Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

At the end of Mark 12, Jesus teaches about the least, the great, and the greatest. 

First, the greatest–Messiah. Jesus posed a riddle to the teachers of the law. “We know the Messiah will be a descendant of David,” he said, “but David called him ‘Lord’. We also know an ancestor is always greater than his descendants, so how can David’s son be greater than David?” 

A buzz rippled through the crowd. They loved seeing hoity-toity teachers of the law get stumped. 

Second, Jesus taught about the great–or at least, those who thought they were great.

He warned, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They dress in style with flowing robes. They take seats of honor at the synagogue and banquets. They make long and showy prayers. But watch out! They are peacocks in public but sharks in private. They rip off widows and vulnerable people.”

So what’s that all about?

It’s Jesus exposing the law teachers’ ignorance with riddles about the Messiah, exposing their false motives, their flowery and insincere prayers, and their bankrupt ethical standards.

Yes, that’s Jesus at street-level, Jesus the critic. Who’s next?   

Jesus watched people giving money at the temple. Handfuls from the rich, hardly anything from the poor. Like that widow and her pennies. 

Jesus said, “Who’s most generous? The rich? No. They only give if it doesn’t hurt. Consider the widow.  She’s least in importance, last in social hierarchy, lowest in bank balance, invisible at the back of the synagogue. But she put in her grocery money. Everything! What will she live on now?” 

True greatness is not a show you put on for God or people. It’s not the prayers you pray in public, the diplomas on the wall, or trophies in your man cave. True greatness is the widow, giving everything to God and not worrying what you will live on now or tomorrow. 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, like the rich people, I give handfuls of cash, but I’m careful not to let my giving hurt my lifestyle. I dress up for church and pray in turn. Am I like the peacock teachers you criticized? 

In your presence, Jesus, I sense something hollow at the center of my life. What is missing in my commitment to you? What is untrue in my religious observance? What is self-serving in my public life? Or false in my life at home?  

O Jesus, greater son of David, search my heart, cleanse my motives. Hear my prayer. Accept the money I donate and the prayers I offer. 

Be the source and center of my life. 

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In Mark 12, a teacher of the law asked Jesus, “What is the most important law God gave?” (v. 28)

Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” Then he added, “The second command is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No laws are greater than these.” (v. 29-30)

“Well said, Teacher,” the man replied. “To love God and love your neighbor is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (v. 32-33)

Jesus said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (v. 34)

In his book The Year of Living Biblically, AJ Jacobs tells about a year he spent trying to follow all the rules in the Bible as literally as possible. (https://ajjacobs.com/books/the-year-of-living-biblically/)

A secular Jew from New York City, Jacobs made a list of over 700 biblical commands, everything from the Ten Commandments to obscure rules like don’t trim the corners of your beard and don’t eat shellfish. Then he set out to follow them for a year.

Oddly enough, his book mentions Jesus’ most important rule, “Love God” only once, in passing. “Love your neighbor as yourself” gets a four-page discussion, where Jacobs concludes, “If you try to literally follow . . . love your neighbor as yourself . . . well, you can’t.” (p. 323) 

But in an interview about what he learned that year, Jacobs said, “My Bible year taught me something I wish I had known the first 38 years of my life: If you want to be happy, pursue other people’s happiness. Do good things for others.” (https://sojo.net/articles/year-living-biblically-interview-author-aj-jacobs) 

I wonder if Jesus would say to Jacobs, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” 

Hmmm. I wonder if Jesus would say that to me.

Let’s pray. 

O father, we try to follow your laws, to do our duty to you and family and friends and church. But how can we know we love you? 

We know because we are sad when we don’t sense your presence.
Because we grieve when we grieve your spirit. 
Because we are glad when we find ourselves lost in worship. 
Because we are joyful when we hear you say “Well done.”

May we find, as Jacobs did, that obeying your commands changes us. That expressing gratitude, avoiding gossip, practicing sabbath, living with reverence, gives us new life and new perspectives. 

Teach us to live biblically. Teach us to love you and others. 

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In Mark 12, the Sadducees, a sect of Judaism that didn’t believe in the resurrection, told Jesus this story.

A married man died without leaving children. Following the law of Moses, his brother married the widow, but he died too. Five more brothers married her and died. Finally the exhausted woman died. 

“Who will be her husband in the resurrection?” the Sadducees asked, suggesting that Jesus’ whole idea of the resurrection was plainly ridiculous.

Jesus replied, “When people are resurrected, there won’t be marriage. They will be like the angels” (Mark 12:25). 

Two questions:

1. Where did Jesus get this information? Not from the Old Testament, which says almost nothing about resurrection. And he didn’t have artificial intelligence to hallucinate an answer for him. 

2. Was Jesus saying that when we are resurrected, we lose our identity as men and women? Will our resurrection transition us to another gender, or to no gender at all?

After teaching the Sadducees about resurrection marriage, Jesus commented on their resurrection-denial theory. 

He said, “Do you remember the burning bush, hundreds of years after Abraham died? When God said to Moses, ‘I am the God of Abraham’”. To Moses, Abraham was long dead, but to God, Abraham was still alive.  

Jesus concluded, “You’re wrong not to believe in the resurrection, because everyone who ever lived is alive to God.” 

Thinking about Jesus’ interpretation, it seems to me “I am the God of Abraham” can mean different things. Like, “I am the God who spoke to Abraham when he was alive. And now that he’s dead, I’m speaking to you, Moses.” 

Or God’s statement could mean, as Jesus interpreted it, “Lots of people appear dead to you, but everybody is alive to me.” 

Jesus put a lot of weight on the words “I am the God of Abraham”. He interpreted the present tense to mean Abraham was still alive to God. Many scripture interpreters try to imitate Jesus by squeezing deep meaning from every noun, verb, and preposition in scripture. Few are as succinct or as convincing as Jesus. 

Let’s pray. 

O father, whatever gender means in the resurrection, whatever Jesus understood in the grammar of scripture, we believe you are the God of the dead and the living. That you are the God of resurrection. 

Take these dying lives we live, have compassion on us as we debate scripture and grieve for the dead and wait for our end to come. Guide us on our fleeting journey. Draw us into resurrection life with you.

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In Mark 12, the Pharisees compliment Jesus: “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity, and you teach God’s truth without wavering” (Mark 12:17).

Lovely. 

But it was only flattery, followed by a loaded question, “Is it right to pay tax to Caesar?” 

Rome had occupied the Promised Land God gave to Israel. If Jesus recommends paying taxes, his popularity tanks. If he recommends not paying taxes, Rome will crucify him as a rebel.   

Jesus said, “Show me the tax money” (Mark 12:15), and he asked, “Whose image is on the coin?” 

“Caesar’s,” they replied. Jesus said, “So what’s your problem? Give Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give God what belongs to God” (Mark 12:17).  

Let’s consider three ways of interpreting this story. 

Roman Catholics say that all authority, religious or secular, is instituted by God. Secular governments are not only supposed to prevent murder, theft, chaos, and abuse, they are to maintain peace and order. Religious authority comes from the pope, Christ’s representative on earth. 

This interpretation takes Jesus’ comment about taxation as a general principle that  Christians must support secular governments and religious authorities–especially when the religious authority is the pope.  

In another interpretation, Gandhi said Jesus’ statement was ironic. He said that when they showed Jesus the coin, Jesus replied with withering scorn, “You honor Caesar by keeping his picture in your pocket, spending his money, and receiving the benefits of Roman rule? The whole trajectory of your life supports Caesar’s system, and you squabble about taxes?” Gandhi believed Jesus’ teaching supports non-cooperation with the ruling powers. (Wikipedia, Render Unto Caesar (June 8,2025))

A third interpretation divides life into two categories: things that belong to God and things that belong to Caesar. The difficulty? How to fit everything into the right slot. 

When my church needs money, they don’t ask, “What are those pictures on the money you’re donating? Surely they’re not corrupt politicians? We don’t want that kind of money in our church!” No indeed. My church says, “Your money belongs to God. Give some to the church, no matter the picture, and we’ll give you a receipt so Caesar can give you a tax break.” 

My money and I participate actively in Caesar’s kingdom and Christ’s. But my heart and mind belong to Christ, not Caesar.

Let’s pray. 

O Father, as willing participants in world commerce, we enjoy protection and tax deductions from secular governments. 

Help us not to give more to Caesar than we should. Our hearts belong to you. Our trust is not in armies and presidents and constitutions because our salvation is a gift from you alone. 

Politicians are nefarious, governments capricious, money fleeting, and philosophies illusory. But your throne, O God, is forever and ever.

Help us find our place in your kingdom, in this world and the next.  

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In Mark 12, Jesus tells a story about a man who plants a vineyard, rents it to farmers, and goes on a trip. When he sends a servant to collect rent, the farmers beat him up and send him away. The owner sends another servant who is also abused. A third servant, the farmers kill.  

Finally the owner sends his son. The merciless farmers kill the son, dispose of the body, and say, “The vineyard is ours!” 

Jesus said, “What do you think the owner will do? He will come and kill the farmers and give the vineyard to others” (Mark 12:9).

Some comments. 

Jesus was building on a story the Old Testament prophet Isaiah told about a man who planted a vineyard. When it produced only bad fruit, the owner gave up his plans and destroyed the vineyard. Isaiah concludes,
    God’s vineyard is the nation of Israel. 
    He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; 
         for righteousness, but heard cries of distress. 
             (Isa 5:7) 

In Jesus’ version of the story, it’s not just the vineyard-nation that’s a problem. Jesus points to the tenants, those occupying and managing the vineyard. The religious leaders, in charge of the Jewish religion, were deeply offended. 

But were they so deeply offended that they might kill the son who was trying to collect rent? Jesus thought so. He was the son. 

A second comment. Why wasn’t Jesus more friendly to the Jewish religion? After all, it’s the religion God gave Moses. It’s based on the Jewish scriptures. It’s the religion the Pharisees studied and followed. Sure, they made mistakes, but doesn’t everyone? 

Jesus’ complaint? The Pharisees did religion without growing in their understanding of God. They were trying to own the vineyard rather than see themselves as renters and stewards of God’s property. 

Now let me look in a mirror: I understand their problem. Me? I want to own the scriptures. I want to interpret them and tell everybody exactly what they mean. I want an organized, well-funded church. I don’t need Jesus telling me I’m wrong. I just need him as a saviour. In short, my approach to religion is uncomfortably close to that of the Pharisees. 

Let’s pray. 

O Father, you gave us scripture and commentaries and preachers and churches that create the religion we follow, and tell us what you want us to do. 

But where are you in our religion? Are you in the songs we sing, the sermons we preach,  the sacrifices we ask of ourselves and others? Are you chairman of the board? Are you chief financial officer?  

Help us find you as we practice religion. Help us recognize your presence. Teach us to know you and love you. 

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In Mark 11, after Jesus drove foreign-exchange merchants and livestock dealers out of the temple, the leaders asked him, “Who gave you authority to do that?” (Mark 11:28). 

Jesus knew they wouldn’t believe his answer, so he replied with a question, “Was John the Baptist’s baptism from heaven? Or did humans invent it?” (Mark 11:29-30). 

The temple leaders said to each other, “Careful, this is a trick question. If we say John’s message was from heaven, he’ll say, ‘So, why didn’t you believe it?’ But if we say John’s message was human, we’ll get stoned because everyone thinks John was a prophet” (Mark 11:31-32). 

So they answered, “We don’t know where John’s message was from.” 

Jesus replied, “Then neither will I tell you where my authority is from” (Mark 11:33).

Some comments on this curious turn of events. 

First, it’s not obvious to everyone when God is at work. The temple leaders had spent a lifetime studying their scriptures and practicing their religion. There’s no way they wanted questions from  a rude 33-year-old newbie who had zero training and no credentials. They didn’t appreciate Jesus trespassing on their turf and criticizing the way they ran the temple.

I wonder, are we aware and receptive when God is on the move? Or like the temple leaders, do we want to practice our religion undisturbed by hard questions?

Second, Jesus didn’t give a straight answer to a simple question. He could have said his authority came from God. Instead, he responded to a question with another question. 

Many of my questions Jesus doesn’t answer either. Why does God permit so much evil? Why doesn’t he answer more prayers? Why is the church so weak and ineffective? Maybe, like the temple leaders, I’m too foolish or ignorant or unbelieving to receive the real answers to my questions.

My third comment is that Jesus wanted the temple leaders to focus on something other than their sly questions. He showed them God was at work outside the confines of their temple religion. God was at work in Jesus’ miracles. He was at work in Jesus’ outraged response to temple abusers. God was at work in John the Baptist’s preaching and baptizing. But the temple leaders? They just couldn’t see God working in unexpected ways and through unconventional people like Jesus and John. 

Let’s pray. 

Our father, we have endless questions. But our duty is simple and clear. To believe in Jesus. To love others. To pray.

So we set our questions aside. We invite you to overturn the tables of our comfortable religion. As Jesus cast out the abusers in the temple, cast out our sins. Quash our self-serving, self-preserving instincts, and let us lose our lives and find them in the cross. 

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In Mark 11, after parading into Jerusalem, Jesus cursed a fig tree. Then he drove money-changing hucksters out of the temple. Feel the passionate anger in his words, “This is supposed to be a house of prayer. But you’ve made it a den of robbers!” (Mark 11:17, quoting Isa 56:7 and Jer 7:11).

William Barclay (The Gospel of Mark, The Daily Study Bible (Edinburgh: St. Andrews Press, 1975), 272-275) describes the situation this way. The inner temple, the court of priests, was hidden behind three levels of access. First: the court of the Gentiles, open to anyone. Next: the court of women, open to Jewish women. Third: the court of Israelites, the place of sacrifices. 

At Passover, people came from around the world to worship, pay the temple tax, and make sacrifices. The family of Annas, an ex-high priest, saw these tourists as a business opportunity. They needed local money to pay their temple tax and a supply of doves to make sacrifices. Sweet! Where better than the outer court of the temple to charge exorbitant exchange rates and sell doves at extortionate markups to people who came to worship!

Jesus didn’t think so. He said the outer court should be a place for people to pray, not a place to take advantage of them. So he acted violently, scattering money and overturning display tables, driving out the astonished businessmen.

The common people enjoyed the show. But Jesus’ anger offended the temple leaders. Who does this guy think he is? How dare he criticize us! We’ll interpret the law and determine what is and isn’t allowed in the temple. 

After leaving the temple and finding peace and quiet overnight, the next day Jesus and the disciples saw the fig tree. It was withered from the roots up. The disciples said, “Wow!” Jesus said, “If you have faith, you can tell a mountain to throw itself into the sea. In fact, whatever you ask in prayer, believe you have received it, and it’s yours” (Mark 11:22-25). 

Let’s pray. 

Jesus, we understand your clearing of the temple, but not your immense anger. Our society is full of Christian commercialism–religious books and art and magazines and music and posters and souvenirs. It can’t all be wrong, can it?

Jesus, were you angry at the commercialism, or at its location? Do you see in us some money-grubbing, grasping, and commercial part of our hearts that offends you? 

Our faith does not wither trees or move mountains. Our faith does not receive whatever we ask in prayer. 

O Jesus, change our hearts, move the mountains within us, change our plodding performance to vibrant faith. Teach us to live in the power of your kingdom. Teach us to ask and believe and receive. 

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Ep414. Mark 10. The Blind and the Seeing.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

At the end of Mark 10, blind Bartimaeus received his sight, but the disciples continued in their spiritual blindness. 

Here’s the story. 

For the third time in Mark’s gospel, Jesus told the disciples he would be mocked, spit on, flogged, and killed (Mark 10:33-34). 

The disciples’ response? James and John said, “When you come into your glory, we want the best seats of honor beside you” (v. 37). Weren’t they listening to what Jesus said? Was he talking about glory or about being tortured and killed?

Jesus replied to the disciples, “You have no clue about what you’re asking. Are you prepared to be baptized with the baptism I will soon experience?” (v. 38).

“Sure,” they replied. “No problem. Bring it on!” (v. 38). 

Jesus said, “OK. Count on it.” They didn’t understand that Jesus was walking into a baptism of torture and death. 

Then Jesus continued, ”But it’s not me who assigns seating in God’s kingdom. So don’t count on the seating arrangements you want” (v. 40-41). 

When the disciples heard James and John asking for favors they got angry. So Jesus played the peacemaker, saying, “In the Gentile world, the game is control. Lords lord it over people and officials officiate and Trumps trump everybody. But in God’s world, leaders serve, and slaves are first in line. Look at me,” he said. “I came to serve and to give my life as a ransom” (Mark 10:45). 

The disciples were blind to Jesus’ meaning; they couldn’t grasp the vision of him dying. They saw him as king, not a king’s ransom. 

Mark’s gospel moves to the story of blind Bartimaeus, who called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47). People told him to be quiet, but he shouted more loudly, until Jesus asked, “What do you want?”

“I want to see,” he replied. Jesus gave him sight, saying, “Your faith has saved you” (Mark 10:52). 

Two comments. 

The disciples won’t see clearly until after the crucifixion and resurrection. The crisis of Jesus’ death will lead them to a place where God’s spirit can bless them with the words Jesus said to Bartimaeus, “Your faith has saved you.” 

Second, like so many of those Jesus healed and saved, we never hear of Bartimaeus again. Was it just his eyes that Jesus saved, or was it his whole person? 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, when you restored Bartimaeus’ sight, you said his faith saved him.

His simple faith contrasts with the disciples’ politicking.
– They argued about getting places of honor
– They didn’t understand that your kingdom privileges those of low status–servants and slaves, the disabled, blind, lame, and deaf. 

O Jesus, our wealth and technology does not buy us privilege in your kingdom. We invite you to baptize us into your family, to give us servant robes in your kingdom, to teach us to take your name into a world that despises you. 

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In Mark 10 a rich man decided not to sell everything to follow Jesus. As the man walked away, Jesus said to the disciples, “It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mark 10:25).  

Think about that. A camel going through the eye of a needle? A ridiculous image. Amazed, the disciples asked, “Then how can anyone be saved?” 

Jesus replied, “It’s impossible for people. Only God can do it” (Mark 10:27). 

Some interpreters explain Jesus’ camel-and-needle image by pointing to a Jerusalem city gate “The Eye of the Needle”. Camels could enter only if they were unloaded and knelt. 

Two problems with this explanation. First, there is no evidence that such a gate existed. 

And second, it changes what Jesus clearly said. He didn’t say, “It’s possible to enter the kingdom of heaven if you unburden yourself and kneel down.” 

He said, “It’s impossible. No one can engineer their own salvation. It’s just as  impossible as a camel becoming needle-small.” Jesus often taught by using impossible pictures and improbable situations. His idea of what is possible depends on God alone.  

Peter, as usual in Mark’s gospel, had something to say: “We’ve left everything to follow you” (Mark 10:28). 

The rich man didn’t leave everything. But Peter and his friends did. Was Peter implying, “We’re better than that rich man”? Was he saying, “Look, we’ve walked through the eye of the needle”? 

Jesus said to Peter, “Seen and noted. Anyone who has left home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields for me and the gospel will be amply rewarded; and they will also be persecuted” (Mark 10:29). Then he warned them, “Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”  

Was Jesus warning Peter not to rate his own commitment too highly? Peter started with faith and enthusiasm, leaving everything to follow Jesus, but that did not guarantee him a position at the head of the line. If the first are last, perhaps Peter the first apostle might become Peter the least.    

Let’s pray. 

Our father, we have not left everything to follow Jesus. But we feel the pull of his teaching. He tells us not to hoard, but to live with open-handed generosity. He tells us to leave our isolation and participate in community. He teaches us to abandon our attempts to prove we are right, and to trust his forgiveness for sins we know and sins we don’t know. 

O Father, help us grow into this story of the rich man, to lose the things that are important to us, to let go of our conviction that we should be at the head of the line, to sacrifice the petty comforts we love. And when at last we stand before you, may we know your judgment is just, whether we are first or last.  

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube