What's REALLY Going on

 Explaining the Action

The best analysts have the ability to tell us what’s REALLY going on. Whether it’s a color commentator on the broadcast of a game or some political guru covering an election, they explain the action and break down what we’re seeing.

So many times, there’s WAY more going on than meets the eye. Whether it’s with a Telestrator or a giant video wall, these analysts tell us just what to look for.

Tuesday at the Temple Treasury

That’s exactly what Jesus does for His team of twelve one Tuesday at the temple treasury (Mk 12:41-44). As they watch folks giving their offerings, the Lord doesn’t want the guys to miss what’s REALLY important.

And it would be easy to miss. Lots of rich folks are making a big show making their offerings. It’s the First Century version of a photo op with a giant check. Ever wondered what it would be like depositing one of those bad boys at the local branch bank?

But the Lord wants His personal posse to pay attention to that inconspicuous woman. Hey, look over there! See that lady in the back? That’s who I want you to see.

Not Just Any Tuesday

Before we hear our Savior’s analysis of the action, let’s back up and set the stage. It’s Tuesday. But not just any Tuesday. It’s the last week of Jesus’ earthly life.  

It’s what we’ve come to call Passion Week. We’re counting down the hours until Jesus’ betrayal, torture, crucifixion, and death.

A Wild Week

It’s been a wild week to this point. The huge hero’s welcome for Messiah’s arrival on Sunday (Mk 11:1-11). Christ’s cleans house at the temple on Monday (Mk 11:15-18). 

Then there were the endless challenges to the Lord’s authority by the Hebrew home office (Mk 11:27-12:34).

 

These so-called experts wonder where this Rabbi/Carpenter from the boondocks gets off throwing His weight around on their turf.

But our Savior flips the script on each one of them and then exposes them for the religious bullies they really are (Mk 12:35-40).

The Place is Packed

Which brings us to the temple treasury. Apparently the place is packed. Mark tells us what happens next. 

“Jesus sat down near the collection box in the temple and watched as the crowds dropped off their money” (v41).

Christ Looks Closely

According to biblical archaeologists, the treasury was in the part of the temple complex known as the Court of the Women. This is as far as the ladies are allowed. That makes sense when Jesus points out the person at the center of the story.

Around the outside of the this courtyard are thirteen trumpet-shaped funnels where people put their offerings. For those of us of a certain age, they’re like the bins where you would toss your change in order to pay to drive on a toll road.

Mark describes how Jesus takes a seat and takes a look. The word the NLT translates as “watched” (Gr. θεωρεω/theoreo) means to be a spectator and view attentively. Christ is looking very closely at what’s going on.

Brass in Pocket

He’s checking out the people and their giving. Interestingly, the word “money” here is actually the Greek word for brass (Gr. χαλκος/chalkos). There’s no paper money or plastic back in the day. Just coins made of brass, silver and gold.

It’s easy to imagine that folks with deep pockets are the stars of the show in the temple treasury. “Many rich people put in large amounts” (v41). In the words of the Pretenders, they’ve got brass in pocket. We’re talking LOTS of of brass.

Making It Rain

Because these receptacles are also made of metal, they really ring when wealthy worshipers toss in their coins. Lots of coins mean lots of noise. 

It’s like the lyrics in that old Georgia Satellites’ tune. “Got a little change in my pocket, going jing-a-ling-a-ling.” 

Almost Lost in the Background 

That’s when, somewhere off to the side, almost lost in the background, an unassuming woman has come to drop off her contribution. “Then a poor widow came a dropped in two small coins” (v42).

When we take a closer look at Mark’s choice of words to describe her as well as her cultural context, we see a lady that’s way worse off than at first glance.

Penniless and Powerless

First of all, to be “poor” (Gr. πτωχος/ptochos) paints a picture of someone totally dependent on others for support. She’s destitute, penniless, and powerless.

Maybe she’s just going through a hard time and simply needs a little help to get back on her feet. Sorry. The term indicates a continuous state not a temporary situation. 

If that’s not bad enough, πτωχος/ptochos comes from a root word meaning someone who crouches or cringes. In other words, a beggar. She probably spends most of her day pleading for money and panhandling just to survive.

A Gaping Hole

Chances are she wasn’t always like this. That’s because she’s a a woman whose husband has died. 

The Greek noun for “widow” (Gr. χηρα/chera) comes from a word that describes a huge chasm or vacuum. The loss of her husband has left a gaping hole in her life.

No Life Insurance

Not only is there a massive void left by the death of her husband. It’s worse than that. There’s no one more marginalized in the Greco-Roman than a woman to be left all alone with no husband. 

If her late husband was working class, he would have left her very few resources when died. There’s no life insurance check coming her way.

Two Small Coins

Despite all of that, she’s come to the temple to worship. Remember, this is the Court of the Women. It’s as far as Jewish ladies are allowed to enter. Before she leaves, this lady returns to God what He has given her.

Tink. Tink. That’s the sound of “two small coins” trickling down the treasury trumpet. The original language tells us that these are actually λεπτος/leptos, copper coins worth one half of a quadrant or 1/128 of a denarius.

45 Cents

If you’re like me, you’re probably not up on the latest exchange rates between First Century Palestinian currency and 21st Century American money.

A denarius would be a full day’s wage for a blue collar working stiff. So for comparison, let’s use a day’s pay in the U.S. based on the minimum wage of $7.25 in 2020. That comes to a whopping $58.

Divide $58 by 128 and we find discover that what she gives amounts to right at 45 cents. Those two leptos are less than a couple of quarters. Not very impressive when compared to offerings of the rich clanging all around her.

A Teachable Moment

But when our Savior sees her, He tells His team to huddle up. “Jesus called His disciples to Him and said…” (v43).

Once again, the radical Rabbi/Carpenter sees this as a teachable moment for His team. Look closely, boys. I don’t want you to miss this.

Breaking It Down

He begins breaking down the action by saying, “I tell you the truth” (v43). The smart aleck in me wants to come back with something snarky like, “So You’ve been lying to us before?” 

That’s probably just one of the reasons He didn’t choose me to be one of the Twelve. I mean, really. It may be one of His better decisions when you think about it.

Over and Out

The Greek word the NLT translates as “truth” is actually αμην/amen. Yup, you read that right. Amen. Maybe you thought that’s just how we’re supposed to “hang up” at the end of a prayer. You know, like God’s version of “over and out.”

“Amen” shows up a grand total of 52 times in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Throw in another 25 in John’s Gospel. And get this. Jesus is the only one who says it.

This is the Way It Should Be!

But it’s NOT how the Son of God ends His chats with His heavenly Dad. He uses it as a point of emphasis. Listen to this. Watch this. Are you paying attention? Don’t miss this!

It actually comes an ancient Hebrew that strongly emphasizes the truth of what’s said or done. Think something along the lines of “That’s true!” or “This is the way it should be!” 

Truth from the Truth

Makes sense when you think about it. We can trust the One who is THE Truth (Jn 14:6) to always tell us the truth (Titus 1:2; Heb 6:18). God never lies. Ever.

That’s not all. In one of Paul’s letters to Christ’s followers in Corinth, he refers to our Savior as our “Amen” since God fulfills every single one of His promises in Him (2Cor 1:20).

And did you know that Jesus even calls Himself “the Amen—the faithful and true Witness” (Rev 3:14)? It’s true!

Making It Rain

Meanwhile back at the temple treasury, Christ wants the Twelve to understand the truth of what’s really going on.

“I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions” (v43).

Don’t miss that lady right there, boys. It may not look like much but she’s really making it rain in God’s kingdom!

More Than the Others Combined

Get this. A truckload of Bible experts believe the Lord is actually saying that she’s giving more than ALL THE RICH FOLKS COMBINED!

Hold the phone!  How can that be?!?  All she did was toss a couple of measly coins.  How in the world can what she’s given be more than the massive deposit dropped off by all the wealthy worshipers?!?  

I’m no math major but this does NOT make sense! I’ve got a pretty good feeling the disciples are also thinking this doesn’t add up.

The Source of Our Giving

Luckily for them and for us, our Savior breaks down what’s going down. “For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has to live on” (v44).

Did you catch that? Jesus points out that the key here is the source of our giving. When we give from our leftovers, it’s really no big deal to God. On the other hand, He loves it when we return to Him what we think we need.

Finding Change in the Couch

Let’s take a closer look. And once again, a great way to do that is with dive into the original language of Mark’s Gospel. Ready? Cool. Let’s go.

First of all, the Lord says those who are loaded give from “a tiny part of their surplus” (v44). The Greek word here is περισσευω/perisseuo. It paints a picture of excessive abundance, overflow, and more than enough.

In other words, these high rollers may toss in impressive amounts but it really makes no dent in their budget or lifestyle. They can easily find a huge chunk of change digging around in their couch or in the cupholder of their chariot.

Lacking the Essentials of Daily Life

On the other hand, Christ reminds us of just how broke this widow really is. Behind the phrase “poor as she is” is the word ‘υστερησις/‘usteresis. It means poverty, deep need, and says she lacks the essentials of life.

Despite zero resources, this lady is contributing all she has “to live on” (Gr. βιος/bios). Does the Greek word look familiar? Yup, it’s where we get the “bio” in biology.

In this context, it’s talking about her livelihood, what she needs to live an earthly life and function in society, or her resources for making it through the day.

Putting Her Money Where Her Faith Is

The Lord says here’s the deal. These rich folks give from what’s left over. They’re trusting in themselves and their bank account to handle what life throws their way.

Meanwhile, the broke widow gives sacrificially from what she’s going to need. That might sound crazy but she’s really putting her money where her faith is. She’s trusting that God will provide.

Trusting and Tithing

That’s actually the principle behind what’s known as tithing. While the word basically means “ten percent,” it’s way more than that.

Tithing is trusting that 90 percent with God is WAY more than 100 percent without Him. It turns our generosity into an act of faith and dependance on the Great Giver to provide what we need. 

You Can’t Out-Give God

You may have heard folks say, “You can’t out-give God.” And you can take that one to the bank. He already gave His best so that we could spend eternity with Him (Jn 3:16).

Did you know that, as a general rule, the lower the income, the greater the percentage of generosity? And the reverse is true as well.  The higher the income, the lower the percentage of generosity.

That’s what’s going on when Paul tells the Corinthians how the people in the churches of Macedonia are flat broke but have “overflowed in rich generosity” (2Cor 8:2). He says get these folks who didn’t have anything gave WAY more than they could afford.

Our Ultimate Example of Generosity

The former Pharisee goes on to say that our Savior is our ultimate example when it comes to generosity. “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty He could make you rich” (2Cor 8:9).

But wait. Wasn’t Jesus a homeless Galilean rabbi who at the high point of His working career was a blue collar construction worker? 

The Dumpster Dive from Heaven

Yes, but rewind even further. Before Nazareth, before Bethlehem, the Son of God lived in the heavenly palace in the lap of ultimate luxury. We can’t begin to wrap our brains around how amazing this is. It makes Sandals look like tent camping.

Yet the Lord was willing to leave it all behind in order to make the dumpster dive and save us from our sin and rebellion. He chucked it all in order to come to our rescue.

Three days after this Tuesday at the temple treasury, Jesus pay the price for you and me and give all He has for all of us. 

Look Closer

Meantime, He wants everyone to see what real generosity looks like. Don’t get distracted by the glitz and glamour of people wanting to put on a big show of how much they give.

Okay, here’s where it gets dicey. Would my Savior circle me with His divine Telestrator as one to watch when it comes to giving? Can I get back to you on that one?

The Lord says we need to look closer. Look for those who give sacrificially. Just like that widow over there in the corner.

©2021

Jay Jennings 

The Toughest Ticket

If You’ve Got the Cash

What’s the toughest ticket to get? Maybe it’s the Masters, Super Bowl or World Cup. How about a prime table at the hot new restaurant in town? Maybe it’s the best bungalow at an exclusive resort in Bora Bora.

But none of these are a big deal for those with big bucks. Let’s face facts. Money talks. And it talks VERY clearly and VERY loudly. Let me put this another way. If you’ve got the cash, you can always crash.

A Wealthy Up-and-Comer

In Mark 10:23-27, Jesus says while that may be how things work here on the third rock from the sun, it’s not how it works in His Dad’s kingdom. You might buy your way into any place your little heart desires now but that all changes when you try to enter eternity.

This comes on the heels of a conversation Christ has with a wealthy up-and-comer on the far side of the Jordan River in Judea (Mk 10:1, 17-22). 

Leaving His Loot Behind

It seems the rich young dude wants to join Jesus’ posse. Before he can, the Lord tells him to leave his loot behind. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me” (Mk 10:21).

Faced with the choice, the guy simply can’t part with his portfolio. “He went away sad” (Mk 10:22). Jesus has tried to tell him that he no longer owns his stuff but his stuff owns him.  

Debriefing the Disciples

Which leads us to verses 23 through 27. Here Christ debriefs His disciples and explains to them what just went down. As the rich young dude drags his bags of cash back home, the Lord turns to His team.

“Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!’” (v23). He wants them to understand what they’ve had a front row seat to witness. 

Hard to Swallow

I’m fascinated by the use of the word “hard” (Gr. δυσκολως/duskolos). The only time it shows up in the NT is in the three versions of this story (Mt 19:23; Mk 10:23; Lk 18:24). 

So what does it mean? It’s a compound Greek term that paints a picture something that’s hard to swallow. The literal definition is “difficult to get through the colon.” Did you wince just a wee bit? Yeah, me too.

Stomach Cramps

Much as we might like to move on, let’s chew on that for a moment. There are times you eat a big meal and there’s a load of doubt whether it’s going to make it through your digestive system. 

That’s what it is like any time there’s an attempt by “the rich to enter the Kingdom of God” (v23). I’ve got stomach cramps just thinking about it!

A Fat Portfolio

If you’re like me, you’re probably wanting to know who Jesus means when He’s talking about the rich. He’s certainly not talking about you and me, right? RIGHT?!? Hang on. We’ll get to that in a minute.

First let’s take a closer look at the word the NLT translates as “rich” (Gr. χρημα/chrema).   It means possessions, wealth, means, and money. Jesus is talking about abundant financial resources.

It certainly describes those who not only have a pocket full of cash on hand but a fat portfolio as well. Assets. In its most basic terms, our Savior is talking about stuff.

Jesus’ Definition of Rich

Now to you and me. Do we fit Jesus’ definition of rich? I have good news. And I have bad news. The good news? Yes, chances are if you’re reading this you’re rich. You may not see yourself that way, but you are.

Let me explain. According to Andy Stanley’s research, if you live in the U.S. and have a household income north of $50,000 a year, congratulations. You’re not only among the richest people on the planet but who have ever existed! 

Now the bad news. Let me go back to what the Lord is laying down to His disciples. “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” (v23). You thought that big meal was difficult to digest? That’s nothing compared to trying to squeeze your stuff through the pearly gates!

Shocking His Posse

Jesus’ statement shocks His personal posse. “This amazed them” (v24). He doesn’t just raise a few eyebrows. The verb in the original Greek (Gr. θαμβεω/thambeo) describes being totally startled, shocked, and surprised.

You may be astonished to know that this word only appears three times in the NT, all three in Mark’s bio of Christ. First, when the Lord performs an amazing exorcism at the Capernaum synagogue. “Amazement (Gr. θαμβεω/thambeo) gripped the audience” (Mk 1:27).

A little further down the page here in Mark 10, our Savior and the Twelve are nearing the climax of His march to Jerusalem. At this point, “the disciples were filled with awe (Gr. θαμβεω/thambeo)” (Mk 10:32).

Shock and Awe

Here’s the big idea. Jesus WILL catch you off guard! He’ll shock you with His unrelenting love. He’ll stun you with His mind-bending compassion. He’ll fill you with awe at His unlimited power. 

Let me put it this way. Why do you think they call it amazing grace?

Unlocking Difficult Doors

You can certainly understand why the guys are blown away by Christ’s words. I mean, if rich folks can't buy their way into God’s good graces, who stands a chance of getting in?

Let’s face it. Have things really changed that much in two thousand years? Money and power unlock the most difficult doors. There are very few things you don’t have access to if you’ve got the cash. Do I need to bring up the recent college 

admissions scandal?

Jesus Doubles Down

With their apostolic jaws on the ground, the Lord doesn’t back down. Instead, He doubles down. In doing so, He cooks up an example so ridiculous that people are still trying to explain to this day.

“Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God” (v24-25).

This seems to be our Savior’s way of saying don’t get cocky just because you’re not loaded. “Boys, it’s next to impossible for ANYBODY to gain admission into My Dad’s kingdom!” 

Camels and Needles

So what’s the deal with this whole camel-through-the-eye-of-a-needle talk? Some folks say Jesus is talking about small gate in the walls of Jerusalem. Supposedly the only hope of squeezing your camel through the opening was for it to crawl awkwardly on its knees.

There’s just one problem with that theory. There’s zero evidence such a narrow entrance ever existed during our Savior’s earthly ministry. But nice try. Now using a camel to encourage you on Hump Day to buy insurance is another thing all together!

Don’t overthink it. The Lord is using this ridiculous analogy to get His point across. It’s Christ’s way of drawing a comical cartoon as a way of commentary.

Stacks of Cash

In the process, the radical Rabbi/Carpenter hammers the nail one more time about how difficult it is for those who are loaded to “enter the Kingdom of God” (v24, 25).

To close all the loopholes, He uses a different word the second time around. This is πλουσιος/plousios,which describes anything in abundance or an incredibly large amount. Think massive stacks of cash and huge piles of stuff. 

Joe Loans a Tomb

This is the very same term Matthew uses to describe a very well-to-do follower of Jesus named “Joseph, a rich (Gr. πλουσιος/plousios) man from Arimathea” (Mt 27:57). 

He loans the Lord his tomb. Joe has no clue He won’t be there long! This is also a huge hint that some wealthy folks DO get into God’s kingdom. How? By leveraging their money and stuff for others.

Leaving the Luxury of Heaven

Let’s turn things around and look at this the other way. Did you ever consider what the Lord left behind to come to our rescue? He walked away from the lavish heavenly palace for you and me.

In a letter to a church in Corinth, Paul puts it this way and uses a very familiar word. “Though He was rich (Gr. πλουσιος/plousios), yet for your sakes He became poor so that by His poverty He could make you rich” (2Cor 8:9).

Spread It Around

Jesus gives His wealth away for the benefit of others. Instead of trying to squeeze our investments through heaven’s gates, God calls us to be a blessing to others by spreading our stuff around on this side of eternity.

The old saying is spot on. You can’t take it with you! That’s why you’ll never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer. 

Heaven’s Beggars

Even if you could, why would you want to? We can’t wrap our brains around the luxury Jesus reserves for us in eternity. What waits for us on the other side will make folks like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet look like beggars.

Overwhelmingly Overwhelmed

If the Dirty Dozen was caught off guard the first time, Christ blows them away when uses His camel-and-needle imagery. “The disciples were astonished” (v26).

John Mark uses a combo of two different words here, περισσως/perissos and εκπλησσω/ekplesso. The NLT simply translates this as “astonished” (v26). 

Honestly, that sells their reaction short. This could just as easily be “overwhelmingly overwhelmed.”How would we say this today. How ‘bout this? Mind. Blown.

Greasing God’s Palm

At this point, the boys have a question. “Then who in the world can be saved?” (v26). I mean, if a big wad Benjamins doesn’t make it easier to get on God’s good side, who stands a chance?

This may be crass but let’s cut to the chase. We can’t grease God’s palm like He’s some sort of divine maitre d’. Why? He already owns it all (Gen 14:19; Job 41:1; Ps 24:1).

A Birthday Present for Daddy

Think about that. If it’s all His in the first place, you're simply attempting to buy Him off with His own money. It’s like a little girl asking her daddy for money so she can buy him a birthday present. Cute idea but it doesn’t do anything for his bottom line.

Your Undivided Attention

Okay, now that He has their full attention, “Jesus looked at them intently” (v27). The original text makes it clear that He looks straight at them. 

It’s the very same verb describing the moment the Lord locks eyes with Peter at the disciple’s triple crown of denial (Lk 22:61). There’s nobody else in the room. There are times when Jesus wants our total and undivided attention. This is one of them.

Zip. Zilch. Zero.

He tells His team, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible” (v27). Boys, you’re ABSOLUTELY right! Again, the Greek here is both incredibly enlightening and horribly discouraging.

“Impossible” (Gr. αδυνατος/adunatos) means powerless, incapable, impotent, and unable to be done. There’s no chance for anyone…rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, white or black, straight or gay, liberal or conservative…to save themselves. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Zero.

Sucking the Hope out of Their Hearts

Can you feel how Jesus’ statement not only sucks all the air out of the room but all the hope out of their hearts? The thought must be running through their minds, so what are we doing?!? Did we make a HUGE mistake ditching our careers to follow this Guy?!?

It’s so easy just to scoot onto the next verse. But I wonder if Jesus pauses at this point. Does He let that sink in? Does He let the Twelve chew on that for just a few seconds? 

Let me put it another way. Does He let us realize just how bad the bad news is before He tells us how very good the Good News is? I think it’s critical to remember where we would be without Christ coming to our rescue.

Everything Is Possible…WITH GOD!

Don’t worry. The Lord doesn’t leave them hanging. “But not with God. Everything is possible with God” (v27). Whew!! When the Almighty gets involved, anything can happen!!

Back up and read those first four words again. “But not with God” (v27). Anytime you run across a “but God” statement in the Scriptures, it’s a BIG deal! 

Some folks like to point out that when we use the word “but,” it means we should ignore everything that’s been said up to that point. Stay tuned for the important part. What’s coming next is what REALLY matters.

I Like Big “Buts"

We need to remember that when God is involved, it’s a big “but”! With apologies to Sir Mix-a-Lot, I gotta say that I love these big “buts!"

You’ll find all over the place (Gen 8:1; 31:42; 50:20; 1Sam 23:14; 1Ki 5:4; Neh 9:17; Ps 49:15; 73:26; Is 40:8; Jon 2:6; Mt 19:26; Jn 1:18; Acts 2:24; 3:14; 5:39; Rom 6:23; 5:8; 8:9; 1Cor 1:27; 2Tim 2:9). When you’re hope tank is below “E,” do yourself a favor. Start reading these. 

The Mighty One

The word the NLT translates later in verse 27 as “possible” (Gr. δυνατος/dunatos) is EXACLTY the opposite of what we just read earlier in the very same verse. It describes something or someone that’s powerful, mighty, and strong.

This is the ability to totally control your circumstances or the situation. It’s no surprise that God is known as the “Mighty One (Gr. δυνατος/dunatos)” (Lk 1:49). He’s the One Who Makes EVERYTHING Possible!

The Ultimate Variable

Think of Him in math terms. Our unchanging God is the ultimate variable. Anytime He’s part of the equation, He changes the answer because He IS the Answer. He solves the stickiest and trickiest problems. He makes anything and everything possible.

The Most Exclusively Inclusive Offer

That includes getting anybody into God’s kingdom, even rich folks. You might think the One Percent are wicked and have zero chance of God’s eternal blessing. Wrong. He makes EVERYTHING possible! 

God throws the doors open wide for anyone and everyone who trusts in Jesus. Faith in Christ is the most exclusively inclusive offer of all time. Roll that around in your noggin for a moment.

Anything, Anywhere, Anytime, for Anyone

The truth of God’s ability to do anything, anywhere, anytime, for anyone is one of His mega-themes laced throughout the 66 documents we call the Bible. Here are just a few examples.

The whole story begins with our Creator creating absolutely everything out of absolutely nothing (Gen 1:1). That sets a pretty high bar right from the get go.

No One Can Stop Him

God makes a personal appearance to Abraham to reassure him that He not only could but would bless a pair of senior citizens with a bouncing baby boy (Gen 18:14).

Near the end of his wild ride with God, Job cuts to the chase. “I know that You can do anything and no one can stop You” (Job 42:2).

A Praising Prophet and a Pregnant Teenager

Jeremiah praises Yahweh for His limitless power (Jer 32:17) and Yahweh says the prophet is all over it (Jer 32:27).

When Gabriel drops in to tell a virgin teenage girl that she’s not only expecting but…get this…pregnant with the Son of God, he says, “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Lk 1:37 ESV).

The One Thing He Can’t Do

The night before His execution, Jesus pleads in the garden with His Dad for a way around dying on the cross (Mk 14:36). Spoiler alert! Christ not only dies but rises from the dead!! 

You see, God can do anything…but fail.

Your Money’s No Good Here

Meanwhile back in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus wants His disciples to understand that what He offers is WAY better than money and stuff. Even if we could carry our cash with us into God’s kingdom, it would be worthless there.

For heaven’s sake, if they use gold to pave the streets, liquidating by assets for eternity is kinda stupid. As the old saying goes, your money’s no good here.

So who gets in? Folks who hold their money loosely and their Savior tightly.

©2019

Jay Jennings