Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Mark 12.43. Indeed, Jesus is seated near the Temple treasury. And with that penetrating gaze that we have already seen him focus on everything and everyone, he observes the only thing that interests men, namely how men give to the treasure, rather than how much. And now this poor widow comes up and puts the few cents she had left to live on. Moved, the Lord calls his disciples and comments on what he has just seen.
Indeed, this offering is extraordinary because it was “all she had”. This proved not only the affections of this woman for the Eternal and His House, but above all the total confidence that she had placed in the Eternal God to provide for her needs (1 Kings 17.8-16). It was little, you might say; but according to the Lord’s estimate, she was the one who put in the most, for everyone put in their excess, but she put in what was necessary, all that she had, all that she had to live. And this appreciation of the Lord is a precious encouragement to those who cannot give much. Because if the rich had given as much as this woman, they would have given everything they had. This would allow the Church to carry out more actions in favor of the most disadvantaged.
For we see at the beginning of the Church, in the Acts of the Apostles, that things were thus done under the first and powerful influence of the Spirit of God (Acts 4.34-35). Things changed quickly, but if the love of God fills our hearts and rules them, nothing will be too much for the Lord, for he teaches us what we can do for him, and we are sure that he will never be indebted to us.
In fact it is a question, neither more nor less by looking at this woman, of having a vision of God and of his Kingdom. Because she comes to the temple to offer all her life, unnoticed. This is the way of being and doing of the Eternal God: He gives everything, all his life, “for us men and for our salvation”, and this often goes unnoticed. Because God is indeed in his temple and he is joined there by those who resemble him, this poor widow for example. He is not found there in the form of a hidden divinity which one would only get an idea of when grandiose cults are deployed in his honor. No: God is there, in a visible and palpable way in the person of those who offer his image and his likeness to looks that can see.
For Jehovah God forbid that any image be placed in his sanctuary, “You shall not make for yourself any graven image, nor any image of the things which are above in the heavens, which are below on the earth, and which are in the waters lower than the earth. “(The Ten Commandments; Ex 20, 4). It is not because he fears that humans do not worship these representations, although it can always happen (Ex 32: the golden calf). But more deeply, the Eternal God seems to say by this prohibition: “What do you need to look for effigies in my temple? Learn instead to recognize those who resemble me and who like me, pass in general indifference. you have my presence in front of you among those who come and go among you: open your eyes and your ears “. The God who gives “his whole life”, our widow gives Him to be contemplated in the sanctuary. And the rich who ring their money and those who let themselves be impressed by them are rather the followers of the golden calf.
So the Lord Jesus is in the temple where he sees and points out to his people the woman who has given everything. This is a key moment. Because just after, he announces the imminent ruin of the temple and of Jerusalem and deploys an apocalyptic vision of the world (Mark 13). Then her passion begins (Mark 14), and it is also inaugurated by another woman, invisible to the world: the one who comes to pour a precious perfume on her head which must have cost her “all her life”. But her gesture is badly perceived and the Lord Jesus immediately puts this woman at the center of the story: “She has done a good deed towards me” and “wherever the good news will be preached, throughout the world, we will also tell in memory of this woman what she did. “(Mark 14. 6, 9)
Because the history of which the Bible speaks is very often made by widows, concubines, men and women whom no chronicle would retain; but the gaze of God sees them, and the gaze of those who live with God on an equal footing, who have with him, like the widow of the temple, a common account. For we do not only get an idea of who God is by looking at these “little ones” who are his kinship, his chosen race. But we see God in them, with them, through them. Because the Lord Jesus explains that the money given by the rich corresponds in reality to what is superfluous to them, while the poor woman gave God what she needed, more exactly what she had to live on. For this woman appeared insignificant in front of all when she gave her two coins but not in front of the Lord, so much so that Jesus called his disciples to reveal to them the great value of this woman’s gift. Also, we can note that Jesus does not reproach anyone in this passage but dispenses his righteous word to everyone. Because God sees our lives, our gifts, our faith in Jesus Christ according to truth and justice, which is very different from what men perceive from each other.
What is really important is how I am perceived by God or how others perceive me. Indeed, this woman’s modest dedication testifies to her true attachment to the Lord. Because there is no other explanation for her actions. She gave of her necessities and no one except the Lord could see her. For it is never easy to give all that you have for the Lord, but it’s the best way to depend on Him until we return to Him. Because our life does not depend on our goods, nor on our talents, but on our entire dedication to the cause of the kingdom of God. And the cause of the kingdom of God is the life that I’m working to live in God and for God on this earth.
So I give in truth and in righteousness when I give myself completely to Christ. It’s not just about material goods. Because I also give to the Lord when I dedicate myself to defending the lives of others, starting with those who are close to me such as my family and all my brothers through my dependence on the Lord. And the Church which is the body of Christ should rely on such men and women in its midst.
Ultimately, in whatever position we find ourselves, we can only offer God what he has given us, and in his great goodness he still wants to reward us for how we have been the givers of his goods. May we then better understand that what we owe to the Lord are not just gifts, but ourselves. This is why we are exhorted to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God(Rom 12.1) and to lay down our lives for our brothers(1 Jn 3.16-17). God appreciates everything to the measure of the sanctuary, and will manifest it in the day of Christ. In the meantime, let’s remember that the Lord looks, today as then, at the way in which we put our goods and our bodies at his disposal.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and put together for your better understanding.
- Sufferings specific to widows:
Ruth 1.3 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons; 1 Kings 17.9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 2 Kings 4.1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” Mark 12.42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents; Luke 2.37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying; Ac 6.1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food; Ac 9.39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them;
- Divine knowledge: Christ reads the secrets of the heart:
Mt 12.25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand; Mt 22.18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Mark 2.8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Luke 6.8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there; Luke 11.17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall; Jn 2.25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.
- Woman’s qualities:
Ex 35.25 Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen; Pr 31.20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy; Luke 8.2-3 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means; Luke 21.2-4 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Jn 12.3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
- Work not understood from workers who did not appreciate what they did
-of the righteous: Mt 25.38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
-of Mary of Bethanie: Mt 26.7, 12 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
-of the poor widow: Mark 12:44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
-of Andrew, when he brought Peter to Jesus: Jn 1.42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter ).
Ultimately, in whatever position we find ourselves, we can only offer God what he has given us, and in his great goodness he still wants to reward us for how we have been the givers of his goods. May we then better understand that what we owe the Lord is not just gifts, but ourselves. This is why we are exhorted to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God(Rm 12.1) and to lay down our lives for our brothers (1 Jn 3: 16-17). God appreciates everything to the measure of the sanctuary, and will manifest it in the day of Christ. In the meantime, let us remember that the Lord looks, now as then, at the way in which we put our goods and our bodies to his Lord Jesus. Our prayers support you all in this way.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments if necessary, before sharing with you next week the destruction of Jerusalem and the advent of the Son of man”.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.