I'M ANGRY?

Mark 12:1-27
I realized this morning that I never actually posted an entry yesterday...sorry!

In today's reading you can sense the tension rising between Jesus and the religious leaders. He compares them to a group of tenants who refuse to pay the owner what is due him - even to the point of killing the owner's son. I found it interesting that the leaders knew He was talking about them even though the rest of the parables they didn't always understand. So they try to trap Jesus with questions...kind of like reporters baiting political leaders today.

Jesus handles the first question of paying taxes with such amazing mental dexterity! As I read this it made me wonder if Christians today are truly being creative enough in how we respond to the world around us. When we face moral and political issues, do we fall into the default line of thinking that we have been told or do we truly engage the issue and think of all the implications of our answers? I saw a video piece the other day where anti-abortion demonstrators were asked what we should do to women who get abortions if we make it illegal - put them in jail? fine them? give them the death penalty? I was amazed at the inability to answer this question. Almost everyone of the demonstrators said they hadn't really thought about that.

How sad.

I'm thoroughly against abortion, but I hope I am able to think through the issue to the point that I am "prepared to give an answer for the hope that I have."

Jesus does a similar thing regarding the Sadducees' question about marriage at the resurrection.

My Favorite Verse in this section was verse 15 where Jesus asks, "Why are trying to trap me?" He sees through their question and gets to the heart of the matter. He knows what is coming, and He is ready to face how this will end in a few days.

The more I spend time with Jesus in the Gospels, the more I love my Rabbi!

Under the Mercy,
Jason