MARKAN MEDITATIONS

Meditations in the Gospel of St. Mark

St. Mark 12:13-17

=====

THE JEWISH authorities did not give up. Each rebuff by Jesus seemed to provoke them to even harder efforts to find something against him and so discredit or destroy him. We can notice here how devious and subtle are their efforts to trap Jesus and so find some means to remove the threat they felt he was to their position and authority. They flattered Jesus in order to put him off his guard.

We learn first of all from this incident how virulent is the hate of the world towards Jesus and his kingdom. It is in fact an expression of the hate of Satan against God and his authority. The Jewish authorities were of the world even though they were very religious and meticulous is most moral areas. Opposition always grows in strength the greater the vigour in which the work of God is done, and the kingdom of God increased. The work of God is not simply some works of charity, though the kingdom of God approves such. The work of God is that which turns people from the power of Satan to God. What promotes the opposition of Satan and the world is when people truly change their allegiance to God to love and obey him. Works of charity can be done for the praise of men or for personal glory. Satan has no problem with this as this is another expression of his own desire and philosophy. Jesus warned us in John 15 that the world would oppose Christians when they were active in bringing people to God.

The Jews deep down knew they had real cause to fear. It was not because Jesus wanted to take away their position or authority, but because their worldliness felt that the kingdom of God which Jesus came to establish would indeed supplant the Jewish system which had become so corrupted with the world, and would replace it with the true people of God who honoured Jesus and trusted in him as Saviour.

Jesus demonstrates his divine authority and wisdom. He demonstrated it by seeing through the devious hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Verse 15 tells us that Jesus knew their hypocrisy. Jesus can't be deceived. He sees through ever false motive and action in us. This must have been very frustrating and terrifying for the Pharisees. It gives us the assurance that Satan can never defeat or trip Jesus up. Never can Satan gain an ascendency over the holy one, our Lord Jesus Christ. While hiding in Christ, he will keep us from the devious traps of the evil one. However we need to be watchful and much in prayer so that we may not fail to note and follow the leading of Jesus otherwise we will be overcome by the subtilty of the world.

We need to understand also that if we ever adopt deception before the Lord in anyway whatsoever, it will be perceived and noted by the Lord, and unless we heed his correction Jesus will work in our lives to wean us away from such worldly ways.

Jesus also showed his divine authority and wisdom by the flawless answer he gave to the question. He first tells the Jews that he knows what they are up to, and rebukes them for it. This must have been galling to them. Then he gives an answer that gives Caesar his proper place, and an answer that honours God. Jesus at the same time teaches the Jewish leaders something of how God wants his people to live in this world.

The Christian does not have an either or choice in such a situation as this. God has given authority in the world to rulers, and it is the duty of Christians to obey and honour such earthly authority as coming from God. It is only when earthly rulers hinder the Christian in giving true honour and glory to God that the difficulties arise. Then it is only in the areas where earthly rule deny us from honouring God that we have any grounds to oppose their authority.

Again we see in this incident how Satan and the world brought all their might against Jesus, and found themselves impotent before him. Let us be encouraged and strengthened by this demonstration of divine almightiness in our Saviour.