Reading is Mark 12:13-34
This exchange
between various Jewish leaders and Jesus happens between the triumphal entry
into Jerusalem and Passover. The day
after the entry into Jerusalem, and the cheering crowds, Jesus cleanses the
Temple, and upsets the religious leaders, who then start looking for a way to
kill him “They were afraid of him, because the crowds were completely amazed at
his teaching.” Mark 11:18
The next day
when Jesus arrives at the Temple, the religious leaders ask him a question,
which in true Jesus’ style he answers with a question, again frustrating the
religious leaders.
Then in
chapter 12, Mark writes “The leaders knew that Jesus was really talking about
them, and they wanted to arrest him. But because they were afraid of the crowd,
they let him alone and left.”
Then the
three questions addressed to Jesus, each by a person or group form a different part
of the religious leadership.
1. Should we pay taxes to Rome? Do they want an answer. Yes! Not because
they are interested in the answer as such, but because Jesus will be in trouble
regardless of whether he answers yes or no. If he says do not pay taxes to Rome, the
political leaders will be after him. If he says pay taxes to Rome, he loses his
popular support that is protecting him for the Jewish authorities.[1]
2. The second question is about who the seven-time widow will be married to
in heaven. The Sadducees, who asked this question, do not believe in the
resurrection of the dead. The question is about a social system that is based on
women giving birth to sons. Here Jesus reminds people that “The ‘house’ of
Israel is not guaranteed in and through patriarchal marriage structures, but
through the promise and faithfulness of Israel’s life-giving God.”[2] In other
words, the system that meant a woman was married off to seven brothers, one
after the other, each time the family hoping for a son, is not part of God’s Kingdom.
Our future is not based on our fertility but the faithfulness of God.
3. And the third question: which is the greatest commandment. This was a
topic of discussion among Rabbi’s, who were the religious teachers and biblical
scholars of their day. This time the teacher of the Law agrees with Jesus, and
all seems good.
‘When Jesus saw that the man had given a sensible answer, he told him, “You
are not far from God’s kingdom.” After this, no one dared ask Jesus any more
questions.
Three questions, the first two are a set-up, and
I wonder how often we ask questions, not to find out the answer, but to
humiliate or put someone down. When we ask a question are we listening for an
answer that we might learn something or are we wanting to shame or embarrass
the person. How do we respond if the answer to our question is not the answer
we wanted or expected?
The two greatest commandments are: Love God with your
whole being and love your neighbour as you love yourself.
That all seems simple and clear, but of course it isn’t.
One of my favourite authors on Mark’s Gospel is
Ched Meyers and he writes:
‘heaven must come to earth – there is no love of
God except in love of neighbour’[3]
How do we love our refugee or migrant neighbours
when we fear them?
How do we love our Muslim neighbours when we are suspicious of them?
How do we love our addicted neighbours or our homeless neighbours when we avoid
them?
The scribe understood the law, he could recite
it, and knew that these commandments were important, more important than burnt
offerings, which were an important part of Temple life.
So why might Jesus have told him he was close to
the Kingdom, he is not there yet. He admires Jesus, he recognises Jesus as a
good teacher, he gives praise to Jesus, but he does not follow.
‘More than intellectual assent, this demands a
decision to turn the concise gospel into concise living.’[4]
Being a disciple of Jesus, is not about a set of
rules, or passing a test in biblical and theological studies. Being a disciple
is following Jesus in the way we live, and that means in loving.
Christianity is not a knowledge based religion,
but a religion based on relationship with God through Jesus. A relationship
that changes who we are, how we live with others and how we see ourselves. That does not mean we do not study, but that
our salvation is about relationship not academic grades.
I remember seeing a picture of our relationship
with God and others being like a triangle.
if we want to grow closer to God, we must be
growing closer to people.
We cannot love God, with our whole being, if we do not love our neighbours, and
ourselves.
That does not mean we put ourselves above others,
but that we have a healthy respect for the life God has given us, other people
and all creation.
In some of what I have read recently there have
been a few things that have stood out to me. One is that because of the many
options in the way we interact with the news, we can stay wholly within a group
or groups of people who agree with us. We do not see much positive about people who
disagree with you or their opinions.
How can we love each other when we are
suspicious, when we label those with differing political or religious views as
wrong or heretics or stupid.
How do we love each other, and live in right relationship
with God and each other, when we disagree about how to interpret a Biblical text.
What is fundamental to our faith?
Does our faith help us grow in relationship with God?
Does our faith help us grow in relationship with our
neighbour?
How is our living each day shaped by our faith?
