Mark 12:41-44 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. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on.”
As Jesus watches the crowd giving their offerings in the temple, He sees many rich people giving large amounts of money, but He knew they were not giving sacrificially. Yet the woman who gave two very small copper coins gave everything — all she had to live on. She did not hold back anything for herself but gave all she possessed to the Lord, believing He would provide for her. With the faith of Abraham, this widow believed in her God and put her trust in him. Jesus marked her faith. When Isaac questioned his father Abraham about the need for a lamb for their sacrifice, Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." (Genesis 22:8) Jesus has just finished telling his disciples that the outward show of the teachers of the law does not please God as they choose the best seats in the synagogues and walk around in flowing robes to be greeted in the marketplace. Now Jesus is saying that it is not the size of an offering that is significant but the faith represented by the offering, the commitment behind the offering. In the Old Testament, the Lord commanded David to go build an altar to him on the threshing floor of Araunah. When David went to buy the floor from this man, Araunah wanted to give it to him along with the oxen and everything else needed for the sacrifice. He told David, "O king, Araunah gives all this to the king. May the LORD your God accept you.” But David answered with a contrite heart, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” (See 2 Samuel 24) David understood giving to God and offering him a sacrifice meant he had to offer something of himself. He needed to pay a price when he made an offering to his Lord. Because he knew God required this allegiance, David had to refuse the generous gift of Araunah.
Another reason we can look closely at the widow's gift today is that she pictures Christ to us as she gave her all to God. Just as Jesus went all the way for us, this woman was willing to commit fully, trusting God to see her through. Jesus put his trust in God from the beginning of his earthly ministry to the end. When He went out into the desert and was tempted by the devil, He did not resist the enemy in his own strength but through the power of the Word. Each time Satan came to him, Jesus answered back with the sword of the Word. When Jesus was hungry, the devil said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” But Jesus answered back, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:3-4) Each time the enemy came against him, Jesus used the power of God's words to resist him, showing us the power we have in the written word of the Father, showing us that power is sufficient to see us through every temptation of the devil. Jesus came to fulfill God's plan and to obey his Father: For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. (John 6:38) This pathway led him to face abuse, rejection, and finally a cruel death upon the cross at the hands of men who did not accept who He was. Yet nothing that happened to Jesus deterred him from giving everything for the sake of the Father and the love of the people He came to serve and to save. He was God's offering. As John the Baptist said when he saw Jesus, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
There was only one road to accomplishing the perfect will of God, only one way to healing God's creation. To take away the sins of mankind, Jesus had to die as the perfect sacrifice for sin. He told the people, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:10-11) Life for every man and woman on Earth meant death for our Lord. He paid the price that we might live. He is the Good Shepherd, the one who loves the sheep. Just as the widow gave everything, Jesus gave his all that we might live an abundant life today. We enjoy freedom from sin and darkness. We are blessed with spiritual gifts. We are privileged to share the good news with others, so they might come into this wonderful family of God and know the joy and peace that fills our hearts each day. We must not grow weary in sharing the blessing we have with others, in giving all we have to give. In Matthew 11, Jesus denounces some of the cities where most of his miracles took place, yet the people did not repent. He says, I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you. But he goes right on to thank his Father for revealing himself to the little children rather than the wise and the learned as was his good pleasure. And Jesus pours out his heart of love, saying, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30) Where are we today? Have we been holding back in our commitment to our precious Lord? Are we skimming off the top of our abundance in our offerings for God and feeling justified because the numbers add up to a tidy sum? Do we give God just enough time to soothe our conscience? Jesus said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." We love you all!
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