15 Whose Likeness is on this Coin? (Mark 11:27-12:17)

Jesus’ question, “Whose likeness is on this coin?”, is not mainly about taxes—it’s about authority, allegiance, and identity. In this episode on Mark 11:27–12:17, we walk through Jesus’ clash with religious leaders, his parable of the vineyard tenants, and his famous answer about Caesar to discover a deeper truth: the coin bears Caesar’s image, but you bear God’s. In this week’s episode, we explore:How Jesus’ cleansing of the temple and bold claims force the leaders’ question: “By what authority are you doing these things?”Why Jesus answers with a question about John the Baptist, inviting experts in Scripture to recognize the very authority they are resistingThe parable of the vineyard and the tenants as a sweeping story of God’s patience, Israel’s history, and the sending—and rejection—of the beloved SonHow the leaders’ fear of Rome exposes what really rules their hearts and shapes their decisionsThe trap set by Pharisees and Herodians over paying taxes to Caesar—and why their alliance itself is so revealingWhat Jesus exposes by asking for a denarius, drawing attention to Caesar’s image and inscription already in their pocketsHow “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” reorders our loyalties without denying the place of governmentWhere God’s image is stamped—not on coins, but on human beings created by a Potter who leaves his mark on his workPractical ways to discern whether we’re giving Caesar what belongs to him and reserving our deepest devotion, hope, and obedience for God aloneAfter listening, you’ll see this familiar “taxes” passage as a searching invitation rather than a clever evasion. You’ll be encouraged to ask whose authority truly governs your life, how you respond when your idols are threatened, and what it means to give God what bears his image—your whole self: heart, soul, mind, and strength.Series: Questions Jesus AskedMost people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them how. Bible Study Boot Camp fixes that: one short email a day for a week, plus a worksheet you can use on any passage for the rest of your life.Sign up for Bible Study Boot Camp