These are Questions asked of Jesus during his Ministry. What was His answer? How did He respond? How did He went about answering those questions?
QUESTIONS is the first sermon series I heard from Pastor Phil Ward. This is about questions that were asked of Jesus found throughout the gospel. There are many more questions that can be found in the Bible, but on this sermon series only six were chosen that are probably the more common; that spur more interest in our inquiring minds; or the ones that can encourage us to know more about Jesus and help us look more like Him so that our lives can point others back to Him.
I am not going to try to write down the message word per word, but rather point out these six questions and try to share with you what my take aways and my reflections on these questions were. I used the Sermon Reflections (we use at church) to help me share what I learned from these teachings. Let's start with the first one -
IN WHOSE LIKENESS?
And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him. [Mark 12:13-17]
The background story was when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees and Herodians only to try to trap Him from the way He would answer. These two factions have opposing views; the Pharisees were politically traditional who were hostile towards Rome. Meanwhile, the Herodians were politically progressive and were sympathetic with Rome (sounds very familiar, aye?). They approached Jesus with flattery and then shot him a straight inquiry that can cause a stir whether Jesus answers a "Yes" or a "No". Instead, Jesus answered with an astounding wisdom.
The Question: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?"
Jesus' answer: "Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it. Whose likeness and inscription is this? {They said to Him, "Caesar's!"} "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. And to God the things that are God's"
What did Jesus mean with His answer? What is the implication of this answer for us now?
This Sunday's sermon left me with three major implications to reflect on. First, Jesus was direct with His answer but did it with caution. "Allegiance to God does not mean there are no civic duties, nor does civic duties negate allegiance to God." Take note! Jesus did not actually tell them what to do. He spoke with caution as always.
Second, Pastor Phil reiterated that "Our allegiance to God has a civic dimension" as we read in Romans 13:1-7. It might sound a bit catchy for you but what this passage is saying really is very simple. It is encouraging us to take a confident stand on the basic principles the Word of God has given us to live by and at the same time to stay humble on issues where prudence is a necessity.
Lastly, "Our allegiance to GOD is foremost." Do I need to repeat that last one brothers and sisters? Since we are all created in the image and likeness of our God (Genesis 1:26), then our loyalty and commitment should be with our one true GOD. And in Hebrews 1:3, it states that 'Jesus Christ is the exact imprint of God', so if our allegiance is to GOD then, whenever we are at such a crossroad, "choose Christ every time". (John 19:12-16a; James 4:4; Acts 5:29)
ARE WE WRONG?
Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.” [Mark 12:24-27]
In the first part of this passage (Mark 12:18-23), the Sadducees asked Jesus about the Resurrection, but their real motive in asking was to humiliate him in public. And the passage above was how Jesus responded to their inquiry.
As soon as Jesus assessed the situation at hand, He pointed out two things they were wrong about (v24): They don't know the scriptures (Romans 1:1-2) and the power of God (Romans 1:3-6). Jesus gave them clear answers and use their own source of authority to correct them ("in the book of Moses.."). His response to the Sadducees bears great implications in our lives today. Whenever we are faced with questions like how the Sadducees meant it: as a landmine, let us respond as Jesus-followers and always keep the following in mind:
Be slow to speak, quick to listen. Be loving and gracious.
Always find a common ground.
Connect it to the GOSPEL every time. (Gospel meaning Jesus' life, death and resurrection)
Be devoted to the Gospel.
WHO CAN BE SAVED?
And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. [Mark 10:17-22]
You might be looking for the question on the passage I quote. Well, the question was actually asked by the astonished disciples themselves. Let's read Mark 10:26-27. Jesus answered that only GOD saves! Only those who looks to JESUS and away from themselves can be saved (John 3:14-18).
Are you saved? Are you assured of the everlasting life? If you die today, how sure are you that you will be with the Lord forever? Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? Or to ask you in the simplest but most profound way- "Are you willing to deny yourself and follow Him?"
WHO IS HE THAT WE MAY BELIEVE?
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. [John 9:35-41]
This was the story of a man who was born blind. Jesus and His disciples came to pass by this man. Jesus healed this blind man. The Pharisees heard about this good news and decided to investigate and purposely try to trap Jesus because He healed this man on a Sabbath. After the blind man was physically healed, then that was the only time that he truly began to see both physically and spiritually. As Jesus revealed himself to the man, he in turn confessed his faith {"Lord, I believe!" v38} and worshiped Him.
Is our unbelief blinding us from the truth that we cannot see the glory of GOD? (2 Corinthians 4:4). Jesus is teaching us important lessons through this passage (John 9:39-41) - (1) Jesus judges the world {v39}; (2) He is speaking about spiritual matters; (3) Those who are spiritually blind are those who can't see their need for Jesus. Those who are given spiritual sights are those who know their need {v40-41}; and (4) Spiritual sight (the light) is LIFE (John 1:4-5).
Then, really "who is He that we may believe?". Let us continue to preach the gospel so that Jesus Christ can be revealed to those who are spiritually blind, that they can be healed and be able to see THE LIGHT! For when we believe in and confess our sins to Jesus, we will have our light pouring out of our hearts and therefore people can see Jesus in us and bring GOD all the glory (2 Corinthians 4:6).
IS IT I, LORD?
When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” [Matthew 26:20-25]
Not a single one of the disciples have an idea what was about to happen during this Passover Meal with Jesus. So when Jesus dropped the bombshell during the meal that one of them will betray Him, everyone was caught off guard. The ambiance became "very sorrowful" because of the reality that it is one of them and a possibility that they could do it. So each disciple ask Jesus "Is it I, Lord?".
According to Pastor Pierce, 'the questions we ask reveal deeper things about us.' What did this question reveal about the disciples? When they asked Jesus this question, they were truly humbled and felt some degree of accountability, responsibility or guilt like I mention earlier. At the same time, Jesus allowed them to face the sinful nature of their hearts. Lastly, the question revealed a humility toward sin that allowed them to see God's grace.
And so I leave you with the same reflective question from this Sunday sermon: "Have your own struggles with sin caused you to see that if it were not for the grace of God, you could betray, deny or desert Jesus? Why or why not?"
WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live. But he desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?' ” [Luke 10: 25-29]
Jesus aptly replied with "The Parable of the Good Samaritan" for which I am pretty sure most of us know. [Just in case you have forgotten I have provided the Scripture where it can be found (Luke 10:29-35).] Instead of Jesus directly answering the lawyer's question, He left him (the lawyer) to answer his own question and then asks him back a better one. The question being: "What kind of neighbor are you?" If Jesus asks us today this very same question how will you respond? In verse 37, the lawyer chose the Samaritan, the most unlikely person to help, as the merciful neighbor. Pastor Phil concludes from this verse that "We cannot control who our neighbors are, but we can control what kind of neighbor we are."
Jesus, therefore, is a better neighbor because He loves, serves, extends mercy to and heals us. Therefore, for you and me to be a better neighbor, we need the gospel. We need Jesus. We need to repent for our sins and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior thus, liberating us from our sins. In our freedom and through His guidance, we can extend the grace we receive and serve our neighbors.
Jesus was asked QUESTIONS, questions meant to trap Him, landmines set to destroy Him. But even the most intelligent people, the high-ranking officials, those who feel righteous about themselves and those who just wanted to join the bandwagon and be famous, did not succeed in putting Jesus down. Instead He was able to proclaim the good news to everyone listening and to let His light shine.
If you were face to face with Jesus, do you have a question to ask Him? Or if He gets to ask you,
how will you respond?
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