SILENCE IS GOLDEN

DAY 64: In our readings in the past couple of days doubter after doubter and even enemies brought their "questions" to Jesus. Jesus patiently and with all control, answered but in His way. Even when Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodians, who fervently disagreed among themselves, teamed up to question Him, Jesus didn't focus on intent, but truth.  While these leaders didn't even know the basics of their own faith, He responded in a way that kept the main thing the main thing.  Like when some leaders who denounced the foundational truth of life after death came with a puzzle about who a woman would be married to in Heaven having had seven husbands before her death - Jesus moved past their pointless question to the real issues.

Mark 12:24 Jesus replied, "Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures and you don't know the power of God."

Then, with deftness that defied their understanding, He moved their argument from nonsense to a revelation of God telling them, "God said to Moses,  'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'  So He is the God of the living not the dead.  You have made a serious error," Jesus said.

Jesus was never timid in the face of skeptics.  And He was never impatient with the slowness of His followers.
  
BUT... what about those who have question, or should have questions, yet don't make asking them their top priority?  A beautiful juxtaposition occurs as Jesus is bombarded by those who make getting answers their full time occupation.  Just a few feet away, Jesus took note of a woman who surely had reason to quiz Him but chose not to.

 Mark 12:41 Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then a poor widow came ...

Couldn't she have asked: God, is it fair that some are so poor when some are so rich?  Lord, why did you take my husband?  How will I provide for myself?  Do you really care about me God?

Instead, with Jesus only feet away, it is not questions that she has on her mind - it's worship.

 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. (Her only coins.)

 Her silence spoke so loudly that Jesus had to respond.

 43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

Confronted with circumstances beyond her control, with nothing but uncertainty looming before her, this woman did not demand answers, or even beg for understanding - SHE WORSHIPED WITH EVERYTHING SHE HAD!

I am only left with one question: 
 LORD, How can I be like this woman? 

Day 64 of 365
Numbers 4
Numbers 5
Mark 12
Psalm 48:1-14
Proverbs 10:26

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