The Book Of Mark #61

Perhaps there is a line of people getting ready to enter the temple for worship. The line leads to a small square room lined with metal collection boxes. The boxes have metal horns extending out of them so the giver can walk by these boxes and drop their coins in these long horns that lead to the these metal boxes. As you can imagine, the coins make a constant clanging noise as they are cast into the receptacles.

Most of the people shuffling along, quickly make their donation, and move on. But one person, who has already given His offering, stands over in the corner with His disciples.

WHAT IS HE DOING IN THE CORNER?

Verse 41 tells us, “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, AND BEHELD HOW THE PEOPLE CAST MONEY into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.”

He saw that many were rich and they were casting their coins in the metal boxes that made a very loud noise. Naturally, the bigger the coin the more noise it made.

Of course, also in the room, supervising the money boxes, are several priests. As the wealthy citizens pass by and make loud clanging noises by virtue of their many coins, no doubt, the priest would smile and say, “Thank you brother!”

Many seem quite impressed at the generosity of those who cast an abundance of big, heavy coins into the boxes. It is no surprise that no one pays particular attention to one frail, little widow who enters the room.

• But while no one paid her any attention, the Lord, standing over in the corner, noticed her. She stood out in that crowd like a fly in a glass of buttermilk.

• She stops at the collection box. Perhaps she then reaches into a pocket and carefully draws out 2 rather insignificant coins. (mites, were the smallest currency used by the Romans). She tosses both of these lightweight coins into the big metal box and they were so small that you could barely hear them when they landed in the metal boxes.

But while others paid her no attention, the Lord’s eyes were glued on her. He was impressed.

He is so impressed that he singles this woman out :

• He said that her offering was more important than the offering of the rich

• He recognizes her seemingly uneventful giving by telling the disciples, and by having this episode permanently recorded both in the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Luke, insuring HER a place in history!

Out of all those who attended the temple that morning, she got the Lord’s attention in a greater way than any other.

Have you ever heard someone say, “The devil never misses a church service.” This is true. Any time God’s people gather to worship the Lord, you can rest assured the devil is somewhere nearby, trying to keep that from happening.

But while we recognize that the devil never misses a church service, we need to also recognize that the Lord never misses a church service.

Illus: Did you hear about the student that graduated with perfect attendance? In 1991, Jessica Tyser started preschool at Wood County Head Start. On Wednesday, about 2,500 school days later, Jessica will have finished her last day as a senior at Marshfield High School, without missing a day in between.

It is a tremendous achievement when a pitcher can pitch a no hitter. It is a tremendous achievement when a student can take a test and score one hundred. But listen, it is a tremendous achievement when a person can have perfect attendance for so many years.

The Lord has perfect attendance. He is here every time the doors are open and we have come to worship Him.

WHAT IS HE DOING WHEN HE IS HERE? The Bible tells us in a very descriptive lesson.

Notice, when the Lord was in this church service, He was WATCHING the people.

I believe every time we meet, the Lord looks across the congregation and He sees:

• Some did not come, because they put other things ahead of Him. If you were to ask them why they did not attend, they would come up with a good excuse. BUT THE LORD KNOWS THE REAL REASON WHY THEY DID NOT COME

• Some did not come to worship the Lord; their mind is in other places

• Some will not even so much as open their mouth and sing praises unto Him

• Some use the time at church to sleep

Every time we come to church, the Lord is here and He is observing us.

Notice, in this particular church, He is watching the folks as they give their offerings unto the Lord.

WHY IS HE WATCHING THIS?