UNDERSTANDING THE TASK

DAY 157

Mark 12:13 Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.

The Pharisees and Herodians, about whom we read today, were clearly masters in the execution of tasks. The precision with which they completed their assigned roles, and the level of intricate intellectual planning that went into those execution were simply phenomenal. In fact, had they belonged to any era and approached any person, other than Jesus, by posing questions using the very same strategy, they would have succeeded 99 times out of a 100.

Carefully following the strategy adopted to trap Jesus through his speakings was a real treat: first, they complemented his person, ‘we know that you are a man of integrity, not swayed by opinions’ (vs 14a). Following this, they acknowledged the office He wielded: ‘ you teach the ways of God in accordance with the truth'(vs 14b). It is only ofter laying  these ground works did they cast their net with the question ‘is it lawful to pay taxes to Ceasar or not?’ That was a masterful display.

If this was about an assignment brief, they had understood the requirements thoroughly and that is what we are called to also pursue. Beloved, it is only a thorough understanding of the mandate you wield that can position you any where near ready enough to fulfil it. So the questions worth pondering on today is this: “Do you understand the requirements of your assignment?”

#sly