The Gospel of Mark 12:28-34
About the Series
(Leaders: You may skip this portion of the recap if desired.)
This week we are continuing the teaching series in the Gospel of Mark. In this book, we follow along with the life of Jesus, a first-century rabbi from Nazareth, filled with God’s power and authority, going about healing, teaching, calling disciples, and proclaiming the gospel: “the Kingdom of God has come near” (1:15).
The Gospel of Mark is designed to present Jesus to the reader along with the question, “Who do you say that I am?” (8:29). Just like Mark’s original audience, readers today are invited to answer this question for themselves, and to accept the invitation to follow Jesus—to spend time with Him, learn from Him, and do what He does.
Sermon Recap
This week we looked at Mark 12:28-34: a conversation between Jesus and a scribe (an expert in the law, Torah, or Old Testament). The scribe, noticing that Jesus had answered other religious authorities well, comes to Jesus and asks, “Which is the greatest commandment?”
Jesus’ answers by combining Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. In other words, humans are called to love God with unflagging adoration, unquestioning obedience, undivided loyalty, and untiring perseverance. And, we are called to love our neighbors with compassionate mercy and even-handed justice.
Surprisingly, the scribe reacts to Jesus’ answer with approval. But Jesus goes further. He doesn’t just name the truth of the Torah, he names the hidden truth within the scribe: “You are not far from the Kingdom of God,” Jesus says.
The story ends with this still “hanging in the air.” Had the scribe not received the Kingdom like a child? Had the scribe let his love for the law get in the way? Had he not yet received, experienced, or known the love of God which makes love for God and neighbor possible?
And what about for us? Jesus wants us to know and receive God’s love, mercy, and justice, that we might give love, mercy, and justice to others.
Practices for Tonight
(Leaders: Before going into the questions, you may want to give your group a minute or so of silence, reflecting on and listening to the Spirit around the question, “What is Jesus inviting you to notice tonight?”)
Tonight we are going to use this set of questions to guide our discussion. (You may want to pull up the guide on your phone to help you process and reflect.)
What stands out to you from Sunday’s teaching? What has been staying with you that you’d like to share?
Consider the “hanging in the air” moment with the words of Jesus “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” What do you notice going on within your own heart, mind, and soul? How might this be good news to you tonight?
How can we (or you) have confidence and assurance to enter the kingdom of God?
Scan through some of the text surrounding the commands “You shall love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, and soul. You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Leviticus 19:18). Do you notice anything that helps you understand (or confuses your understanding) of our text in Mark?
We are going to close in prayer. Let’s take a few minutes to offer any prayers of petition and/or gratitude that came from our conversation. (Leaders: Before you pray, you may decide to go around the circle and have each person put their prayer requests/thanksgivings into 2-3 word phrases.)
Practice For The Week
Spend some time this week listening to the song “Lord Have Mercy” (by Brady Toops) as prayer. If you can, try not to multitask while you listen, keeping the music in the foreground rather than the background, as a form of unhurried prayer:
Listen one time through and notice what word or phrase your attention is drawn to.
Listen a second time, see if there is a word picture, thought or impression that comes to mind.
Listen a third time, notice what God might be saying to you through the lyrics, or even this experience of listening.
Close by thanking God for this moment of unhurried prayer through song.
