Study Group for the

Click the audio icon to activate the control; then click Play.
(If you don't hear the audio, make sure you have Adobe Flash Player installed.)

12-21-06
Mark 12 - 13

The Retelling of the Book of Mark
Copyright © 2006 by The Foundation for the Holy Spirit, Inc.*

Mark, Chapter 12

Then Jesus began to teach the Jewish leaders using parables that their eyes may be opened to the deception in which they believed. He taught them in love, understanding the great Truth of who they are.

“A man planted a vineyard, and he made the vineyard complete and perfect. This, he gifted to tenants that they may extend his gift and produce great fruits.

“At harvest time, he sent his servants to join in the abundance, but the tenants became afraid. They had come to see the vineyard as their own, and now they saw the servants as desiring to take from them what was theirs. So they defended themselves against the servants, and fought a war with them, and would not let them enter into the vineyard. In the activity of defense, the harvest went unharvested.

“In this way, the tenants continue to defend the vineyard to this day so that the gift given them is not enjoyed. They will know the joy of the gift when they choose defenselessness, and they extend the gift as it was meant to be extended.”

The Jewish leaders felt that Jesus must be speaking of them, but they did not understand his parable. So they went off to plan their defense [against him]. (verses 1 – 12)

The Jewish leaders became intent on trapping Jesus with his own words that they may arrest him for breaking the law and discredit him before the people. So they went to him and approached him in what appeared to be a humble and respectful way. They complimented him as a teacher of God and addressed him as “master” as many of the people did. They did all of this so as not to raise suspicion within the crowd. And they asked him a seemingly innocent and reasonable question. “Should we pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

This was a question that had been on the minds of many, for sometimes it seemed confusing [to know] what was right to do and what was not right. Should a man pay to support the bondage of his own people? Should he break the law and not pay and be taken from his family?

Jesus understood the confusion within the mind and the thought that gave rise to such confusion. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”

They gave him one denarius.

“Whose portrait is this?” he asked. “And who’s inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Jesus handed the denarius back to them. “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. And give to God what is God’s.”

Jesus stood up from where he had been sitting and began to address the crowd.

“Your brother standing beside you belongs with God, so it is he that you must give back to God through your love for him. Welcome him into your heart as one with you, and you welcome him into the Heart of God.”

They were amazed at his teaching. (verses 13 – 17)

More [Jewish leaders] came to him with another question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry his brother’s widow and care for her.”

Jesus agreed [that this is how it was written], and so they continued. “There were seven brothers. The first one married and died without any children. The second one married the widow and also died leaving no children, and so on until all seven brothers married this woman and died leaving no children. Our question is this: Whose wife shall she be in the resurrection?”

Jesus once again recognized confusion that sprang up from the ego, and so he spoke to the people from the clarity of the Holy Spirit.

“The error in this thought is not realizing the oneness of God. The mistake comes from seeing the seven brothers as separate. In the resurrection, the brothers and the wife are one in Spirit with God. There is no separation between them, nor is there any loss.

“The Spirit of our God is one. You have read in the book of Moses that our Lord said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ This was written to show that our Lord is one God inclusive of all.” (verses 18 – 27)

One of the teachers of the law listened to the discussion, and he recognized the Love in Jesus’ answers.

“Teacher,” he asked. “Of all the commandments, which is most important?”

Jesus looked directly at the man as he answered. “The most important one is this: The Lord, our God, is one. Love the Lord, our God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself within the Love of God. There is no commandment greater than these.”

“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him. To love Him with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Jesus saw this man understood the message of the good news. He said to the man, “Continue to seek our Lord within. You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” (verses 28 – 34)

Jesus taught the crowds in the temple courts, and as they listened, they began to ask if he was the Christ. Some answered “yes” based on what they thought they had heard. But others answered “no,” and pointed to prophecy and law to show that Jesus could not be the messiah.

Aware that the people expected the messiah to be a special one, different from them, Jesus proceeded to teach the crowd in this way.

“How is it that Christ is the son of David [as taught by the law]? It is written that David himself spoke to the Holy Spirit calling the messiah “Lord.” Would David call his son “Lord?”

“The messiah must be one greater than David, but what man could be greater than David so that David would call him “Lord?”

“The one that David refers to is one that is with us now. That one does not stand here before you alone and without you. That one is not among the teachers of the law and not with you. That one does not hold a place of prominence and avoid the place where you are. That one is in all places and with all men. The Christ cannot be separate from anyone, for everyone is within the Christ.

“The messiah is the thought of salvation, and that thought is with you now. The Christ is the acceptance of this thought. Everyone has authority to accept this gift, as it is a gift from our Father to all of His children as one.” (verses 35 – 40)

That evening, Jesus and the apostles had a discussion about making offerings to support the temple. Such offerings were considered important within Jewish law, and those who made great offerings were considered great men.

Jesus listened as the apostles discussed the offerings they had seen given that day. They were impressed by the size of the offerings that were given by some of the rich men.

After listening to all the apostles had to say and after listening to the conclusions the apostles drew based on what they saw, Jesus taught the apostles this way.

“The Lord your God wants one thing from you and one thing only. He seeks all that you think, that He may show you all that you Are.

“Do not hold back from God. For what you keep, you value, and what you value on earth will keep you from Heaven.

“In this way, the widow who gave two copper coins for our Lord gave more than all the other wealth given today. For she gave all she had that she may be placed within the Hands of God and cared for as He Wills. This woman has shown great faith and trust through her submission to our Lord. Her gift is not unnoticed.

“The gift is not the money or the goods given. The gift is not the size of the sacrifice. The gift is the submission to the Will of God and the acceptance of His Will as your own.

“Give truly to our Lord, and truly you will receive. (verses 41 – 44)

Back to Top

Mark, Chapter 13

One of the apostles was impressed by the temple. “Look, teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”

Jesus smiled at the apostle and put an arm around his shoulder. “You are impressed by nothing, my friend. Before the sight of Heaven, all of these stones will disappear.” (verses 1 – 3)

As Jesus rested outside the temple with some of the apostles, they asked him privately, “Master, you speak of an end to these days. When will this end come? What will be the signs? How shall we know [it is coming]?”

Jesus smiled at his brothers. His response to their concern was peaceful and certain. “Let not your fear deceive you. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things will seem to happen before this world fades away. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines. All this is but the birth panes of this world. Love not this world, but do not fear it. For this world will pass away, but you are eternal.

“You must be on guard and watch the thoughts within your mind. You may see yourselves arrested and flogged, or you may see yourselves standing as witness unto your Self before governors and kings. This is your choice! The light of God will shine throughout, and then the end will come.”

“Master,” an apostle asked. “What shall we say when we are brought as witnesses before governors and kings?”

“Do not worry beforehand what you will say. Say whatever is given you at the time, and trust it is the Holy Spirit speaking through you. Do not judge what you say, but give it as a gift by accepting it as a gift.”

“What other signs will we see?” they asked.

“As long as there is darkness within the mind, you will see brother betray brother and father betray child. Children will rebel against parents, and each one will blame another for his woes. But I say, stand firm in your faith. Trust not the thoughts of death. Listen only to the Holy Spirit, and your thoughts shall be your salvation.”

Jesus paused, looking at the apostles. He was still and restful in his manner. “The world shall be the world until the thought that made it is no more. When the thought is gone, the world shall go with it. You will notice nothing but a tiny wisp of air, and then it shall be no more. And you will be glad, for all you will know is peace and freedom and joy.

“Do not worry that you will not be ready. Before this time, you will look out on the world and see Christ. You will know the power and glory within you. And before your sight, the ends of the earth will fade into the ends of Heaven.

“Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know summer is near. Even so, when your heart is filled with the glory of God, you know Heaven is near, right at the door awaiting you.

“I tell you the truth. You have nothing to fear. All that is not of God will pass away, but what is of God will last forever, even from this day unto eternity.”

“Master,” they asked. “When will this happen?”

Jesus chuckled pleasantly. “There is not a day or hour to which you can look. There is only now. Accept all that I say as true. Keep watch in your mind, even unto this moment. Now is the time for salvation, for there is no other time. Do not fall asleep and let this time pass you by. What I say to you, I say to everyone: Stay alert, and keep watch in joyfulness.”

Jesus was smiling. And so, the apostles listening to him could not be afraid. (verses 4 – 37)