Mark 12:13-34
LESSON
Each time election year rolls around in America, voters can witness debates between candidates for various offices. The goal is for the speakers to interact with one another’s ideas, clarify their views for the voters, and get at the truth. Unfortunately, what the listener often gets instead is a mixture of mud, whitewash, and soft soap!
The debate between Jesus and His enemies recorded in Mark, 12 succeeded almost in spite of itself. Israel’s religious leaders would have liked nothing better than to throw mud at Jesus, whitewash themselves, and soft-soap the listening crowds. But if you look carefully at Jesus’ handling of the confrontation, nothing stands out so clearly as Jesus’ skill in turning His opponents’ questions into opportunities to deal with the crucial issues.
This will be the last time Jesus will engage in public debate with Israel’s religious leaders. The next time they meet will be at His trial, when they will arrange His death. The boldness with which Jesus makes His claim to be God the Messiah and with which He challenges His enemies springs from the heart of a man who is confident of His calling, certain that His divinely appointed hour has finally come.
STUDY QUESTIONS
- What were the Pharisees biggest issue with Jesus? Do we have modern day Pharisees?
- How does Christ teach us to interact with those who disagree with us? How can we be bold like Christ?
