Look at That!

Text: Mark 12:38-44 Title: “Look at that!”
11/8/09 Clarksville

“Look at that!” I say that a lot. Last week I took Blake hunting and whispered “look at that” when I saw squirrels, turkeys, and 2 deer ( the deer sighting was after we were back in the truck). Friday night when we went to Brentwood for a ball game, I felt like I was saying that about every house we drove past - “look at that!” I said the same thing yesterday morning when a huge owl landed a few feet from me in the same tree I was sitting in a deer stand.
I say that phrase - if not out loud at least to myself - when I’m people watching, see a new Camaro, a custom built motorcycle or a big time play in sports that I rewind and Michelle acts like she's interested in watching because she loves me. SometimesI say it when I just happen to see something that captures my attention. Other times I say it when I’m looking for something and find it.

In our text for today Jesus is teaching in the temple courts. I picture it being a day a lot like this one. Sun shining, comfortable temperatures, a great day to be in God’s house. Somewhere in the midst of the instruction, Jesus sees something that catches his attention. He stops mid sentence, points, and says “Look at that.” Everyone turns to see a monkey riding a unicycle and juggling replicas of the 10 commandments. Just kidding. He sees some well dressed teachers of the law whisk through the temple courts with their fancy flowing robes, a testament to the teacher’s prestige, and position. I’m sure this wasn’t an unusual sight in the temple courts. In fact it was probably so common that many people didn’t even notice. That’s just what happens - the teachers make an entrance, some people fall all over themselves to greet them, and everyone else goes about their business. But it didn’t go unnoticed by Jesus. He sees them, and He directs everyone else to take a look at the robed rulers

Then Jesus says something like, “You’ve got to watch out for those guys. They like to be the center of attention. They’ve gotten so used to positions of power and prestige in the temple that now they expect special treatment everywhere they go. When they’re out in the community they love it when other people revere them. Any time they attend a banquet, they expect to be given the best seats in the house. These well dressed, seat seeking, attention loving teachers of the law have the idea that it’s all about them. Look at that - and be careful.” It’s ironic. Teachers who are called to point people to God are getting in their own way, causing people to center attention on them instead of the God they are supposed to be representing.
Not only that, Jesus says for the teachers there has been a disconnect between spiritual practices like prayer, and Spirit-led living. They’re good at putting on a face at the Temple, but the truth is they teach and pray one way and live another. One minute they’re praying to God - of course with such eloquence that it demands recognition, the next they are preying on others. They prey on poor widows in a vulnerable position whose hearts are pure and who want to contribute even more than they can afford if they’re told that’s what they are supposed to do. Apparently, the teachers had developed a bad habit of putting heavy burdens on people when it came time to support the work of the temple and the teachers who worked there. The standard of living to which they had become accustomed had come at the expense of others, many of whom were quite vulnerable. Something caused Jesus, when He saw them on this particular day, to say, “Look at them, and be careful. Watch out for them.”

I’ve found Jesus’ observations to be pretty helpful when dealing with others who notice similar things today. We can call it whatever - hypocrisy, opportunism, self promotion, selfish ambition, greed - but one thing is for sure, whenever it happens, people notice it. They say the same thing Jesus did when He saw it. “Look at that!” The Good News is that God notices too. It doesn’t get passed Him. For all of us who from time to time want to see justice, it’s nice to know this kind of thing gets Jesus’ attention. He warns us to protect us- be careful around those who come to the Temple for what they can gain instead of what they can give. Watch out for them.

At some point in this same trip to the Temple Jesus shifts from teaching people to watching them. He goes from noticing some robe wearing religious rulers by accident, to looking for something in particular. He starts watching people. Andy people watchers here this morning? I like to do that too, especially in places with a lot of traffic, like the mall or airport. For some reason Jesus positioned himself where he could watch people doing something very specific - bringing their offerings.

That’s when it happens again. The 2nd “Hey, look at that.” He points to a Brinks truck they rolled into the temple to collect the 1st half of the offering! Just kidding. This time Jesus’ points to a a woman. A poor woman. A poor widow unnoticed by everyone else, but who captures the Jesus’ attention with her offering. The sound of her offering falling into the receptacle was so quiet it was almost imperceptible, at least to those who were used to hearing the loud clanging of large amounts of coins tossed into the container with enough force to rattle the rafters. The sound of this woman’s offering captured the attention of Jesus, not because of the amount, but because of the cost. Two coins so small they barely made a noise in the container, echoed loudly in the ears and the heart of the Savior who recognized the sound as something spectacular. This was the sound of sacrifice, and that sound captures Jesus’ attention every time.

“Look at that,” he tells His disciples. “Did you see it?” That woman, the poor one right there who wears dingy clothes yet walks with such dignity just. She just put in two coins that were worth next to nothing, but represented a greater cost than all the rich folks’ offering put together. She didn’t bring her leftovers to God, she gave Him everything she had. This wasn’t just a gift, it was a sacrifice.

For anyone who has ever noticed the difference between a gift and a sacrifice, who has ever caught the truth that the bottom line isn’t always the bottom line, who has given less than others but given more at the same time, this is a great story. For anyone who has ever noticed the same kind of thing happening today, it’s good news that Jesus notices the sight and sound of sacrifice. When the gift given is costly enough to actually make a difference in a person’s standard of living, what they can or will buy, or put back for a rainy day, He sees it. When the offering given represents more than what’s left over, He notices it. When the costly coins make their ever-so-gentle clang in the coffers and it sounds like nothing to others, it sounds like everything to Him, for He always, always, always recognizes the sound of sacrifice.

When a couple does without so someone else can have what they need, He notices it. Every time sacrifices are made to go on a mission trip to Peru, provide a Christmas box for a child in another country, or to meet any other need in Jesus name, He hears it. He hears the sound of sacrifice every time a meal is skipped and a Faith Promise offering given, every time sleep is sacrificed to spend more time with the Father, or time is given for sake of another. The sound of sacrifice always captures the attention of the Christ. It never goes unnoticed.

Two times in this text Jesus says (the equivalent of) look at that! In one case, He points out self-seeking leaders and says ‘let me warn you about people like that.” In the other, He points out a widow who is all about self-sacrifice and says “that’s the most generous gift anyone has given today.” When it comes to God’s perspective on giving, the bottom line isn’t always the bottom line. The value of the gift isn’t measure in how much it’s worth, but how much it costs the person who gives it. Imagine if you will, Jesus kicked back watching our worship. What does He see, and what does He say about us? I think He either says, “Look at that! Be warned,” or “Look at that! A sacrifice worth imitating.” Which does He say about you?

I think Jesus is so quick to notice self-seekers because they’re so much different than He is, and He’s quick to know a sacrifice when He sees it because He’s so familiar with it. The sound of God’s feet touching earth in the form of a servant - that’s the sound of sacrifice. The sound of a weary Savior after a long day who says ‘don’t turn those desperate and diseased people away - let them come to me,” that’s the sound of sacrifice. The sound of soldiers feet entering a Garden and Jesus saying to Judas, “Do what you came for,” is the sound of sacrifice. And the sound of a hammer hitting nails that are driven through holy hands and feet - that is the sound of sacrifice too. I think Jesus is so quick to recognize that sound in whatever form it takes is because He is so familiar with it. He knows all about sacrifice because that’s exactly what He did for us. And in response to a Savior like that, how could we offer anything less for Him?

Communion Benediction: Romans 12:1-2