By the time they reached the Mount of Olives the sky was ablaze with the colors of the setting sun. Jesus sat down to rest. Across from Him was the temple complex bathed in light. Peter, James, John and Andrew came to Him privately and asked, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to take place” (Mark 13:4)? They were not only Jesus’ disciples, they were His friends. All day Jesus had been speaking to the crowds but now He was speaking privately to those closest to Him.
“Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it? For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:6,7). When Jesus had responded to their admiration for the temple complex by telling them that not one stone would be left on another that would not be thrown down, it was as if the sound of alarm had been trumpeted by the watchman in the city. Jesus had revealed to them the secret plans of the Sovereign Lord, and so they asked Him when these things would take place and what sign they should be looking for so they would be prepared.
Jesus answered both questions, but He began with a warning, “Watch out.” This call to vigilance is given four times (cf. vv. 9, 23, 33, 35) as Jesus speaks of the future. The sound of the trumpet blast spoken of in Amos was to warn those who were in the city that danger was approaching. What should the response be when Jesus tells His disciples to take heed and be on their guard? Another way to ask this is, how much attention do we pay to prophecy?
In Amos we see that the Sovereign God does nothing without first revealing His secrets to His servants the prophets. However, in John 15:15 Jesus makes it even more personal, “I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father.” Amos speaks of God revealing His secrets; Jesus draws His disciples into an intimacy of knowledge, and in so doing changes their status from servants to friends.
What should we do with the information we are being given through prophecy? I look at very recent events about insider trading. What is insider trading? It’s the illegal practice on the stock exchange to use confidential information for one’s own advantage. Yet, we have access to the very secrets of God! Jesus has called us friends and has revealed to us everything He has heard from His Father! He has sounded a trumpet call to “Watch out.” This leaves me with a question. "How should we respond?”
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Friday, March 27, 2020
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Impressive! (Mark 13:1-3)
“As He was going out of the temple complex, one of His disciples said to Him, 'Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings'” (Mark 13:1)! The Jewish temple wasn’t completed until A.D. 64. That was 80 years after it was commissioned! When Jesus’ apostles said this it had been 46 years into the building of it. The stones were massive, some weighing 100 tons and more. The heaviest stones in the pyramids are a mere 2 1/2 tons. The stones for the temple were covered with gold. When the sun shone on it you had to cover your eyes. What wasn’t covered with gold was exceedingly white.
This magnificent, impressive building with its massive stones was a monument to the architectural brilliance and genius of Herod: Herod the Great who had tried to kill the Christ child by decreeing the murder of all the male children two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem. This was at the beginning of Jesus’ life. But no one could take the life of Jesus Christ. He gave it willingly. Later what Herod had been unable to accomplish in Bethlehem would be accomplished on the cross.
How did Jesus respond to the admiration that His disciple had for this impressive building? “Jesus said to him, 'Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down'” (Mark 13:2)! Seventy years later this prophecy was accomplished. This is how the Jewish historian Josephus Flavian described it:
One of the soldiers, without any orders with no dread of so monstrous a deed, but urged on by some supernatural force, snatched a blazing piece of wood and climbing on another soldier’s back hurled the flaming brand through a low golden window that gave access, on the north side, to the rooms that surrounded the sanctuary. As the flames shot up, the Jews let out a shout of dismay that matched the tragedy. They flocked to the rescue, without thought of sparing their lives or husbanding their strength; For the sacred structure that they had constantly guarded with such devotion was vanishing before their very eyes.
This is the beginning of the Olivet Discourse, also known as the Little Apocalypse. It took place while Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple complex. Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Him privately the question we all want to know. “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to take place” (Mark 13:3)? I will explore the answer Jesus gave in future devotionals, but for now I simply want to point out that the impressive monuments made by man will in the end be left, “without one stone left on another.”
Visit my podcast at Anchor.fm/sarah-jones.30
This magnificent, impressive building with its massive stones was a monument to the architectural brilliance and genius of Herod: Herod the Great who had tried to kill the Christ child by decreeing the murder of all the male children two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem. This was at the beginning of Jesus’ life. But no one could take the life of Jesus Christ. He gave it willingly. Later what Herod had been unable to accomplish in Bethlehem would be accomplished on the cross.
How did Jesus respond to the admiration that His disciple had for this impressive building? “Jesus said to him, 'Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down'” (Mark 13:2)! Seventy years later this prophecy was accomplished. This is how the Jewish historian Josephus Flavian described it:
One of the soldiers, without any orders with no dread of so monstrous a deed, but urged on by some supernatural force, snatched a blazing piece of wood and climbing on another soldier’s back hurled the flaming brand through a low golden window that gave access, on the north side, to the rooms that surrounded the sanctuary. As the flames shot up, the Jews let out a shout of dismay that matched the tragedy. They flocked to the rescue, without thought of sparing their lives or husbanding their strength; For the sacred structure that they had constantly guarded with such devotion was vanishing before their very eyes.
This is the beginning of the Olivet Discourse, also known as the Little Apocalypse. It took place while Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple complex. Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Him privately the question we all want to know. “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to take place” (Mark 13:3)? I will explore the answer Jesus gave in future devotionals, but for now I simply want to point out that the impressive monuments made by man will in the end be left, “without one stone left on another.”
Visit my podcast at Anchor.fm/sarah-jones.30
Friday, March 20, 2020
The God Who Truly Sees (Mark 12:41-44)
There had been a time when she felt vital, a time when she felt that she had much to contribute to those around her. But that time was now only a memory. There is a feeling of being invisible that comes with age. That feeling was intensified when her husband died. As she stood among the crowd who were dropping their money into the treasury, she was aware that if a strong wind blew it would carry with it her two small coins. She was surrounded by rich people who were putting in large sums, She felt out of place, and yet her desire to give was greater than her discomfort.
She had two small coins. Yet, although they were small, they represented everything she possessed. It would have been understandable if she had given one and keep one for herself. But instead she dropped everything she possessed into God’s treasury. It may have seemed that she was simply dropping in two small coins, but in reality she was humbling herself before the mighty hand of the unseen God by casting all her cares upon Him. Her faith was made evident by her actions; that she believed that the God she trusted in cared about her.
Her hope in God was like an anchor that, though unseen by human eye, found its way into the very throne room of God. She, by faith, was dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. She was abiding under the shadow of the Almighty, and He was sheltering her with His presence. All around her people were giving out of their abundance, but she gave out of her poverty. She put in everything she possessed; all that she had to live on. It may have seemed insignificant to those around her, but there are spiritual truths that physical eyes cannot see.
She may have felt invisible, but she was seen and her sacrifice was noted. “Jesus was sitting across from the temple treasury, He watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury” (Mark 12:41). When Jesus saw what the widow was offering, He summoned His disciples. “He said to them, 'I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury'” (Mark 12:43). Her gift of faith was seen by the Savior.
Jesus had come into the world to give. He held nothing back, but spread wide His arms on the cross. What do we have to give Him in return? Like the widow, we can come unseen by the world, bringing to Him our faith and our hope. Moment by moment, situation by situation, we can cast our cares on Him, believing that He cares about that which concerns us. When we come with our offering of faith, we are coming into the presence of the God who truly sees.
Visit my podcast at anchor.fm/sarah-jones.30
She had two small coins. Yet, although they were small, they represented everything she possessed. It would have been understandable if she had given one and keep one for herself. But instead she dropped everything she possessed into God’s treasury. It may have seemed that she was simply dropping in two small coins, but in reality she was humbling herself before the mighty hand of the unseen God by casting all her cares upon Him. Her faith was made evident by her actions; that she believed that the God she trusted in cared about her.
Her hope in God was like an anchor that, though unseen by human eye, found its way into the very throne room of God. She, by faith, was dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. She was abiding under the shadow of the Almighty, and He was sheltering her with His presence. All around her people were giving out of their abundance, but she gave out of her poverty. She put in everything she possessed; all that she had to live on. It may have seemed insignificant to those around her, but there are spiritual truths that physical eyes cannot see.
She may have felt invisible, but she was seen and her sacrifice was noted. “Jesus was sitting across from the temple treasury, He watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury” (Mark 12:41). When Jesus saw what the widow was offering, He summoned His disciples. “He said to them, 'I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury'” (Mark 12:43). Her gift of faith was seen by the Savior.
Jesus had come into the world to give. He held nothing back, but spread wide His arms on the cross. What do we have to give Him in return? Like the widow, we can come unseen by the world, bringing to Him our faith and our hope. Moment by moment, situation by situation, we can cast our cares on Him, believing that He cares about that which concerns us. When we come with our offering of faith, we are coming into the presence of the God who truly sees.
Visit my podcast at anchor.fm/sarah-jones.30
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
A Warning (Mark 12:38-40)
What is the purpose of a warning? A warning is something said or written to tell people of a possible danger, problem, or other unpleasant thing that might happen. However, warnings cannot be effective unless people react to them. Today we are surrounded by warnings concerning the coronavirus. These warnings are being carefully listened to and heeded because everyone is aware that the threat is real.
Jesus gave a warning during His last days on earth. I have been slowly making my way through the book of Mark, meditating on and writing about the truths that I see. When I got to the warning Jesus gave about the scribes, my first inclination was to skip over it: after all, it was only three verses. Suddenly, I realized what I was doing! I was ignoring a warning. To ignore a warning is a dangerous thing to do, especially if that warning was given by Jesus.
“And in his teaching he said, 'Beware of the scribes,who like to walk around in long robes and receive greetings in the marketplaces'” (Mark 12:38). Who were the scribes? They were the experts in handling written documents. In Israel, the scribe's duties included teaching, interpreting, and regulating the law. Because of their relationship with the word of God, they were held in high esteem. But now Jesus was teaching with great authority, and large crowds were listening to Him with delight. When Jesus exposed the heart of the scribes, they responded by trying to destroy Him.
However, I don’t believe that this warning was only intended for that Passover week when the scribes were actively seeking to arrest Jesus. I’ve had a hard time writing this devotional, because after I decided not to skip this warning I’ve been taking inventory of my own heart. I love to study and teach God’s word. Every day I check to see how many people have read what I’ve written. I like to be recognized as a Bible teacher. When I pray in public I’m often tempted to lengthen my prayers by adding something I’ve read in the scriptures or have been meditating on.
Jesus gave this warning in “His teaching” to His followers just days before He humbled Himself and went to the cross. This teaching came in the form of a warning against the pride of the scribes. A contrast to the pride of the scribes is found in Philippians 2:1-8: “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any sharing in Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being likeminded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.
In your relationship with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who being the very nature with God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross!”
Visit my podcast at Anchor.fm/sarah-jones.30
Jesus gave a warning during His last days on earth. I have been slowly making my way through the book of Mark, meditating on and writing about the truths that I see. When I got to the warning Jesus gave about the scribes, my first inclination was to skip over it: after all, it was only three verses. Suddenly, I realized what I was doing! I was ignoring a warning. To ignore a warning is a dangerous thing to do, especially if that warning was given by Jesus.
“And in his teaching he said, 'Beware of the scribes,who like to walk around in long robes and receive greetings in the marketplaces'” (Mark 12:38). Who were the scribes? They were the experts in handling written documents. In Israel, the scribe's duties included teaching, interpreting, and regulating the law. Because of their relationship with the word of God, they were held in high esteem. But now Jesus was teaching with great authority, and large crowds were listening to Him with delight. When Jesus exposed the heart of the scribes, they responded by trying to destroy Him.
However, I don’t believe that this warning was only intended for that Passover week when the scribes were actively seeking to arrest Jesus. I’ve had a hard time writing this devotional, because after I decided not to skip this warning I’ve been taking inventory of my own heart. I love to study and teach God’s word. Every day I check to see how many people have read what I’ve written. I like to be recognized as a Bible teacher. When I pray in public I’m often tempted to lengthen my prayers by adding something I’ve read in the scriptures or have been meditating on.
Jesus gave this warning in “His teaching” to His followers just days before He humbled Himself and went to the cross. This teaching came in the form of a warning against the pride of the scribes. A contrast to the pride of the scribes is found in Philippians 2:1-8: “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any sharing in Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being likeminded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.
In your relationship with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who being the very nature with God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross!”
Visit my podcast at Anchor.fm/sarah-jones.30
Monday, March 2, 2020
Questions (Mark 12:35-37)
Jesus used questions like a key to unlock understanding. He asked His disciples “‘Who do people say that I am?’ They answered Him, ‘John the Baptist; others, Elijah, still others, one of the prophets’” (Mark 8:27,28). However, everything changed when He asked them, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered for all of them when he said, “You are the Messiah!” From that point on, Jesus began to take them deeper into the mystery of what it meant to be the Messiah.
The unveiling of this mystery led to the last week of Jesus' life and the feast of Passover. Here there were more questions; not only the ones asked by Jesus, but by those who opposed Him. The religious leaders felt threatened by Jesus, so they used their questions to try to trap Him. “By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You authority to do these things” (Mark 11:28)? Jesus recognized that this question was a trap. Jesus told them that He would answer their question if they would answer His question about John the Baptist. John the Baptist had accused the Pharisees and scribes of being hypocrites and whitewashed tombs. Jesus asked if his baptism was from heaven or men. Because they were afraid of the crowd, who believed John to be a genuine prophet, they said that they didn’t know. Jesus responded by declining to tell them by what authority He did what He did.
The Pharisees and Herodians came together to ensnare Jesus with their question about taxes, saying that they knew that Jesus was truthful and deferred to no one. Jesus answered their question with a question that exposed both their hypocrisy and their greed. The Sadducees, who didn’t believe in a resurrection, brought a question that mocked those who did believe in a resurrection. Jesus’ question to these sophisticated educated men was, “Are you not deceived because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God?” The last one to question Jesus was one of the scribes. As an expert in the law he asked Jesus which law was the greatest. The answer Jesus gave filled him with awe. “After this no one dared to question Him any longer” (Mark 12:34).
But that wasn’t the end of the questions. Jesus asked one more question that, again, was like a key to unlock the mystery of the Messiah. “So Jesus asked this question as He taught in the temple complex, ‘How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the Son of David? David himself says by the Holy Spirit: The Lord declared to my Lord “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.” David himself calls Him “Lord”; how then can the Messiah be his Son’” (Mark 12:35-37)?
They had been gazing through a blurry window trying to understand who the Messiah would be. Jesus used questions like a key to open the door. The Messiah was far greater than they had understood, not only was He the son of David, He was also the Son of God. Later that week He would show them that the Messiah had not only come to break the yoke of physical oppression but of spiritual oppression as well. It was during this Passover week that Jesus fulfilled the words of John the Baptist when he had proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” by Himself becoming the Passover Lamb.
anchor.fm/sarah-jones.30Visit my podcast at anchor.fm/sarah-jones.30
The unveiling of this mystery led to the last week of Jesus' life and the feast of Passover. Here there were more questions; not only the ones asked by Jesus, but by those who opposed Him. The religious leaders felt threatened by Jesus, so they used their questions to try to trap Him. “By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You authority to do these things” (Mark 11:28)? Jesus recognized that this question was a trap. Jesus told them that He would answer their question if they would answer His question about John the Baptist. John the Baptist had accused the Pharisees and scribes of being hypocrites and whitewashed tombs. Jesus asked if his baptism was from heaven or men. Because they were afraid of the crowd, who believed John to be a genuine prophet, they said that they didn’t know. Jesus responded by declining to tell them by what authority He did what He did.
The Pharisees and Herodians came together to ensnare Jesus with their question about taxes, saying that they knew that Jesus was truthful and deferred to no one. Jesus answered their question with a question that exposed both their hypocrisy and their greed. The Sadducees, who didn’t believe in a resurrection, brought a question that mocked those who did believe in a resurrection. Jesus’ question to these sophisticated educated men was, “Are you not deceived because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God?” The last one to question Jesus was one of the scribes. As an expert in the law he asked Jesus which law was the greatest. The answer Jesus gave filled him with awe. “After this no one dared to question Him any longer” (Mark 12:34).
But that wasn’t the end of the questions. Jesus asked one more question that, again, was like a key to unlock the mystery of the Messiah. “So Jesus asked this question as He taught in the temple complex, ‘How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the Son of David? David himself says by the Holy Spirit: The Lord declared to my Lord “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.” David himself calls Him “Lord”; how then can the Messiah be his Son’” (Mark 12:35-37)?
They had been gazing through a blurry window trying to understand who the Messiah would be. Jesus used questions like a key to open the door. The Messiah was far greater than they had understood, not only was He the son of David, He was also the Son of God. Later that week He would show them that the Messiah had not only come to break the yoke of physical oppression but of spiritual oppression as well. It was during this Passover week that Jesus fulfilled the words of John the Baptist when he had proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” by Himself becoming the Passover Lamb.
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