The religious leaders wanted Jesus dead! But for this to happen they had to turn the people against him. If they could get Jesus to usurp the authority of Moses with his own they could turn him into a heretic to the Jews and a trouble maker to Rome. So, they gather together to ask another question.

The Sadducees do not believe in the resurrection of the dead. That’s why they’re SAD YOU SEE! They also deny the existence of angels, and anything supernatural. That being the case, it’s ironic that they would ask this bizarre question concerning the afterlife. Jesus concludes the answer to their question with these words, “You are badly mistaken!” OUCH!

We are moving from days to hours before Jesus is crucified. It’s Wednesday of the Passion Week and Jesus continues to teach to a large group of supporters as well as His opposition. His opposition is looking for a way to trap Him with His words. What better way to trap Him than to ask a political question!

It’s Wednesday of the Passion Week and Jesus is still in the temple teaching to the people as well as those who wanted to kill Him. Jesus, the ultimate story teller captures His audience with the outrages behavior of the farmers (tenants). “As Jesus tells the parable He clearly and forcefully edicts His enemies,” who continue to look for ways to arrest Him and kill Him.

It’s Wednesday morning of the Passover week and Jesus is on His way back to the Temple where the day before He drove out the money changers. In out text today Jesus is confronted by the Sanhedrin and with His departure ever nearing He affirms the importance of prayer. It’s a BOGO message!

It’s Tuesday of the Passion week and Jesus is on His way back to the temple. The temple is the heart of Judaism and since the temple is corrupt so are the Jews. In our passage today Jesus illustrates the coming destruction of the temple (fig tree) and then shows in His actions (driving out) His displeasure with its ungodly activity.

Mark 11-16 details the last week of Jesus life. The week begins with Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem. History tells us it’s 30AD in the Jewish month of Nisan on the 10th day (probably Monday) and Jesus is crucified on the 14th. According to Exodus 12:3,6 the sacrificial lambs were selected on this day to be slain on the 14th (Passover eve). Jesus is selected on Nisan 10 by God and will be sacrificed for the world on Nisan 14 (Heb 10:11-14). God is always on time because He is omniscient.

My brother attends a church in CA called “Mariners.” When I visit his church words like, epic, extreme, revolutionary, innovative, professional, impactful, life-changing and awesome come to mind. I think their donut budget is bigger than our yearly budget. Whatever happened to the word “ordinary?” Of its many meanings, one is, “of a kind to be expected.” When we look at the very first church, notice how ordinary it was.

An estimated 189 million adult Americans (74% of the population) say they’re determined to learn something new, make a lifestyle change or set a personal goal in an effort to better themselves in 2021, a 15.17% increase from the previous year. The top six categories that keep us to this holiday tradition relate to money, health, career, self-improvement, family, and love. The problem is that only about 8% succeed. As we move into a year of unknowns the Apostle Paul says, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.” That being said, here are a few ideas that you might want to consider as we begin 2021.

In a few days we’ll put Mary and Joseph, the animals, the shepherds and the wise men back in their box and back on the shelf. That’s a sad day unless you don’t like clutter. But the real sad day is when you don’t understand the significance of Christmas. Why was Jesus born?