The Lawyer, The Law, and Jesus: Questions

Mark 12:28

One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?”

Part 5 Questions

So, many ask the question, “What is truth?” They know the answer. They have heard it preached from the pulpit. They have been told on the radio or television. They have heard it debated as they stream it on their devices. Jesus is the truth. Jesus is God the Son.

In our society, people claim their own “truth.” They do this for a reason. It is not because they do not know the truth, but through their own individual “truth” they can live their lives however they wish. Their “truth” allows them to live in a way that ignores God. They don’t have to deal with this whole “salvation” thing, or heaven and hell, or sin, or forgiveness, or eternal life, or eternal damnation. They don’t have to deal with God’s existence. But their “truth” doesn’t change anything. God is still here. He still loves and He still judges. One day His truth will come to bear on their “truth” and ignorance will become regret.

They mask their “truth” behind a multitude of questions. Their questions deserve answers, but they do not want answers. Their questions are a smokescreen. They serve as blinders so the focus will always be on denying God. Truth is never the goal. Freedom, or what they perceive as freedom, is the goal.

Why are there so many contradictions in the bible?

Why does God allow suffering?

Why do some believe, and others do not?

Why is there only one way to heaven?

What about those people who die never hearing about Jesus?

If God is love, why is He so mean?

Their questions have one thing in common. They are designed to keep us from talking about Jesus. Focus on the twisted facts, half-truths, and mysteries of the bible and never get to the real problem.

And let’s be honest, we are often too willing to be deflected because we are afraid. We are afraid we will insult with the gospel. We don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings or offend them in any way. We want to coexist. (I know you’ve seen the bumper sticker. Newsflash! Some groups represented will never coexist for their core beliefs require them to eliminate the other groups). The gospel offends all who reject it. Jesus told us it would.

We are afraid. We are afraid we will get the facts wrong. We don’t read and study our bibles. We half-listen in church. We never dig deep into the word, and we never commit the word to memory. “Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.” (Joshua 1:8) We never learn the answer to the tough questions.

Here is a question you already know the answer to. What are you holding on to so tightly that you are unwilling to give it up for Christ? Knowledge? The law? Tradition? Family? Money? Power? Sin? The Pharisees had things in their lives that were more important to them than following the law. We all do. This could have been the purpose of the hierarchy. Differentiate between the big sin and the little sin. We all have or have had things we put before God. We may not want to admit it, but it is true. We may say to God, “I will do anything You want and go wherever You desire me to go, but please, leave my children alone.” We place limits on God. “I will serve you but not there.” “I will do anything, but I will not do that.” In other words, we say “I will give this much but no more.” And that is exactly what God will ask for. The thing we refuse to give.

The rich young ruler refused to become poor. But giving everything to God is not becoming poor; it is becoming rich. We are rich beyond all measure, for what we have can go with us to eternal life. Faith, hope, and love. All of us are to be ministers and to be a minister is to give it all and be rewarded with so much more.

Ministry is a scary place today. The world we live in is becoming increasingly hostile to Christians. No, Christians in the US are not persecuted like Christians in many other countries, but we can certainly see persecution on the horizon. The day is coming when we declare Jesus as Lord and find ourselves in prison or on death row. The next generation of pastors may not be able to practice their faith in the open. They may have more in common with the first-century church than at any other time in US history. Churches may be forced to meet underground and may find it necessary to be more selective about who is allowed to worship with them.

But persecution brings strength. Christians rise up when they are persecuted. Open Doors, an organization that supports oppressed Christians, tell us that in North Korea and Afghanistan, the Christian population is growing in vast numbers as they face persecution. Death, imprisonment, and psychiatric imprisonment are common for Christians in these countries. Why would anyone become a Christian? Because they know the truth and they know the truth is the only way to the Father.

Jesus says we are to follow Him. He has proven that He is worthy. In fact, He is the only worthy One. He wants us to follow Him. Yes, to bring Him glory, but also to bring us eternal life. He wants to forgive our sins. He wants to bring us into the family. That is one of the things Jesus told the scribe. You are close to being in God’s family. (Mark 12:34) Isn’t that all we really want? To be in His family and to call Him father? To belong?

We cannot put anything before Him. We must put Him first. This is the cost of discipleship. To put God first. When we put God first, we begin to live sacrificially. When we begin to live sacrificially, we begin to live for others. Selfishness begins to melt away like a spring snow. The world stops revolving around us and we begin to revolve around the Father. The Spirit dwells within. The Son mediates on our behalf. The Father welcomes us with open arms, and we are filled with a love that we cannot help but share. Will we offend? Yes. Will we be persecuted and judged for our testimony? Yes. Will we have to answer real questions about our faith? Yes. So, get ready. It feels like time is short. Heaven is only a heartbeat away. And the Father is waiting there with open arms.