March 4, 2013
Numbers 2:1-3:51
Mark 11:27-12:17
Psalm 47:1-9
Proverbs 10:24-25
Tax season. I'm not sure if anyone enjoys paying taxes. Studies have shown the existence of certain pain centers in the human brain that are activated when we physically give our money to pay for something. I think that I can attest to that. But, regardless of how much we don't like to do it, we are legally required to pay taxes. The government has set up this system such that they have a legal right to that tax money.
Today we read Mark 12:1-17. The Pharisees and Herodians approach Jesus and ask him if it is right for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar. You'll remember this question from the passage: "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?"
The image of Casear was printed on the coin. Even while in circulation it was understood that the coin, with the image of the emperor, belonged to the emperor himself. So it makes sense that Jesus would say in response to the Pharisees' question, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." Caesar's image on the coin made the coin his rightful possession – he had a legal right to the coin. But, wait - doesn't every person on earth have the image of God in her/him? (Genesis 1:26-27) Using Jesus' logic, we should give Caesar the coins and give God our lives.
With the image of God in us, the God of Heaven has a legal right to us – we belong to Him. Not only did God create us, but also He gave up His Son, Jesus, so that through accepting His sacrifice and following Him on earth we might live forever with God in heaven. Yes, there are many pleasures and joys in life. Is God asking me to give all of that up? Jesus said this: "Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life]." (Matthew 10:39, AMP) God has better plans, higher life, and greater joy than anything this world could possibly offer. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. (Psalm 84:11, NLT)
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