On 5/04/2024 9:06 am, ChristRose wrote:
> Context
>
> Mark 12 sits at a critical juncture in
> the Gospel of Mark, connecting Jesus'
> teachings and parables with His journey
> towards the crucifixion. In the previous
> chapter, Mark 11, Jesus enters Jerusalem
> in what is known as the Triumphal Entry,
> cleanses the temple, and faces questions
> about His authority. Following Mark 12,
> chapter 13 describes Jesus' teachings
> about the end times, often called the
> Olivet Discourse. This positioning
> underscores Mark 12 as a pivotal chapter
> that showcases Jesus' authority, His
> confrontations with the religious
> leaders, and His teachings on obedience,
> sacrifice, and love. The overarching
> theme of the Gospel of Mark is the
> revelation of Jesus as the Messiah and
> Son of God, focusing on His actions and
> teachings as demonstrations of His
> identity and authority.
>
> Main Theme
>
> The main theme of Mark 12 is Jesus'
> authoritative teaching on the greatest
> commandments, the nature of the Messiah,
> and the true spirit of worship and
> giving. This chapter reveals Jesus'
> wisdom in navigating challenges to His
> authority, emphasizing love for God and
> neighbor as the essence of the law, and
> pointing to a deeper understanding of
> the Messiah's identity and the heart's
> role in worship and generosity.
>
> Natural Divisions
>
> 1. The Parable of the Tenants (12:1-12)
>
> Jesus begins with a parable aimed at the
> religious leaders, depicting them as
> tenants who reject and kill the
> landowner's son. This parable serves as
> a direct critique of their rejection of
> Jesus as the Messiah and forecasts the
> coming judgment upon them for their
> unbelief and disobedience.
>
> 2. Paying Taxes to Caesar (12:13-17)
>
> Confronted by Pharisees and Herodians
> about the legality of paying taxes to
> Caesar, Jesus demonstrates His wisdom by
> highlighting the distinction between
> earthly and divine obligations. His
> response, "Render to Caesar the things
> that are Caesar's, and to God the things
> that are God's," teaches the principle
> of fulfilling earthly duties without
> compromising our ultimate allegiance to
> God.
>
> 3. The Sadducees and the Resurrection
> (12:18-27)
>
> Sadducees challenge Jesus with a
> question about the resurrection, a
> concept they deny. Jesus corrects their
> misunderstanding, affirming the reality
> of the resurrection and the eternal
> nature of God's relationship with His
> people, emphasizing that He is not the
> God of the dead, but of the living.
>
> 4. The Greatest Commandment (12:28-34)
>
> When a scribe asks Jesus about the
> greatest commandment, Jesus summarizes
> the entire law with a call to love God
> wholly and to love one's neighbor as
> oneself. This interaction not only
> reveals the essence of God's
> requirements but also shows the scribe's
> nearness to the kingdom of God for
> recognizing the value of these
> commandments over ritual sacrifices.
>
> 5. Whose Son is the Christ? (12:35-37)
>
> Jesus challenges the conventional wisdom
> regarding the Messiah's lineage,
> inviting the crowd to consider the
> implications of David calling the
> Messiah "Lord." This teaching emphasizes
> the divine authority and preeminence of
> the Messiah, surpassing traditional
> expectations.
>
> 6. Beware of the Scribes (12:38-40)
>
> Jesus warns against the hypocrisy of the
> scribes, who seek honor and exploit the
> vulnerable under the guise of long
> prayers. This warning underscores the
> importance of sincerity and humility in
> service to God.
>
> 7. The Widow's Offering (12:41-44)
>
> The chapter concludes with Jesus
> observing a widow's offering at the
> temple. Unlike the wealthy, who give out
> of their abundance, the widow gives
> everything she has, demonstrating true
> sacrifice and devotion. This act serves
> as a model of genuine worship and giving
> that honors God.
>
> Attitudes to Possess

And the usual list will follow which the sinner Christian does not.

Every sermon in Sinner Christianity is false!

Why?

Because they don't LIVE what they preach!

Michael Christ

>
> 1. Humility
>
> Recognize that true wisdom and authority
> come from God, and approach His
> teachings with a humble and teachable
> spirit.
>
> 2. Love
>
> Embody the greatest commandments by
> loving God with all your heart, soul,
> mind, and strength, and loving your
> neighbor as yourself.
>
> 3. Discernment
>
> Be aware of the dangers of hypocrisy and
> self-promotion, striving instead for
> integrity in your faith and actions.
>
> Actions to Take
>
> 1. Give Wholeheartedly
>
> Follow the example of the widow by
> giving not from your surplus, but in a
> way that reflects true sacrifice and
> trust in God.
>
> 2. Serve Sincerely
>
> Avoid the pitfalls of performing for the
> approval of others and instead serve God
> and others with a sincere heart.
>
> 3. Seek Understanding
>
> Delve deeper into the Scriptures to
> understand the full nature and mission
> of Jesus as the Messiah, beyond
> traditional expectations or
> interpretations.
>
> Word of Exhortation for the Believer
>
> In navigating our journey of faith, let
> us cling to the essence of what Jesus
> teaches in Mark 12. Love for God and for
> one another isn't just an ideal; it's
> the very heartbeat of our faith. As we
> interact with the world, our challenge
> is to mirror the wisdom and humility
> Jesus displayed, to give sacrificially
> as the widow did, and to always serve
> with sincerity, reflecting Christ's love
> in every action. Let's also be vigilant,
> discerning truth from hypocrisy, and
> prioritizing our relationship with God
> above all. By embodying these teachings,
> we live out the gospel in a way that is
> both authentic and compelling, inviting
> others to explore the depth of God's
> love for them.
>
> Invitation to Unbelievers
>
> If you're exploring what it means to
> have faith, Mark 12 presents a profound
> picture of Jesus's teachings and His
> invitation to a life of love, sacrifice,
> and authentic relationship with God. It
> challenges common misconceptions about
> religion, pointing instead to a
> relationship based on love—love for God
> and love for others. This isn't about
> adhering to a set of rules but about
> engaging in a relationship that
> transforms from the inside out. Jesus's
> wisdom, His confrontation with religious
> hypocrisy, and His call to genuine
> giving and service cut to the heart of
> what it means to know God. If you find
> yourself longing for such authenticity
> and depth in your own spiritual journey,
> consider this an invitation to trust in
> Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection
> offer a substitutionary atonement for
> your sins, opening the way for you to
> experience God's love and forgiveness
> firsthand. Embrace this gift of grace,
> and begin a transformative journey
> toward true fulfillment and eternal
> life.
>
>
> --
> Have you heard the good news Christ died
> for our sins (†), and God raised Him
> from the dead?
>
> That Christ died for our sins shows
> we're sinners who deserve the death
> penalty. That God raised Him from the
> dead shows Christ's death satisfied
> God's righteous demands against our sin
> (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:1-2). This means
> God can now remain just, while forgiving
> you of your sins, and saving you from
> eternal damnation.

--
God is God in all His Being.

Jesus is the everlasting Father, Jesus is God, Jesus is the Lord. John
10:30  I and Father are one. If you can't see that the Lord Jesus is the
everlasting Father you are not born again and can't see the Kingdom of God.

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were
YET sinners, Christ died for us.

Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it
is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.