Mark
12:28-34
“When Jesus saw
that he answered wisely, he said, ‘You are not far
from the kingdom of God.’”
(Mark
12:34a)
Jesus encountered a variety of Jewish
scholars and temple leaders. In many
cases, they sought to expose him as a fraud, asking leading questions they hoped
would trick him and disparage his message.
Our text today finds one man who appreciates what he has heard from
Jesus.
The scribe was drawn into conversation
with Jesus because he respected his words.
He asked Jesus about the greatest of the commandments. Jesus’ answer invoked the centrality of God
at the heart of the relationship between Creator and creation, and between
humankind. The scribe’s response was
well received by Jesus who told him he was not far from the
kingdom.
What was his deficit? What was the gap between the man’s words of
affirmation and Jesus’ words of salvation?
Could it be that as learned as this man was, his understanding of God and
his relationship to others was too narrowly defined by the law? Jesus defined salvation in terms of love and
offered evidence of his argument in his own words and actions…”No one has
greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
The cross is evidence of this love…the
greatest argument for salvation ever
offered.
Prayer: May love guide our steps to
the cross, Lord.
Amen.
Jim
Abernathy
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