IDENTITY | Appearance vs Reality
September 12, 2021
INTRODUCTION
- Mark’s gospel is paced like an action film. Chapters 1-10 span 3.5 year. The action moves in slow motion starting in chapter 11. Chapters 11-16 span 7 days.
- Sunday – Triumphal Entry
- Monday – Cleansing of the Temple and Cursing the Fig Tree
- Tuesday – Questioning Jesus & Jesus’ Teaching
SCRIBE’S HUBLE SEARCHING
- Mark 12:28-34
- The Great Commandment in 3 Parts:
- The Lord Our God, The Lord is One (God Alone is God)
- Love God (Indicative, not Imperative, because of who God is, when you surrender before him, he will require your everything).
- Love Others (Because of who God is, your loving surrender to God will produce loving sacrifice toward others).
- “Ones heart is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices” Mark:12:33, Proverbs 21:3, Hosea 6:6.
THE MESSIAH IS GOD
- Mark 12:35-37
- The Scribes were teaching that the Messiah would be fully human from the line of King David to re-establish an earthly kingdom.
- Jesus shows from Scripture that King David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, believed the Messiah would be God himself.
SCRIBE’S FALSE APPEARANCE
- Mark 12:38-40
- Beware of people who care more about…
- Appearance | “They like to walk around in long robes…”
- Recognition | “Like greetings in the marketplace…”
- Privilege | “The best seats in the synagogues and feasts…”
- Power | “devour widows”
- reputation | “for pretense make long prayers…”
WIDOW’S TRUE VALUE
- Mark 12:41-44
- The rich gave out of their excess, their leftovers
- The widow gave her everything for the sake of others
APPLICATION
- How are you still trying to keep up appearances?
- To whom or what are you surrendered?