Deja Vu All Over Again - Day 68 Month 3-9 Week 10-5

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)


Leviticus 7 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%207&version=NASB1995

Psalm 56 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2056&version=NASB1995

Isaiah 49:14-26 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2049%3A14-26&version=NASB1995

Mark 12:13-40 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2012%3A13-40&version=NASB1995


Deja Vu all over again


I’m just going to discuss the Mark passage of scripture today.  This is now the second time we are reading about the poll tax question and the Seven Husbands/marriage question when Jesus is questioned by the religious leaders.  We will read about it again when we read the book of Luke.  One gets the impression that it's an important story, and its message is important.  Generally, when anything is mentioned 3 times in the Bible, it is being emphasized!


The question “What commandment is the foremost of all?”  is also mentioned 3 times.  Must be important too!  Even the apostle Paul expands on that question later.


When I was in high school English class, I was a C student at best.  We had “general” and “advanced” classes and I was a C student in general.  I could never understand why the English teachers were trying to read what the author was really saying between the lines because I’m sure the author never meant for us to question it.  I was clearly one of those people who would never claim to be an English Major!  However, I am now writing a blog.  It is no wonder that I’ve needed Sylvia to help with editing.  I’ve learned more in the last few months writing this blog than I believe I learned in English throughout high school.  So with my limited understanding of literature, I’d like to know, what are we supposed to learn that is so important about repeating these stories 3 times?  I do remember the word questions: Who? What? Where? When? and Why?


  • Who?  The religious leaders were questioning Jesus! (not a smart move if their motives were wrong)

  • What?  They were trying to trap Jesus with the following questions:

    • Should we pay the poll tax?

    • In the resurrection whose wife is the widow who married all her first husbands brothers after each one died?

    • Which commandment is the most important?

  • Where?  Somewhere in the Jerusalem area….It’s not really important but they were sent by other religious leaders

  • When?  Sometime after throwing the market and money changers out of the temple and His crucifixion.  Jesus would have been about 33 years old.

  • Why?  The religious leaders were desperately trying to trap Jesus.  They did not like what Jesus was saying and doing because they saw their own leadership at stake.  I believe they also felt Jesus was misleading the people.  They really needed to get rid of Jesus to maintain their religious power as it was.

    • When they ask Jesus about the poll tax, Jesus takes the opportunity to show how His Kingdom is not of this world.  I’m guessing the leaders know that’s what Jesus is teaching but they are probably hoping He’ll answer with the answer “no” because that would make Him a political rebel.  If he answers “yes” he’s providing a public endorsement of Roman authority, which would have carried significant theological and political consequences.  Nice question, but an unsuccessful trap.  Jesus' answer is simple.  We who are Jesus followers  are in the world but not of the world  (Yes, I did the English class reading between the lines thing).  Because the inscription on the denarius was Caesar's, the poll tax is in the world and obeying the rules of the world.  Jesus is telling us/them to obey the rules of this world while  being present in it.  This does not take away from the spiritual side.

    • The marriage question was a two part trap.  

      1. The Sadducees do not believe in a resurrection, yet ask about a circumstance following resurrection.  Jesus first responds that they don’t understand the Torah.  “I AM” proves there is a resurrection.  I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  That is the present tense (another English writing rule I’m learning).  If God is the present tense God of 3 physically dead people, they aren’t dead, they are resurrected! 

      2. They want Jesus to actually make a choice.  Jesus' answer is easy.  She’s not married to any of them.  We, as the Jesus following church, are the bride of Christ. (that’s me reading between the lines again)

    • The most important commandment?  Still the same.  “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”  The second is “You shall Love your neighbour as yourself”


While reading this blog, I’m sure you’ve picked up on the fact that I love Jesus.  Loving “I AM (Jesus)” and loving my neighbour is an ongoing challenge.  Sometimes it’s really hard!   It’s being in this world but having a passport in Jesus’ Kingdom too.  You may say I’ve got dual citizenship: I’m in both Canada and Jesus’ Kingdom right now.  I will live within the laws of this world without compromising the great commandments of God.  Sometimes it’s a difficult place to be.  People are killed because of it.  I may, but it’s unlikely, living in the west.  Either way, when I physically die, I can throw away my Canadian Passport!  Being this kind of dual citizen can be costly, but it is also supernaturally rewarding.


Why not become a dual citizen today?  If you would like to discuss more, please email me.  My email is steve.d.pauls@gmail.com.


Have a great day!

Steve


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