Thursday January 29, 2015

Read 1 John 4:11-12

A well known event in Jesus’ life explains the rationale behind 1 John 4;11-12. As Jesus walked and talked and healed and taught people, many came up to Jesus to match him, to test him and, in many cases, to hopefully cause him to slip up. Many people, especially the religious hierarchy, felt obliged to catch Jesus out or to trip Him in His words. Maybe it was the way the He taught with authority. Maybe it was his refusal to quote other rabbis and teachers as the others did. Maybe it was His common declaration ‘Thus saith the Lord’. Whatever it was, people felt compelled to challenge Jesus and to spar with Him.

On one occasion as Jesus taught in Jerusalem (see Mark 12:28-34) a young up and coming teacher of the law decided to try his hand at verbal sparing with Jesus. He’d been listening for some time and felt emboldened to enter into the discussions and debate. And so he asked, ‘Which is the most important commandment?’ Given the different schools of thought and the debates that were presently raging through the leadership community, this young whipper snapper thought he could trap Jesus.

Unfortunately for this teacher, Jesus quoted the Scriptures with his usual authority.  What Scripture did Jesus quote?

Deuteronomy 6:4-5.

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Without pause, Jesus continued to quote Leviticus 19:18.

Leviticus 19:18 (NIV84)

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.

And of course, before the Teacher of the Law could even think of responding, Jesus summed up by saying ’There is no commandment greater than these’. 

The Teacher of the Law was so impressed that he replied

Mark 12:32–33 (NIV84)

32 “Well said, teacher ...You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

This learned Teacher spoke true words. Loving God and loving one’s neighbour are greater than all sacrifices. Without love, one’s sacrifices mean nothing. Some time later the Apostle Paul would echo these words in 1 Corinthians 13. Without love, speaking in tongues is but a resounding gong. Without love prophecy and faith amount to nothing. Without love, the greatest sacrifices are but a waste of space and time.

Jesus however, wasn’t beaten by the teacher of the law. He responded to him in Mark 12:34. ‘You are not far from Kingdom of God.’ So what’s Jesus saying? You’re catching on. You’re starting to understand. If you know the priority of love then turn and truly follow the one who is the source of love.

Do we know the priority of love in our hearts? Do we reach across to others in love? Is love the central motivation in all our relationships? Do we love God and love others more than anything else? More importantly, has the love of God so melted our hearts and transformed us that we can love others, even those who don’t love us?

Prayer:

Use the day’s reading notes and Bible passage to pray meaningfully:

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

· Ask the Lord to grow the families in your church in love for each other. Ask especially that children/teens would love their parents and vice versa and that siblings would love each other.

· Pray that the singles in your church would feel loved and accepted.

 Discussion & Reflection

1. How would you explain the greatest commandment?

2. What implications does the greatest commandment have in your life with regard to

a. Finances?

b. Words you speak?

c. Programs you watch?

3. What implications does the second greatest commandment have for you in the above 3 areas?