Daily Devotions
Mark
Acts 2:17b "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy..." Acts 2:17b"
Day 253 – Mark 12
“Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…” Acts 2:17b
OBSTINACY OF ISRAEL’S LEADERS
Jesus showed tremendous courage in the face of grave danger. He knew all too well, that His latest encounter with the religious leaders only irked them even more. But nothing fazed Him. The obstinacy of present Israel resembled that of ancient Israel.
“Because I knew that you were obstinate,
And your neck was an iron sinew,
And your brow bronze.”
ISAIAH 48:4
THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY
Anyone of reasonable intelligence would have been able to figure out the authority behind the powerful deeds of Jesus. If the religious leaders had bothered to check the Scriptures, they would have come up with a series of vital texts that would have verified the authority of Jesus. The following text may be cited as an example.
“Come near to Me, hear this:
I have not spoken in secret from the beginning.
From the time that it was, I was there.
And now the LORD God and His Spirit have sent Me.”
ISAIAH 48:16
The words and deeds of Jesus would have been further proof that there was great authority behind Him. There was no mistaking God’s authority at all. But the obstinacy of the religious leaders caused them to be spiritually blind.
TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE GROUNDS
Everywhere Jesus went, crowds flocked to Him. Once His Presence was known in the Temple, crowds came to hear Him speak. No one could preach better. No one could capture their attention better.
“Then He began to speak to them in parablesâ?¦”
MARK 12:1
At least three groups of people were present as Jesus taught that day:-
1. His Disciples
They were always there with Him. They were supposed to learn as much as they could through hearing the parables Jesus came up with.
2. The crowds
The passers-by would always flock to Jesus. He did not teach like the scribes. His way of teaching was simple and forthright. But His thoughts were nevertheless profound.
3. The religious leaders
They were there too. They waited to see if Jesus would make a slip or two. They would seize that opportunity to pounce on Him.