Dear Friends,
We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk. We give thanks to Rev. Dr Joseph Wood, Principal and Senior Lecturer in Theology and Church History, for writing this devotional.
You are welcome to share this and include it in your church newsletters if you wish; we just ask that you please give credit to NTC and the author. Thank you!
Mark 12.38-44 (NIV)
38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Devotional Thought
This story Mark tells is often used to help followers of Jesus to see that no matter what others may think, God knows our hearts and recognises the difference in giving big and giving sacrificially. Although the rich people gave more money, their heart was not in the right place. The widow, although she gave a little, had her heart in the right place and she gave sacrificially out of love for God. This is a good lesson to learn and a helpful message to give, but recently when I was reading this story, I saw something else. Jesus is doing something more than just teaching a lesson about sacrificial giving.
It says Jesus was watching the crowds and when the widow was walking up to the collection box, he ‘called his disciples to him’. What was going on here? I imagine a busy scene with lots of people. I imagine the disciples were near Jesus but not really paying attention to what he was doing. He had to get their attention and bring them close to Him. Then he points to the woman and I imagine he said, LOOK, do you see? Do you see what is going on here?
Jesus NOTICED HER. He noticed her. He paid attention to her.
In the midst of a crowd at the Temple in Jesus day, a poor widow would not have been given a second glance by anyone. She was the lowest person of importance in the Temple. But we are told that Jesus NOTICED her and in noticing her, he gave her value, worth, purpose, and dignity. She is as much a child of God as anyone.
As you go through your day, as you find yourself navigating through the busy crowds, take notice, give value, show someone they have worth and they too are a child of God.
Prayer
Our loving heavenly Father, we thank you for the model Jesus presents to us in this story. May we also be alert, having the eyes of Christ to notice those who others may deem are unnoticeable. Give us the wisdom and strength to acknowledge the value each person has as an image-bearer of You. Amen.
Grace and peace,
Rev. Joseph Wood, PhD (Principal and Senior Lecturer in Theology and Church History)