Day Four of Passion Week - Train Up The Child

Think on these things today.

Again it was a busy day. On Tuesday, Jesus had been challenged by several different opponents. He had met each group head on by turning the questions around to teach much needed truth. Jesus had silenced those who opposed His claim to be the Messiah.

Now it is His turn to question His opponents. However, Jesus did not stand against them as an opponent; He questioned them as men who were in error and needed to see the truth. He was reaching out to them in the hope that some would receive the truth of His Messiahship and accept Him as the Son of God. He asked them this question, “What think ye of Christ, the Messiah?” Jesus took them from the idea that He is a descendant of David, a mere man, to the idea that He is the Lord of David as God Himself.

In this, His last week before His Crucifixion, it is amazing to see Jesus continue to teach. He knew that men needed to be warned of the terrible judgment to come if they didn’t change their ways. Jesus discussed some of the things that especially will result in God’s wrath and judgment. They all have to do with pride.

vs. 38 dressing to draw attention
vs. 38 exalting man
vs. 38 being seen of man
vs. 39 seeking front seats to be admired and honored
vs. 40 devouring widows for gain
vs. 40 praying long prayers to show piety

After He finished this teaching, Jesus walked over by the treasury. The treasury was an area in which there were thirteen trumpet shaped collection boxes where the worshippers dropped their offerings. He sat down all alone to get some relief and rest from the tension of the past hours.

While resting, He was deliberately observing and discerning the motives of the people as they made their offerings. He saw many walk by and drop in sizeable gifts. He could see the large amount of coins and hear them clang against the sides as they slid down the funnel shaped trumpets. But none of these impressed Him. Finally a poor widow came along and threw in two mites, which are coins of very little value.

He called his disciples to Him and said, “I assure you, this poor widow has given more than all the others have given. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” (Mark 12:43-44) Christ took what He saw and taught what true giving really is:

vs. 42 Real giving is sacrificial giving
vs. 43 Real giving is measured by how much a person has left not by how much a person gives
vs. 44 Real giving is giving all a person has

By the end of the day, Jesus had given a discourse on unbelief, a discourse on the end times, a discourse on the judgment day, and He taught the parables of 10 virgins and 10 talents. Jesus, in His consistent selflessness, did not let His impending pain stop Him from considering those who needed His teachings.