What Jesus Did

[In answer to the Sadducees' question about marriage in heaven, Jesus continued,] "For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven."

—Mark 12:25 NLT

Key Thought​

With so much fascination about angels in recent years, this promise in today's verse should simply astound us. Our being, our relationships, and our lives will be brought to a higher level of existence after our resurrection. Glory awaits...

 

Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees — religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question: ...

—Mark 12:18 NLT

Key Thought​

Clearly, this period of Jesus' ministry was filled with the carefully crafted questions from his enemies. Pharisees, supporters of Herod, [1] and Sadducees were not good friends normally. They all had their different political, religious, and social agendas. However, Jesus' popularity with the common people...

 

"Well, then," Jesus said, "give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God."
His reply completely amazed [his opponents who tried to trap him].

—Mark 12:17 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus' answer was as profound as it was simple. He refused to get caught in a debate with his opponents, but instead placed the responsibility on each of us to decide what is "Caesar's" and what is God's. Jesus spoke with a convicting simplicity that challenged men and women to...

 

Jesus saw through [the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and supporters of Herod] and said, "Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I'll tell you [whether it's right to pay taxes to Caesar]." When they handed it to him, he asked, "Whose picture and title are stamped on it?"
"Caesar's," they replied.

—Mark 12:15-16 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus' opponents could not successfully play games or trick him. He knew their hearts. He knew what was inside people. He still does...

 

Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. "Teacher," they said, "we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don't play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us — is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them, or shouldn't we?"

Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, "Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I'll tell you."

—Mark 12:13-15...

 

Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.

—Mark 12:13 NLT

Key Thought​

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." This occasion was one where this old saying was true. The Pharisees didn't get along with supporters of Herod. In fact, they distrusted them and believed them to be unfaithful to God, the Jewish people, and the Torah. Their hatred of Jesus was so great that they compromised their...

 

The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus because they realized he was telling the story [about the vineyard and the tenant farmers] against them — they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away.

—Mark 12:12 NLT

Key Thought​

Sadly, rather than repenting when they heard Jesus' story, the leaders resolved more intently to arrest and kill Jesus. [1] Their problem, however, was that Jesus was incredibly well-liked among the...

 

[At the end of the parable of the vineyard and the tenant farmers, Jesus asked:] "Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures?
'The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful to see.'"

—Mark 12:10-11 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus finished his story by quoting an Old Testament Scripture that became one of his early followers' favorite passages. The point of the quotation is simple: God can turn things around and do...

 

"What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do [after the tenant farmers killed his son]?" Jesus asked. "I'll tell you — he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others."

—Mark 12:9 NLT

Key Thought​

There are consequences for rejecting the Son of God. In the case of the Jewish leaders who put the Son to death, they would find themselves — and their positions — absolutely powerless and defeated. When Jesus' prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem...

 

[Jesus continued the story:] "The owner then sent another servant, but [the tenants] insulted him and beat him over the head. The next servant he sent was killed. Others he sent were either beaten or killed, until there was only one left — his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son.'"

—Mark 12:4-6 NLT

Key Thought​

As this story of Jesus unfolds, we begin to get the picture. The owner of the vineyard (God) had sent...