IDENTITY | Appearance vs Reality

• Mark's gospel is paced like an action film. Chapters 1-10 span 3.5 year. The action moves in slow motion starting in chapter 11. Chapters 11-16 span 7 days.
• Sunday - Triumphal Entry
• Monday - Cleansing of the Temple and Cursing the Fig Tree
• Tuesday - Questioning Jesus & Jesus' Teaching

• Mark 12:28-34
• The Great Commandment in 3 Parts:
  • The Lord Our God, The Lord is One (God Alone is God)
  • Love God (Indicative, not Imperative, because of who God is, when you surrender before him, he will require your everything).
  • Love Others (Because of who God is, your loving surrender to God will produce loving sacrifice toward others).
• "Ones heart is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices" Mark:12:33, Proverbs 21:3, Hosea 6:6.

• Mark 12:35-37
• The Scribes were teaching that the Messiah would be fully human from the line of King David to re-establish an earthly kingdom.
• Jesus shows from Scripture that King David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, believed the Messiah would be God himself.

• Mark 12:38-40
• Beware of people who care more about...
  • Appearance | "They like to walk around in long robes..."
  • Recognition | "Like greetings in the marketplace..."
  • Privilege | "The best seats in the synagogues and feasts..."
  • Power | "devour widows"
  • reputation | "for pretense make long prayers..."

• Mark 12:41-44
• The rich gave out of their excess, their leftovers
• The widow gave her everything for the sake of others

• How are you still trying to keep up appearances?
• To whom or what are you surrendered?