Mark 12:1-44
12:1 Continuing on from Chapter 11, Jesus continues talking to His adversaries (He teaches them a lesson specifically about themselves). We begin a parable: This parable is about God, the world, humanity and Jesus. Essentially it is this: God created the Earth and then returned to Heaven (another place, a spiritual place). He gave Humanity the Earth to live freely.
12:2 God sent a prophet to the Earth to assess and gather the fruits of humanity. (Our fruits are representative of our behavior and actions).
12:3 The prophet arrived to Earth and was tortured and harassed by humanity who produced bad fruits (were selfish, greedy and unkind).
12:4 God sent another prophet to the Earth, and again this prophet was tortured and harassed by humanity who produced bad fruits.
12:5 Our ever-forgiving God sent more (many) prophets to Earth, and they were rejected and treated poorly, again and again.
12:6 Our selfless God sent another, a manifestation of Himself, Jesus to Earth because He cared so much about humanity (His children on the Earth) and forgave them all of their wrongs, believed that they could be good with the right teacher.
12:7 But even Jesus, after a string of prophets, was rejected and tortured... except with more gumption because His adversaries wanted the power that He had.
12:8 So Jesus was killed in their efforts to take Him from the Earth.
12:9 Therefore, when God returns, He will give the Earth to those who deserve it and are compassionate.
12:10 This verse directs us to scripture in Psalms where we are taught that Jesus became a foundation for us to build a way of life in God. He became the crucial stone with which we can build our faith.
12:11 God created this opportunity for us (a place on which to build our faith and learn and create ourselves from experience)... and it's a marvelous opportunity indeed.
12:12 Jesus' adversaries understood the parable, and that it was about them, and they were angry but could do nothing without upsetting all of Jesus' followers because there were so many of them gathered there. Instead they left and continued plotting against Him (as the parable foretold).
12:13 Jesus' adversaries are going to encircle and question Him all throughout His time here. Don't forget in Mark Chapter 11 James and John asked for more spiritual responsibility and Jesus warned them that they would have serious adversaries. You can handle it if your faith is strong and the if the message of compassion is important to you.
And it truly is a message of compassion. You are not mean to go out into the world and force people to believe a certain religion... you are only meant to teach/spread/live as an example: kindness, forgiveness, compassion, honesty, the value of wisdom and knowledge...
12:14 The Pharisees try to trick Jesus into making an oath of faith to the head of the social government a that time instead of God. Basically they are trying to trick Jesus into telling everyone either to follow God, or to follow men... and that if they choose God, they are also choosing anarchy. Wrong.
There are so many humans in the world and it makes sense that we try to organize ourselves into governments and nations. When done with good intention, governments can serve to protect people who do believe in being honest and fair against those who do not have such beliefs. Jesus was not here to reorganize governments... Jesus was here to teach us how to be the good type of people who create and sustain good social organizations (which protect humanity).
12:15 Jesus saw the trap -- and is ready to teach them the lesson. He requests to be brought a coin (with the face of the ruler a the time on it).
12:16 Jesus has them point out that Caesar is on the coin...
12:17 Jesus answers them by saying this: be good citizens while you are on Earth. Fairly participate in the societal organizations (which are build to protect and organize humanity) but also keep a strong, healthy relationship with God (who teaches you HOW to protect and organize fairly). God is your God, no king or leader is your god... but you can both participate on Earth AND love your true God simultaneously.
When we are with God it will be under His perfect organization that we live but until then, we have to make do with what humans come up with. Humans make a lot of mistakes and it takes vigilant, passionate people to protect justice in government around the world. We get our ability to do so from God.
12:18 Here Jesus is challenged by people who do not believe in the spiritual life which comes after this earthy one.
12:19 Here they are trying to contradict the word of God: they remind Jesus (Jesus does not need reminding) that Moses taught that a man should marry his brother's wife if her husband died. Moses taught this to protect women. In the time, women had no individual power in society. If their husband died, they had no property or food or livelihood and so to "marry" her husband's brother... she would be protected and taken care of. Rather than a romantic union, it was a familial relationship meant to keep her and her children safe without a male figure.
12:20-23 They create a situation where a woman might be the wife of several men, and they want to know whose wife she is in the spiritual life.
20:24 Jesus is explaining that they are confused and completely off track because they do not believe in or understand the word of God. If we don't already know why, let's figure it out:
20:25 In our spiritual lives, we are above marriage and romantic union. In heaven we are all so perfectly unified and related that the practice of marriage is ancient and unnecessary.
20:26 When we believe and trust in God, we realize that we cannot die. We (who are compassionate) are eternal beings with and because of Him. God does not forget anybody, He is present with each of us in our particular generations on Earth. He continues to be with us as we join with Him in the spiritual. We are not forgotten, we are always with Him.
20:27 Our God is the God of the living. Our God loves us and gives us eternal life and life. There is no death...only transformation from this world into His perfect one.
12:28 This scribe wishes to know the first commandment of all, as in, the most important.
12:29 Jesus answers that we should acknowledge our One and Perfect God. This is the most important because when we acknowledge our One and Perfect God, we let Him, ourselves and the world know that we acknowledge and believe in everything that He stands for: compassion, kindness, honesty, justice.
12:30 Jesus explains this perfectly: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." Put Him first, He will lead you through everything and bless you so abundantly.
12:31 And the second, like it,... Indeed the second is similar to the first because when you accept your One True God, you accept that He loves His children and He wants you to be as loving and kind with them as He is. Be selfless... love and protect others as though they are an extension of yourself.
12:32 One incomparable God indeed.
12:33 There is nothing sweeter or better or more pure that you can offer God other than your commitment to Him and His word and His children. Work, everyday be a soldier defending the traits and qualities He teaches us to have and give to others.
12:34 This scribe is beginning to understand... understanding is one of the first steps, actually living true to the understanding is the most important. Your faith can constantly evolve and grow and become strong and purposeful.
12:35 Jesus loves our God so much that He wants to ensure that we give complete gratitude and love to God who sent Him. He wants to clear up any mistake someone might have if they believe Jesus is not sent directly from God's manifestation.
12:36-37 He reminds them that even David called Jesus Lord... it's important that they (and we) know that all wisdom, guidance and love comes from our perfect, thoughtful God so that we may go to the right entity for thanks and for help when we need it.
12:38 Jesus wanted them (and US!) to be careful for teachers who pretend to be holy or important. Be vigilant: if any leader is arrogant you must not follow them. Your God teaches humility and modesty. Many religious/spiritual leaders in the world today dress up fancy or teach from fancy buildings or podiums and expect to have your reverence of them. Be careful for teachers who love popularity, celebrate it and themselves and thrive on it. God works with the meek and unsuspecting (like Moses who had a speech impediment, or Jesus an unknown to the world, or YOU who are perhaps not well known but are a good and faithful student). Do not celebrate yourself and definitely do not allow yourself to be led away from God by an arrogant, operatic teacher. You can always tell a genuine person. Think for yourself, never let anyone tell you what to think or believe.
12:39 Be watchful of religions or religious teachers who work in hierarchical systems. They have the best seats in the churches, or at meetings... they have the fanciest buildings, the longest robes... none of this matters to God. You can study/learn/teach the Bible from any place and be efficient and true. In fact, God does not want us to be showy or extravagant. He wants us to share our abundance with others who are in need. Wealth and fame do not impress God... wealth and fame ignore His word and everything He teaches.
12:40 Do not be impressed by long, fancy prayers --- God isn't. God is impressed by truth and love and humility. A short prayer, filled with honesty and humility means everything to Him. A long prayer, meant to be impressive or eloquent but has no depth, no honesty means nothing to Him. Ensure that your teacher and those you surround yourself with (and you too) are honest and sincere and humble.
12:41 These next verses teach us to be perceptive, wise and generous. In this verse, people are donating money...the rich put in a lot of money.
12:42 And then a poor woman comes along and puts in a very tiny amount of money (especially compared to the wealthy men before her).
12:43 Jesus explains that the poor woman put in more than the wealthy men did and this is why:
12:44 The wealthy men gave money because they had extra; they would not miss or even notice the money gone (By telling us this, God wants us to realize that just because someone seems generous does not mean that they are. We are not supposed to be in awe over grand sums of money).
The woman, however, put in everything she owned. She was poor and yet she still gave everything she had. Do not overlook the significance of this, of how strong her faith is. Can you imagine giving away everything you own? Her faith was solid, compassionate and humble.
The men gave because they had something to give. The woman gave even though she had nothing to give. She gave away what could have been for her own next meal... yet on the surface, especially at that time, she was disregarded and ignored because she was impoverished. Be perceptive of people's true character!
Think about this metaphorically as well: we are to give all of our efforts to helping others. This woman was so compassionate and so faithful that she did not fear being impoverished, for she knew she was rich in love and protection from God. She knew that He would care for her while she cared for others.
God perceives our true hearts; what seems impressive to us on the surface, might not be sincere but God knows how to discern sincerity. This woman put others and God before herself and for that He will take perfect, attentive care of her.
Do not desire to be friends with people who seem like they are perfect, giving and faithful... desire to be friends with people who SHOW you that they are humble, giving and faithful.
