Mark 12:13-27 – Wisdom under Pressure

Scripture:

Well, this is odd, because I’ve put one reference in the title of the post, but I’m using a linked verse here because it was in my Bible reading notes and spoke to me more than the passage in Mark. So it’s James 3:17-18 - But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Observation

Just the combination of verses here: James talks about peace bringing a harvest of righteousness – see below for an example of this working in my own life – and Jesus gives us a great example of this peaceful wisdom under pressure. As the Pharisees are trying to trap him over taxation, and the Saducees are trying to trap him over the resurrection, Jesus remains totally calm and answers both out of his God-given wisdom, and it says ‘they were amazed at him’.

Application

I currently teach RE to teenagers, and on occasions, they don’t particularly want to be there. This doesn’t make me feel bad, it happens all the time to every teacher. That’s fine. What isn’t fine is when a class becomes so disruptive that you don’t feel you can teach them properly, and when it goes badly, you just end up yelling at them, sending someone out or finishing the lesson wondering why they have these pesky laws about not killing your students. I have had a couple of those days this year. And then it struck me (goodness know why it took so long) that if I prayed before those lessons, God might just help me. So I did, and I prayed for peace. I prayed that I would be able to conduct myself peacefully and calmly, because students so often take their behavioural cues from their teachers. Some totally ignore them, but hey, you do your best. Anyway, God gave me the most peaceful, calm lesson I had had so far this year. Yes, some kids still did things wrong, but remaining calm and peaceful myself ensured we could all work together amicably. Those classes still aren’t perfect, but I am trying, with God’s help, to change myself before I go nuts trying to change them.

Prayer

Thank you Holy Spirit that when you come into a room, peace reigns. And thank you Jesus for your example of wisdom when everyone around you was out to get you. And thank you Father, that when we come to you for help, you begin to change us so that the situations around us change. Continue your work in me, Lord, and give me more of your peace and wisdom. Amen.

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