MARK 12
In Mark 12, we find an interesting discussion between a Jewish teacher and Jesus. The teacher asked Jesus which commandment was most important. Jesus told the teacher that loving the Lord and loving your neighbor were the most important commandments.
1. Jesus gives a brilliant summary of the Ten Commandments in just two sentences. When you read the list of commandments given to Moses, you can summarize all ten in Jesus’ answer. If you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, you will not have other gods, make idols, misuse his name and will remember the Sabbath. If you love your neighbor, you won’t dishonor your parents, murder, commit adultery, steal, give false witness, or covet. While it is easy to think of Christianity as a list of rules, Jesus shows us that all of the rules are in place because of love. Jesus did not come to remove the law but point us to its original intent. Why did God give us the commandments? Am I focused on loving God and our neighbors?
“Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” – John 1:16-17
2. Over the centuries, “the law” has morphed into something much more than originally given. In many churches last century, men were required to wear suits and women sat in different spaces from men. Even within the modern church, there are unwritten “laws” that serve as a sort of moral guide on what a Christian is and how they should act. We must be vigilant that these “laws” don’t contradict Jesus’ instruction on the law. We can judge these against the absolute of loving the Lord and loving others. How do we know if an unwritten rule in a church is in line with God’s plan for our holiness and his desire for us to love others?
“Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.” – Acts 5:29
3. Following a rule is sometimes easier than changing a heart. How many times have you heard, ”Fake it ‘til you make it?” Following a law does not necessarily mean that true heart change has occurred. No one is able to follow the law perfectly. The law was set to give us guidelines for life, but its ultimate purpose was to show us that we could never live up to the perfection of God. Our flesh is weak, and so Jesus came for us, knowing that we could never achieve holiness apart from him. Our salvation rests in God’s mercy and our obedience comes through the power of the Holy Spirit. How can we encourage others to walk in obedience through the power of Jesus instead of their own power? Have I thanked God today for his mercy?
“For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering,” – Romans 8:3
Life Application: Think of the unwritten rules we have in today’s church. How would Jesus think of these rules? Do I have my own internal list of “sacred laws” that might not be in line with loving God and loving my neighbors?
For Prayer: Pray for the Sekalamiras in Uganda as they continue to serve the Lord.