"Well said, Jesus!"
The title of this post is linkified so that you can see the text for yourself.
One of the common stories, especially in Matthew's Gospel, is about the Scribes, Pharisees, and teachers of the law coming to test Jesus about different doctrines in the church. Can he answer this? Will he answer that? This story in Mark is a bit different in that a scribe comes to Jesus because he LIKES the answers that Jesus is giving. The scribe asks the Lord about which is the first commandment. Jesus gives the summary of all the Law: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all you mind, and with all your strength. This is quickly followed by: Love your neighbor as yourself.
The huge difference to me is the next part. The scribe says, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken truth..." Now, one of our first reactions to this is "DUH!" Of course He speaks truth, he's the flippin' Lord of the Universe! But consider it a bit more. The scribe is coming to a moment where a great truth is being revealed about who Jesus is, who God is, and how Jesus and God are related. As I look at this more, it seems as if Jesus has just confirmed something that this scribe had felt for a long time and that confirmation is a powerful thing. Unlike his fellow scribes, this one came to Jesus seeking wisdom, not seeking to prove him wrong. He was rewarded in his quest.
How do we come to Jesus? Do we come to prove Him wrong by ignoring His law in our life? "See Jesus, I don't need to do that whole 'Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.' I worked seven days a week for two whole months before my family started to miss me." Or, do we come seeking wisdom? Do we come to Jesus to confirm those things we know are good in our heart? Do we come to Jesus because of the warmth we feel from helping a stranger, holding a door, or just sharing a smile and a kind word.
The scribe came to Jesus to confirm what God was all about. In so doing, Jesus says, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." As we come to Jesus to confirm the forgiveness and life that He is all about, may He say the same things to us.
One of the common stories, especially in Matthew's Gospel, is about the Scribes, Pharisees, and teachers of the law coming to test Jesus about different doctrines in the church. Can he answer this? Will he answer that? This story in Mark is a bit different in that a scribe comes to Jesus because he LIKES the answers that Jesus is giving. The scribe asks the Lord about which is the first commandment. Jesus gives the summary of all the Law: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all you mind, and with all your strength. This is quickly followed by: Love your neighbor as yourself.
The huge difference to me is the next part. The scribe says, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken truth..." Now, one of our first reactions to this is "DUH!" Of course He speaks truth, he's the flippin' Lord of the Universe! But consider it a bit more. The scribe is coming to a moment where a great truth is being revealed about who Jesus is, who God is, and how Jesus and God are related. As I look at this more, it seems as if Jesus has just confirmed something that this scribe had felt for a long time and that confirmation is a powerful thing. Unlike his fellow scribes, this one came to Jesus seeking wisdom, not seeking to prove him wrong. He was rewarded in his quest.
How do we come to Jesus? Do we come to prove Him wrong by ignoring His law in our life? "See Jesus, I don't need to do that whole 'Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.' I worked seven days a week for two whole months before my family started to miss me." Or, do we come seeking wisdom? Do we come to Jesus to confirm those things we know are good in our heart? Do we come to Jesus because of the warmth we feel from helping a stranger, holding a door, or just sharing a smile and a kind word.
The scribe came to Jesus to confirm what God was all about. In so doing, Jesus says, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." As we come to Jesus to confirm the forgiveness and life that He is all about, may He say the same things to us.
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