Jesus covers a lot of ground here with his discussions about the Messiah, the widow’s offering, and a glimpse into the future. Jesus continues to share truth bombs to speak to his followers. Whether or not these all happened on the same afternoon or not doesn’t matter. The Gospel of Mark is a great collection of the life and teachings of Jesus.
When we hear Jesus talk about the Messiah (himself), our viewpoint is a lot different than that of his first audience. For the disciples and early followers, waiting for the Messiah to come was on the forefront of everyone’s minds. For centuries, since the prophets first foretold this Savior and promised deliverer, the people had been waiting and watching.
Now that Jesus was in their midst, he recalled for them the psalm speaking of the Messiah as the son of David. Clearly, David’s actual sons would all have been long since dead and buried, so the psalm must mean something else. Jesus would have been in the family lineage of David, which he was. The psalm wasn’t meant to be interpreted literally but to speak to Jesus’ family origins.
David’s words, quoted by Jesus, speak of dialogue between God the Father and God the Son. You’ll notice the difference between “the LORD” (God) and “my Lord” (Jesus). What a conversation! Elsewhere, the Bible recounts Jesus’ family tree, confirming his ancestor, David.
Jesus’ discussion about giving is very helpful for us today. When the offering plate goes by, many people share the wealth they have been given. The church I attend has the congregation approach the offering table, and we leave our gifts there as we file past. That’s how I picture it happening with the widow that day. Beyond what each person shares, Jesus can see our hearts and our dedication. Are we just going through the motions with our giving?
The apostle Paul shared great wisdom with the people in 2 Corinthians 9:7. It reads, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’” What we give is totally between us and God. Personally, my spending tithe dollars does make me happy, feeling like I’ve made a difference.
The widow in Jesus’ example had decided to go all in with her offering. She may have given that extravagantly in the past and seen how God richly blessed her faithfulness. Jesus doesn’t take that direction for his teaching, but does applaud her when many would have thought she had lost her marbles, giving away all that she had. It would be a leap of faith to give so generously.
Did you wonder what the disciples must have thought when Jesus predicted that the Temple buildings would be destroyed? Such a magnificent structure being reduced to rubble must have been hard to imagine. The radical prediction did come true in A.D. 70 when the Romans brought destruction on Jerusalem and the Temple.
Jesus’ words not only spoke of an event yet to come, but also taught us about how temporary and fleeting things can be. We often take the good in our lives for granted, when in an instant, it can all change in many different ways. Civilizations have come and gone, and the ruins of ancient days are uncovered. Have you ever looked around and wondered what your community will look like in 100 years, or even 1,000 years?
What stays the same is God. That is something we can be 100% sure of. Psalm 102:27 says, “But you are always the same; you will live forever.” Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Those are some powerful promises that help us put our trust in God, Creator of all things.
Let’s pray. Father God, you are amazing and forever in control. Thank you for how you have equipped your people over the centuries, including me. It’s so hard to fathom what forever means, but I’m glad I’ll be spending it with you. Thank you for redeeming me and loving me. Help me to be as generous as the widow, trusting in your provision. I know you have never left my side. Accept my worship and praise today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
