Revisiting Mark

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According to the Scripture the Gospel will be preached to all the people of this earth in the last days by an angel ------and for some it will fall on deaf ears I am sure -----this is God's final attempt to Save all His Creation ---see the footnote


Revelation 14:6 (AMP)
The Angel with the Gospel
6 Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to preach to the inhabitants of the earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people;

Footnotes:
  1. Revelation 14:6 This term likely refers to the message of God’s impending righteous judgment and a final call to repentance and faith in the risen Lord.
 
Waterfall --you said ---does God like sacrifice of animals? humans?

My view is- No ---but we Humans gave Him no other choice ----we Humans are responsible for God having to implement animal and His Son's Sacrifice --not God -----Just my view
 
Waterfall said:
I believe so, but does God like sacrifice of animals? humans?
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I don't see how we can know whether sacrifice was pleasing to God or not. All we know is that the Jewish people had a sacrificial system and animals were sacrificed on their altars.

At the Passover, a perfect lamb was offered.

I am inclined to think that the Christian story is a retelling of Passover. This is how our ancestors in faith made sense of the death of Jesus.
 
Mark 12

Jesus tells the parable of the tenants in the vineyard. The owner sets off on a journey and the tenants beat or kill the owner's slaves who approach one by one. Finally the owner's son is killed and his body thrown out of the vineyard. When the owner returns, he will destroy those tenants and acquire new ones. The religious authorities realize Jesus was speaking against them in the parable.

The Pharisees try to trap Jesus by asking him about paying taxes. He responds by saying, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

The Sadducees (who do not believe in the resurrection) ask Jesus about marriage and the resurrection. Jesus replies that after the resurrection, people will be like angels in heaven and will not marry. As for the dead being raised, God is God not of the dead, but of the living.

One of the experts in the law asks Jesus about which commandment is the most important of all. Jesus quotes the Torah in response. The most important is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself. The expert in the law agrees and says that these things are more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Jesus discusses the paradox of the Messiah as both David's Son and Lord. The large crowd is listening with delight.

Jesus warns about the experts in the law who take the best places in the synagogues yet defraud widows.

Jesus watches rich people throw large amounts into the offering box. A widow comes and puts in two small coins. Jesus calls his disciples and tells them she has put in more than all the others.

For reflection:

And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him. (Mark 12:17 KJV)
 
Mark 12 offers us some well-known teachings and sayings of Jesus. The Great Commandment appears here.

The religious authorities attempt to trap Jesus and are wary of the crowds which He attracts. It is interesting that one of the experts in the law is impressed with the answer Jesus gives to his question. (v.32)

The parable of the tenants seems to suggest Jesus knows himself to be in danger.
 
For reflection:

And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him. (Mark 12:17 KJV)

To address this statement for me at least I would have to read the section that this was taken from as there is needed points to know to address this statement ---

Mark 12--ESV
Paying Taxes to Caesar
13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances,[c] but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius[d] and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

My view on this
So we see they wanted to trap Him ----and say He truly teaches the way of God --and then ask in a direct way these questions ---- Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? -----Should we pay them, or should we not?”

We see Jesus is well aware of their hypocrisy ---and is aware they are testing Him -----So He asks for a coin and asks them to identify whose likeness and inscription is on it and they say Caesar's ----and then Jesus says the reflection scripture for today ----

So I say --Jesus answered them as Hypocrites with this -----And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

This answer deferred their entrapment as He was satisfying both the Physical and the Spiritual end of things and they were amazed at His wisdom

Caesar was sovereign over his Territory and they were under the dominion of Caesar's rule and so should do what Caesar has implemented ----and pay the tax to Caesar -----and then Give God what Spiritually belongs to Him and obey what God has implemented --
 
Thanks @unsafe. The answer Jesus gave was both wise and pragmatic.

Earlier today, I was thinking about how difficult it could be to draw the line between what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God. Where would charity fit in? What is the role of government services? Whose job is it to look after the people?

But this might be an example of trying to read too much into a text. Jesus was, after all, only asked about paying the taxes. :)
 
Yeah, I think Jesus was really answering what he was asked and I wonder how far we can run with that. In the end, I think the message is that money is Caesar's and honour and worship belong to God. Of course, following this kind of teaching got Christians in trouble when they decided that meant they could no longer offer honour and worship to Caesar since the emperors usually styled themselves as "gods".

I guess you could extend that to recognizing the limits of capitalism and other secular, money-driven systems and not giving guys like Gates and Buffett more than they are due. They are rich, that doesn't mean they deserve "worship". Though I don't many capitalists who get "worship" these days. There's a bit of a cult around Musk. That's the only one I can think of, right now.
 
paradox3 --you said ---- I was thinking about how difficult it could be to draw the line between what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God.

Not really that difficult --- If one goes by Scripture and not what we think ---we see that nothing really belonged to Caesar ---Everything actually belong to God -----so that would stands today for this generation ----

Go says this -----Romans 13 :1-2 ---all governing authorities God established Himself ---All silver and gold belong to God ----Haggai 2:8 -----and our bodies are not our own ----1 Corinthians 6:9
 
On Mark 12:17, my study bible offers:

"There are obligations to the state that do not conflict with our obligation to God."

Kind of an interesting interpretation or spin on the verse, I thought.
 
unsafe said:
Not really that difficult --- If one goes by Scripture and not what we think ---we see that nothing really belonged to Caesar ---Everything actually belong to God -----so that would stands today for this generation ----
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So how do you reconcile Jesus teaching about rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesar's with Caesar not actually having anything? Taking that teaching on its own, I get the interpretation I gave above, though I might restate is more like, "Money, goods, material things are "Caesar's", power, worship, judgement, things spiritual are God's. We must be careful not to mix up the two (but often do)."
 
And I'm sorry I'm not contributing much today. Haven't given 12 a good read and some thought yet. Perhaps this evening.
 
Mendalla said:
And I'm sorry I'm not contributing much today. Haven't given 12 a good read and some thought yet. Perhaps this evening.
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There is a lot to unpack in Mark 12. I find it interesting that all these teachings of Jesus show up after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Tomorrow we will read about end times. It gets pretty intense.
 
Mendalla ---you ask ----- So how do you reconcile Jesus teaching about rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesar's with Caesar not actually having anything?


Jesus is not teaching that Mendalla --He is stating that to the Pharisees and Herodians, because His picture and words were on the coin ----------Jesus says ----Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”-----Whose likeness and inscription is this?”----So Caesar's picture and inscription were on the coin ---- so what Jesus is saying is ---give Caesar what is marked Caesar's ----God established governments so obedience stands to their regulations ----- Caesar is a just a steward of what God provided him with -----

God created this planet and all that is in it ----all money is God's ---everything we get from the exchange of money is gotten because of and from God -----We are just Stewards of what God as allotted to us ----according to scripture --

https://bible.org/seriespage/20-being-good-stewards-god-s-riches-1-timothy-617-21

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Stewards of God’s Wealth
Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.
 
Mark 13

Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple.

He describes the signs that will herald the end of the present age. Nation will rise up against nation and there will be earthquakes and famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Jesus cautions the disciples about the persecution they will face. When they are arrested and tried, the Holy Spirit will speak through them. Those who endure to the end will be saved.

There will be desolation and much suffering. False messiahs and false prophets will appear to mislead the elect. After the suffering, the Son of Man will arrive with great power and glory. He will send angels and they will gather the elect from the ends of the earth and heaven.

Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree, whose leaves give signs of summer. Watch and be ready! No one except the Father knows when the time will come.

For reflection:

The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. (Mark 13: 24-25 NET)
 
The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Today's reading is dramatic & challenging and these words powerful, beautiful and haunting.

"My Lord, what a morning, when the stars begin to fall." the old gospel hymn says.
 
Just had an interesting thought. We have bible study today by Zoom and Genesis 3 is on the agenda.

So here I am, considering both the beginning and the end of the present age on the same day! I wonder if I will see any parallels or be able to tie the two stories together in any way. :unsure:
 
Notice that it's the fig tree that grows leaves as a sign of summer. Is this a reference back to the withering of the fig tree? The withered nation (if that's what the withering signifies) coming back to life?

Historically, of course, Mark is writing about his own difficult times and then having Jesus foretell them. So it seems he saw the fall of Jerusalem and the Neronian persecution as signs of the end. But Jesus parable of the fig adds a hopeful note.

His addition about no one knowing the time maybe tempers that hope a bit, but also serves as a wake up call. In essence, amidst all this chaos, be ready.
 
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