What Jesus Did

As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, "Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls."
Jesus replied, "Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!"


—Mark 13:1-2 NLT

Key Thought


Many of us today cannot imagine the splendor, the majesty, and the size of the Temple in Jesus' day. Herod the Great, a ruthless man but a...

 

[Jesus continued talking about hypocritical religious teachers:] "Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished."

—Mark 12:40 NLT

Key Thought


In the previous verses (Mark 12:38-39), Jesus described the teachers of the law as wanting places of honor and loving to be recognized as important. Here he emphasized that these teachers cheat widows and...

 

Jesus also taught: "Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets."

—Mark 12:38-39 NLT

Key Thought


Being a teacher of the Bible and Christian living is not about prestige, position, or applause. Nearly every great teacher of God has had to endure ridicule, rejection, and...

 

Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple, he asked, "Why do the teachers of religious law claim that the Messiah is the son of David? For David himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said,
'The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.'

Since David himself called the Messiah 'my Lord,' how can the Messiah be his son?" The large crowd listened to him with great delight.


—Mark...

 

Realizing how much the man [who had asked about the greatest commandment] understood, Jesus said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

—Mark 12:34 NLT

Key Thought


Despite the hostile environment in which Jesus faced the tough questions put to him, he appreciated the honest seeking heart of this expert in the Jewish law. In an atmosphere where most questioners were trying to trap Jesus, Jesus still...

 

[After Jesus answered that the greatest commandments are to love God and love others, the] teacher of religious law replied, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law."

—Mark 12:32-33 NLT...

 

[Jesus continued,] "The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."

—Mark 12:31 NLT

Key Thought


In the previous verses (Mark 12:29-30), Jesus says that the greatest commandment is for us to love God. Now he says that the second great commandment also deals with love. This time, however, Jesus focuses our attention on our love for other people. In giving these two commandments — love God and love our...

 

Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.'"


—Mark 12:29-30 NLT

Key Thought



The essence of our response of faith is pretty straightforward. Love God. It can be said in a number of different ways: Love God above all things. Love God with all you are. Love God for as long as you have...

 

One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate [between Jesus and the Jewish leaders]. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"


—Mark 12:28 NLT

Key Thought



An honest seeker overhears the questions intended to trap Jesus and is impressed with Jesus' answers. He asks an honest question: "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" When Scripture says...

 

[Replying to the Sadducees, Jesus continued,] "But now, as to whether the dead will be raised — haven't you ever read about this in the writings of Moses, in the story of the burning bush? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' So he is the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious error."

—Mark 12:26-27 NLT

Key Thought



Jesus uses skill, wit, and cunning to...