Mark 12:28-34 #1

Introduction

This text is first & foremost about Jesus

Context: Post Triumphal Entry, Jesus has cleansed the Temple, told Parable of the Tenants which provoked homicidal rage, declared himself the Cornerstone, outwitted the Pharisees & Herodians on taxation & the Sadducees on Resurrection

CPS: To see Christ’s Lordship in His teaching & respond with surrender

From this text, we’ll see that it’s first about JC, and calls you & me to Him as Lord

Q: Where can I find real life?

Mark 12:28–34 ESV

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

I. Start in the Right Place (v28)

The scribe - Ask the right question of the right person

Scribe saw JC’s wisdom <<CONTEXT>> and asked

He got straight to he heart of the matter - what’s FIRST in importance?

What’s the most important question in the whole world?

How would you find out the answer?

Apply:

If you have a question, where would you go to find the answer? Wikipedia? Strangers? Google? Friends? Parents? Teachers? Pastors?

Before Google and other search engines, if you had a question about the world around you, you’d start by going to a trusted person. A parent, a friend, a wise person you knew wouldn’t lead you the wrong way.

Wonder of Google - more info at your fingertips than at any time in history

Danger - How will you know if the info is right? How do you know you can trust how the info is put together?

<<PHOTO of GRUUMSH POPPIES>>

This scribe saw Jesus’ wisdom & knew he could trust him.

Gruumsh Poppies

Started with the right person - the wisest of wise men

Started with the right question - it’s about God’s Word.

II. Hearing who God is as foundation (29)

YHWH (No other), OUR God, ONE

Only game in town ()

If you don’t KNOW God, how could you know/see/do what’s most important?

True morality must start w/ the Holy God

Apply: Do YOU KNOW Him?

JC

III. LOVE that matches His nature (30)

Complete

Exclusive

Entire

WHOLE

Apply: Who does this?

, , , , ,

Only God