Religion versus relationship.

When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said, You are not far from the Kingdom. And from then on, no one dared ask Him any more questions.

And so, it's like, okay, round one, round two, round three, they've tried to trap Him. No one's winning any of these arguments. Now Jesus flips the tables. And He says, Let me, ask you a question.

Notice what He says. While Jesus was teaching in the Temple courts, He asked, How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David? When 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. David calls Him Lord. How then can He be his son? The large crowd listened to Him with delight. As He taught, Jesus said, Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplace and have the most important seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. They devour widows houses for a show and make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished severely.

And so, Jesus turns the tables, He asks a theological question, one that puzzles them where they realize He is the son of David, but how is this actually going to work? And what they will learn in the days that follow, as He dies, as He's resurrected, how Jesus, in fact, is the son of David in the line, and is the Messiah, and how He is God.

And He leaves them with that, and then He points to these religious leaders, and He says, Beware of them. They're arrogant, and they're proud. This is what they do. It's external, and it's for a show. So, what's the value? Humility. Faith and humility continue to come through Jesus’ teaching. When it comes to trusting God and walking humbly before Him and not doing things for external appearance or to impress other people by what we say, or by what we do, how you doing? I think we all struggle with this.

And I just want to be careful that we don't, you know, point at these Pharisees like they're the religious people and we're the great disciples. And the fact of the matter is, Pride is an issue for all of us, and God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.

Be a servant. Be humble. Recognize where your success comes from. Be a steward of that. Use that to serve and love other people.

And the text goes on, Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting in their money into the Temple treasury. Many rich people came and threw in large amounts, but a poor widow came. And put in two very small copper coins worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in 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 that she had to live on. He's saying, this is what I'm looking for. I'm looking for this kind of a heart, right? We just learned, love God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, your strength. Well, what kind of heart? This kind of heart. What He knows is what we do with our money is the clearest reflection of what's really going on in our heart.

Now, Jesus’ final teaching is going to be about hope. And the disciples, they're going to walk outside and they're going to take a look at the Temple and they're going to ask some questions. Because in casual conversation, they're going to say, Wow, how beautiful this is. And then Jesus is going to make some prophecy.

And so, what I want to do is give you, in context, what's happening here. It's Tuesday. He's done the debates. He's given them a clear picture of what's going on. He's given them warnings.

And we pick it up in chapter 13. As He was leaving the Temple, one of His disciples said to Him, Look, teacher, what massive stones, what magnificent buildings. And they're still impressed with all the exterior stuff. Jesus says, Do you see these great buildings? Not one of these stones will be left on another. Every one of them will be thrown down. And that happens in A.D. 70.

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, opposite the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew ask Him privately, Tell us when these things will happen, and what will be the signs that they are about to be fulfilled.

Now from verse 5 to verse 13, He's going to give them a near-term fulfillment. And then in verse 14 through the end of the chapter, it's long-term.

The near prophecy goes like this. He tells them, Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in My name, claiming I am He, and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places and famines. These are all the beginning of birth pangs - some of this sounds rather familiar. You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to local councils. You'll be flogged in synagogues. On account of Me, you'll stand before governors and Kings as witnesses to them.

And the Gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you're arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what you’re to say. Just say whatever is given you at that time for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Warning - Brother will betray brother to death and a father to his child. Children rebel against their parents and will have them put to death. All men will hate you because of Me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And He's talking about the near-term.

And then, in the flow, He's now gonna talk about what's coming long-term. Big shift in verse 14. When you see the abomination that causes desolation, and He's quoting Daniel chapter 9, when you see this happen. Standing where it does not belong, let the reader understand, and let those in Judea flee to the mountains.

Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Pray that this will not happen and take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world until now, and never be equaled again.

If the Lord had not cut short these days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the chosen or the elect, whom He has chosen, He has shortened them. At that time, if anyone says to you, Look, here's the Christ, or look, there's the Christ, do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear. They'll perform signs and miracles to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

So, be on your guard. I have told you everything ahead of time. But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. And at that time - talking about His final return - men will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory, and He will send His angels and gather His elect - or chosen ones - from the four winds, and from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away.

No one knows about the day or the hour, not even the angels in heaven nor the sun, but only the Father. Be on your guard. Be alert. You do not know when the time will come. It's like a man going away. He leaves his house in charge of his servants. Each with an assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep his watch.

Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone, watch.

Very complex passage, a lot of verses. Here's what you can get out of it, for sure. But there's one word here. Keep watch. Watch. Pray, be on your guard. What He's saying is, you have hope, but be alert.

Live each day as though, perhaps today, Jesus will come back. Live with that sense of urgency and also with that sense of hope.