Mark 12:34-37 - Homiletics

Various effects of Christ's ministry.

There was a vigor and directness, an unsparing boldness and fidelity, peculiar to the ministry of our Lord in Jerusalem during the last week of his life. This no doubt precipitated the crisis, enraging his enemies at the same time that it silenced their reasonings. Two remarks are made by the evangelist which show us what was the effect of Christ's discourses and conversations both upon his foes and upon the multitude.

I. HIS ENEMIES WERE SILENCED . These included most of the members of the more prominent classes, who occupied positions of influence and authority in Jerusalem.

1 . Their varied efforts to entrap Christ in his speech are recorded at length. The Pharisees, the Herodians, the Sadducees, and the scribes, all questioned Jesus and reasoned with him, largely with the hope of either weakening his influence or taking some advantage of his replies. There was much craft in the way in which they sought thus to injure him and his work.

2 . Their uniform confutation by his wisdom and moral authority. All their efforts, from whatever quarter, and however conducted, proved in vain. None were able to withstand him. He either put them to shame, or convinced them by the wisdom of his answers. The evangelist sums up the impression produced by our Lord's demeanour and language in these several interviews in the words, "And no man after that durst ask him any question." Christ's wisdom is flawless; Christ's authority is irresistible. Now, as then, it is true that none can dispute with him except to be discomfited. "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?"

II. THE MULTITUDE WERE ATTRACTED AND DELIGHTED . Whilst the self-confident and the self-righteous were put to shame and confusion, the common people, or rather the multitude, "the people" (as we say), heard him gladly. There were several sufficient reasons for this.

1 . He spoke to them as one of themselves. Not from a height of official distance and superiority, but in their own language, with illustrations drawn from their own daily life, and as one who knew them and their ways.

2 . His personal interest and sympathy were very marked. He did not break the bruised reed. Often brought into contact with the suffering, he pitied and healed them. Often meeting with sinners contrite and penitent, he pardoned and cheered them.

3 . His fearless exposure and denunciation of the wickedness of the religious leaders of the Jews. The selfishness and hypocrisy of Pharisees and lawyers were well known; but such was the mental bondage of the people, that they dared not speak of the iniquities of the rulers save with bated breath. Jesus, however, who regarded not the person of any man, boldly upbraided the iniquitous rulers for their misdeeds. And those who suffered from the extortion and oppression which they endured, rejoiced in the Lord Jesus as in a Champion of the down-trodden, and an Upholder of the right.

4 . His direct appeal to the conscience and heart of the people. It is thus, indeed, that masses of men are ever to be moved. Whilst in the preaching of Jesus statement of Divine truth and exhibitions of Divine love formed the substance of his addresses, he so spoke as to reach the moral nature of his hearers. No raving, no exaggeration, no vulgarity; but simplicity, vigor, earnestness, moral authority, were manifest in all his utterances.

5 . He brought the fatherly grace of God home to the erring and helpless. This was what the religious leaders of the time did not. The hearts of men responded to the revelation of the heart of God. How could the people do otherwise than hear him gladly, when he said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"?