Mark 12
January Memory Verse: Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34 (NIV)
Read: Mark 12
When you are confronted with the truth of Jesus, how do you respond? Do you respond in submission? Rebellion? Love? A hard heart? How do you respond when the truth of God’s Word brings conviction in your life? Do you try to edit it? Or do you let it edit you?
All throughout Jesus’ life and ministry He came into contact with people who challenged His authority in their lives… It is how chapter 11 ended. It is how chapter 12 started. But when we understand who Jesus is we begin to understand that being neutral on His authority in our lives is impossible. We are either loving & submitting or we are rebelling in a hard heart. That is a hard truth, but it is the truth.
The only proper response to the authority of Jesus is LOVE and SUBMISSION.
Let’s zero in on verses 28-34. Here we see one of the scribes come up to Jesus in order to trap Him. He was challenging Jesus’ authority. He did not want to submit. He wanted to rebel. He wanted to justify himself and be self-righteous. He asks Jesus “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
Let’s look at the two ways that Jesus responds to this question, to this challenging heart…
1) LOVE (v.29-31)
Jesus' response to this scribe’s challenging heart was the commandment to love. First to love God. Then to love others. Jesus responded with the Shema. It was what the Israelites got up and recited every day. It is found in Deuteronomy 6. It is what they strove to live their lives like… and at the heart of it was a deep, life changing love for God.
Jesus also commanded him to love others. This is the “second greatest commandment”, but they flow together. Our love for others is always driven by our love for God. Our horizontal love is a result from our vertical love. If we are struggling to love people then we are struggling to love God and vice versa.
2) SUBMISSION (Matthew 22:40)
After commanding to love, Jesus commands submission. He did not do it explicitly here but we know that He did so because of Matthew 22:40 which says, “On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”
Jesus knew that a true love FOR God would lead to a submission TO God.
John certainly knew this as he recorded what Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.”
It is impossible to be living in a true, deep, life changing love for Jesus and not live a life marked by submission to Him. Love is not just a feeling. Love is an action. It is acting even when we don’t “feel like it.” True love for Jesus is marked by submission to Jesus.
Are you struggling with a hard heart? A challenging heart? A heart of rebellion? Do you search for ways to justify yourself? To live in self-righteousness? I’ve been there. Jesus loves you. My encouragement today is to choose to LOVE and SUBMIT even when it’s hard. A life lived for God is made up of days lived for God. Choose today.
I know we could not cover the whole text today. What else sticks out to you from Mark 12? Drop in the comments below! Let’s encourage each other!
By: Nick Parsons
Read: Mark 12
When you are confronted with the truth of Jesus, how do you respond? Do you respond in submission? Rebellion? Love? A hard heart? How do you respond when the truth of God’s Word brings conviction in your life? Do you try to edit it? Or do you let it edit you?
All throughout Jesus’ life and ministry He came into contact with people who challenged His authority in their lives… It is how chapter 11 ended. It is how chapter 12 started. But when we understand who Jesus is we begin to understand that being neutral on His authority in our lives is impossible. We are either loving & submitting or we are rebelling in a hard heart. That is a hard truth, but it is the truth.
The only proper response to the authority of Jesus is LOVE and SUBMISSION.
Let’s zero in on verses 28-34. Here we see one of the scribes come up to Jesus in order to trap Him. He was challenging Jesus’ authority. He did not want to submit. He wanted to rebel. He wanted to justify himself and be self-righteous. He asks Jesus “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
Let’s look at the two ways that Jesus responds to this question, to this challenging heart…
1) LOVE (v.29-31)
Jesus' response to this scribe’s challenging heart was the commandment to love. First to love God. Then to love others. Jesus responded with the Shema. It was what the Israelites got up and recited every day. It is found in Deuteronomy 6. It is what they strove to live their lives like… and at the heart of it was a deep, life changing love for God.
Jesus also commanded him to love others. This is the “second greatest commandment”, but they flow together. Our love for others is always driven by our love for God. Our horizontal love is a result from our vertical love. If we are struggling to love people then we are struggling to love God and vice versa.
2) SUBMISSION (Matthew 22:40)
After commanding to love, Jesus commands submission. He did not do it explicitly here but we know that He did so because of Matthew 22:40 which says, “On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”
Jesus knew that a true love FOR God would lead to a submission TO God.
John certainly knew this as he recorded what Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.”
It is impossible to be living in a true, deep, life changing love for Jesus and not live a life marked by submission to Him. Love is not just a feeling. Love is an action. It is acting even when we don’t “feel like it.” True love for Jesus is marked by submission to Jesus.
Are you struggling with a hard heart? A challenging heart? A heart of rebellion? Do you search for ways to justify yourself? To live in self-righteousness? I’ve been there. Jesus loves you. My encouragement today is to choose to LOVE and SUBMIT even when it’s hard. A life lived for God is made up of days lived for God. Choose today.
I know we could not cover the whole text today. What else sticks out to you from Mark 12? Drop in the comments below! Let’s encourage each other!
By: Nick Parsons
17 Comments
I can remember a few occasions where circumstances were frustrating to me and I was angry. I took that angry, that rebellion and directed it at my Lord. I see example after example of my Lord receiving question after question and he never once blows it, never needs a do over, and in fact He shows the very patience, compassion and instruction that is completely undeserved. His love truly reaches to the heavens. If you are "not far from the kingdom" (v.34), or you are a long time believer, we have only to love and submit to the One who grants entrance to eternal life.
Good word Korbet! The goal is to have his love transform our character to His
Yes! Love it!
Thanks Nick. I never hear or read this enough. Great reminder again to order my priorities. Love God is number 1. And love Him fully. I’ll work hard at this today.
Thanks Nick! Your points reminded me of John 10:27: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
The call to follow Jesus is rooted in love and effectual to save. If we come into relationship with God through Jesus, we will follow Him. Even though perfection is unattainable, there is still no "maybe" or "but" in that verse. The same One who called us will equip us and preserve us as we strive to seek Him out and change (Heb. 13:21; Phil. 1:6).
Amen Jordan. Good word. Thanks for living that out.
Every time I read this passage of Scripture, verses 13-17 always stick out to me. At the end of that section Jesus says, « render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. » This is after establishing that the money for the taxes has the likeness of Caesar on it. What is made in the likeness of God, in His image? We are. It is yet another reminder that God wants all of us, our hearts, our obedience.
I love this part too, about giving back to God what is God's. It reminds me of what Graham talked about on Sunday about being sealed. Not only are we sealed, but are safely in our Father's hand. "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. John10:29. Can't get any more safe and secure than that!
Yes! Such a good reminder Grace!
Great word Nick! I love the last little section about the woman giving what added up to just one penny. She gave all she had, knowing it was the Lord’s already. Something you preached on that will always stick with me is that our response to Jesus is the most important thing about us. Everything we have is already His, yet we all still hesitate to surrender and submit to Him daily. I appreciate the verse of the month as a reminder for all of us to continue doing that each and every day!
YES! Tabor, I wanted to bring that in in the end but ran out of space. She demonstrated exactly what Jesus said. She responded to Jesus in love and submission no matter how little that she "had'.
"If we are struggling to love people then we are struggling to love God"
Man, if that's not the toughest but most needed thing that we (ok, I) need to hear.... So many times, I struggle with love for others who may not be the most lovable person, especially working in a jail, where there are plenty of people that society deems unlovable. However, they are still created in God's image, and they still deserve to be loved by believers. Without us loving folks around us, who will love them? Loving others is the second greatest commandment, and that can only be accomplished by following the greatest commandment of loving God. Great stuff today, Nick!
I am sure that is so hard Scottie. I am sure you have to fight daily to show love to them. Thank you for encouraging us.
It seems that if there is one thing which challenges people this day and time is,,loving others. We see so much "unloving" behavior played out before us on a daily basis. It seems so easy to not love someone based on their political views these days and I believe that spills over to other areas as well. I personally have made it my goal to purposely love those that believe and/or think differently than I do. It can be very challenging at times because their are some crazy beliefs circulating around.. But, in the long run its rewarding and much less stress provoking in my life.
Amen Al! Thanks for sharing!
Convicting passage and post today! Needed to read this today.
If we struggle to love others, we struggle to love God. That is very convicting. Never can be reminded enough! Thanks!