The Coming of the Son of Man - Mark 13:24-31

Preparing for Things to Come, Part 2 - Mark 13:14-23

Preparing for Things to Come - Mark 13:1-13

Condemnation and Commendation: The Pride of Religion and a Call for Humble Service - Mark 12:38-44

That Christ May Be Known and Not Just Named - Revelation 2:1-7

As Jesus taught in the Temple court just days before His crucifixion, He makes a subtle and yet undeniable announcement. With a crowd gathered round Jesus asks a question about Psalm 110 and before the discussion is over this is clear: Jesus is claiming Psalm 110 is about Him. Psalm 110 is a Psalm of David that describes a coming and victorious king. A king who will be exalted to a place of honor, who will be given sovereign authority and who will defeat all His enemies. And that’s not all: The Psalm also describes this king as a priest unlike any other. In Psalm 110 we learn of a great King-Priest and we know from the testimony of Jesus that it speaks of Him. As we consider the Psalm we should grow in hope and assurance. Hope because the King is on His throne and He will come in victory. And assurance because we have a priest through whom we can draw near to God

As Jesus spent time in the Temple court just days before His death, He was repeatedly confronted by antagonistic religious leaders. Their questions were attempts to trap Him in His words, but one after another He turned the questions back on them. After their questions had run out Jesus took an opportunity to ask a question of His own. And while He could have used this chance to shame or embarrass them, instead He asks a question that points them to toward the truth. Their questions came from wicked hearts with wicked intentions, but His’ offered them the chance to see clearly. As we hear Jesus answer their questions we have the benefit of hearing and learning from His answers. Now as He asks a question we are wise to understand not only the question, but what He hoped to accomplish in asking the question. Jesus offers the religious leaders an opportunity to see Him rightly and to trust Him. Now we have the same opportunity

If you could ask one question of God and receive an answer, what would you ask? Of course we all have things we want to know, things we’re curious about, but if you could only ask one question, what would it be? As we have worked our way through the last few sections of Mark we have heard Jesus being asked all sorts of questions. And while most of them aren’t honest questions asked out of sincere hearts, we have the benefit of hearing how Jesus answers them. And in Mark 12:28-34 a really significant question is asked and answered: Of all the commandments of the Law of God, which one is the greatest? While this conversation between Jesus and a scribe is one that most of us have been familiar with for a long time, we shouldn’t rush past it or take it for granted. As Jesus tells us what is most important we should be quick to listen and careful to live out what He says.

Our belief in a future resurrection of the dead is a central and vital part of our faith. It’s a belief that we affirm and one that cannot be left behind without completely changing the nature of what we believe (1 Cor. 15). R.C. Sproul describes it this way: The doctrine of the resurrection states that the souls of men live on after death, and that when God brings history to a close, He will raise the bodies of all human beings from the grave and reunite them to their souls, with the righteous then being welcomed to eternal life with God and the unrighteous being sent away into eternal torment. While this is a central tenet of our faith, there have been those throughout history who have believed in God and yet rejected the doctrine of a future resurrection. One such group was the Sadducees, who were prominent in the time of Jesus. In Mark 12:18-27 Jesus is confronted by the Sadducees as they try to trap Him and give the crowds reason to turn against Him. In this conversation Jesus both proves the resurrection and points out the underlying errors that led the Sadducees to this most significant error.