Releasing the Power

By Dean Collins

She probably hadn’t read the Scriptures, but she was full of faith and all in.

There is a power struggle all through the twelfth chapter of Mark. It really begins at the beginning of Chapter 11, when Jesus makes his triumphant entry to Jerusalem, the supposed seat of religious power. Many had hoped for a powerful Jesus who would end Roman oppression and give the Jewish people their own power back. Scripture is filled with too many stories indicating that people would prefer to have the power instead of acknowledging that ultimately God holds all power and authority. We all want to possess power and authority over our own situation, our own choices, and our own lives. No one wants to admit that we all think we could handle power better than all the others. Just give us some power, and we will prove our point. 

Powerful One, power seekers

Jesus is now in Jerusalem, just days before he will set his power down. He telegraphed as much when he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and not a white stallion. The power seekers and the power grabbers set traps and tricks all through the twelfth chapter of Mark in desperate acts of attempting to keep

power and destroy this supposed prophet-king who insists on upsetting their power positions. The stalemate at the end of Chapter 11 sets the stage for all of these encounters. Jesus had refused to answer a question about his power and authority unless the scribes and Pharisees answered a question about John the Baptist’s message and baptisms. They would not, and he would not.

Jesus then told a parable of a vineyard. Good scribes and Pharisees knew that vineyards always referred to Israel. Isaiah was rich in these descriptions. A vineyard was planted and ready for harvest. The owner wanted some grapes from the vineyard and sent several servants to get some. Each time, those who were working the vineyard killed the messenger. Finally, the owner sent his son, but the vineyard keepers killed him, as well. Jesus quoted Isaiah to make sure they got the point of who they were in the story. They decided to align with those power-grabbing vineyard workers and were determined to kill Jesus. 

Then comes the question about paying taxes. Jesus, again, doesn’t fall for their trickery, telling the Pharisees to give Caesar what is his and God’s what is his. The Pharisees, again, couldn’t trap Jesus. One of the scribes was experiencing Jesus differently. The message and the heart of Jesus was getting through to him, so he followed Jesus to ask a question about the greatest commandment.

Jesus quoted from Moses’s words in Deuteronomy: “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.”

The scribe continued to dialogue with Jesus, and Jesus sensed his heart was pure. This scribe was not here to trap or trick Jesus or to grab or keep power. This scribe, according to Jesus, was inching very close to the Kingdom Jesus was initiating. The other scribes and Pharisees didn’t dare ask any questions. 

The group arrived at the temple. Jesus sat down and watched the behavior of those who presented their gifts in the offering plate. He noticed the wealthy dropping in thick offering envelopes filled with money. Some didn’t use the envelopes, because they wanted everyone to see the large gold coins, and if they didn’t notice, then to hear the gift as it landed in the offering plate. Maybe then others would be as impressed with them as they were with themselves. They probably wore some bling as they dropped their gifts. Appearances are important when we seek or hold power. 

But then Jesus noticed a widow. She was rarely noticed. She had nothing to offer the power seekers. In fact, she was likely a nuisance they would prefer not to see because she was a reminder of their misused power.

Appearances are important when we seek or hold power. But then Jesus noticed a widow.

They didn’t want to see her, because to see her was to see their own sinful ways. But Jesus saw her, and he spoke to his disciples about her. He also commented on her gift. The gift had a value of a penny, but it impressed Jesus. He knew what it represented. She neither had power nor sought power. She simply worshiped and surrendered everything. She gave her gift to the keeper of her life. She would do that until her final breath. 

Giving it all

Jesus noticed her, not just because she was a contrast to the others he dealt with that day, but also because he would soon do the same. He would offer a gift on the altar. He would lay down all power and authority on a cross, not out of force; he made a choice – his life in exchange for ours. His blood to cover our sins. 

This grand exchange is our path forward. We are invited to lay aside our power and control and receive forgiveness and grace in exchange. When we do, we are filled with resurrection power, but it is not for the keeping – rather, it’s for the giving. And when we give ourselves away to others for Jesus, we demonstrate that we understand power. We know where it starts and understand its value. We never hold it. We release it for God’s glory. Then we will hear Jesus say that we, too, are not far from the kingdom of heaven. We, too, have learned the generosity of the widow. 

Your time with God’s Word

Mark 12:10-17, 24, 25, 28-34, 41-44 ESV

Photo by Rohan Makhecha on Unsplash

Photo by Rohan Makhecha on Unsplash