Today, in our Lent Reading plan (40 Days with Jesus) we’re looking at truths that Jesus, the Great Teacher, lays before us in John 12, and Mark 12-13.

John 12

In John chapter 12, we find Jesus six days before the Passover feast. We hear of his anointing by mary of Bethany, and find that the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus. So many had heard of his resurrection and then believed in Jesus! We read about the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (which we also covered earlier this week in Mark 11) 

After Jesus enters Jerusalem, he continues to teach.

• Jesus teaches what type of death he would suffer: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)
• He teaches us to walk in the light: “‘While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.’ When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.” (John 12:36)
• And He teaches that believing in and seeing Him is believing and seeing in the One who sent Him: And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” (John 12:44-45)
• Christ also teaches us that He is the light of the world: “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46)

He is our light and our salvation!

Oh, Jesus! Thank you for suffering on a cross for us, that we might walk in your light, and know you personally! How humbling is your awesome, sacrificial love! Will you strengthen us, precious Lord, to share your light with those around us who may walk in darkness? Help us use our lives to point the way to Christ.  Amen!

Mark 12

As Jesus goes about His ministry in Jerusalem, he teaches that he is the rejected stone prophesied about in Psalm 118:22-23, which Jesus quotes in verses ten and eleven of this chapter.

Yes, our precious Savior was rejected by His own people. Though heartbreaking, it was “marvelous in our eyes” because it was God used this as part of His plan to take the Gospel to the nations of the world.

Have you not read this Scripture:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” (Mark 12:10-11)

 

Later in Mark 12, when a scribe asks Jesus what the most important commandment is, Jesus answers him by teaching the “Great Commandment:”

Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

The words in the first two verses of the Great Commandment are part of the Shema´, a prayer from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 recited twice daily by any devout Jew. The words would have been as familiar as one’s own name! The emphasis on these verses, and on this prayer alike, is faith. The emphasis on the remaining verse in the Great Commandment is on the action of loving our neighbor.

Christ shows us:  as Christians, we have a duty to both God and man.

Mark 13

In Chapter 13 of Mark, Jesus teaches about the future. Many of the disciples had confused understanding about the destruction of Jerusalem (which was coming soon) with the end times (of which no one knows the hour). Jesus gave Peter, Andrew, James, and John (see verse 3) instruction on both events.

At this time in history, the Jews were under Roman control and the people hoped for a Messiah who would bring them military victory. One that would ride in, powerfully wielding his military might, not meekly on a donkey! But as the Jews rebelled against Rome, their demise came much quicker than imagined, and only  about 40 years after Jesus shared this teaching.

“Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” (Mark 13:35-37)

 

Like Jesus warned, we too must stay awake and on alert! Whether if it’s for end times or meeting Jesus face to face, we don’t want to find ourselves not ready.

It’s easy for us to look at life through temporal eyes that don’t see the big picture. We can even be afraid of things to come. But thankfully, no matter what comes our way, our teacher Jesus  is aslo our helper, Savior, and great refuge!

What has God shown you through Jesus’ teaching in the chapters? Please share here in the comments, or over in our FB discussion group.

Ali