“The Obvious Answer” – MARK 12:13-17

There are points in the earthly life of Jesus that make you want to stand up and cheer.

This is one of them.

The answer Jesus gave to the question meant to entrap Him (12:13) is priceless. It is also the obviously correct answer to an obviously loaded question. How effective might we be if we could train our minds to be so discerning as to assess and attack each question we face with the same tact and skill Jesus possessed? It is possible for us, because it is promised to us if we apply ourselves to the task of developing our “spiritual IQ” (Ephesians 1:17-19, Ephesians 3:4, 2 Timothy 2:15 and Proverbs 2:1-11).

The scriptures provide the obvious answer … although it is quite difficult.

The ability to handle such questions and discern the obvious answer first requires that we know our enemy. The Pharisees were “pro-Jewish” religious activists who sought to mold the nation into a tightly knit theocracy under their guidance. Jesus was a threat because He reached out to “undesirables”. The Herodians were “pro-Roman” political activists who supported King Herod Antipas and sought to bring the Jewish nation more submissively under the Roman yoke. Jesus was a threat to them because the Jewish Law argued for distinctiveness and against assimilation. Yet these two groups united to trap Jesus in a vice between the things of Rome and the things of God. One of them, would come away with evidence to use against Jesus, and both would be happy when He was gone.

It seemed so obvious.

An enhanced “spiritual IQ” also requires the ability to discern the tactics of our enemy. They heaped false praise upon Him (12:14) hoping to swell His head enough to trip Him up. Rare is the time when you will be faced with a dilemma such as “should I kill a friend today or feed the hungry man at my door?” It is just not that obvious. Satan comes at us with guile and entices us with things designed to pull us close to him so we are vulnerable. Discerning the obvious answer to spiritual questions requires that we see temptations for what they really are. Once enticed, we more easily fall prey. If, on the other hand, we can see the temptation at a distance, the correct response is much more obvious.

The last thing we find in this passage that helps us be more Christ-like in answering the questions of our lives with the obvious and correct answers is to understand the duality of our world. There are things of God and there are things of this world. This simple coin (12:15-16) held the answer to their question. The coin bore the image of Caesar and thus belonged to Caesar! Obviously he had the right to demand payment of taxes for those in his realm and to proscribe a penalty for failure to do so. Likewise, souls bear the image of God and belong to God. Obviously He has the right to make demands upon men and to proscribe a penalty for failure to render unto Him! It is so obvious.

Just because it is obvious does not make it easy. The world pushes and pulls. God invites. The world tricks, traps and tortures. God lovingly encourages. The world is tangible and in your face. God is spirit and omnipresent. The world is pressing and urgent in its cares and struggles of everyday life. God is patient and essential to life everlasting. It is no wonder that the world receives most of our attention and focus. The way of the world takes our time and makes us distracted.

The only way to take time for God is to make time for God.

It’s all so, well, obvious!