“And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.” Mark 12:34 ESV
Reflection: does God come near to us, or do we come near to God?
During my university days, my wife and I decided to take a trip during spring break to Southern California. Now, we were going to graduate school in Laramie, Wyoming, which is typically very cold, with wind and snow in the winter as it is at over 7000 feet elevation. As we made our way southwest, we made a memorable stop in St George, Utah. Stepping out of the car, we were met with this warm, around 70 degree weather. The sun was shining from a clear blue sky, it was green all around, people wearing shorts and T-shirts. We still had our winter clothes on, as we had only hours earlier been in freezing weather and snow. This experience was such a strange shock to the system, it almost felt unreal. But we certainly knew, just by this experience, that we were in a very different place than where we started, and we were approaching Southern California; our destination.
There is this idea that of the nearness of the kingdom of God in the Bible, as well as the ability to enter it. Jesus talks about it, as we see in the story today. Let’s read a couple of verses from the beginning. “And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”” Mark 12:28 ESV. This religious man, this “scribe” obviously sensed that what Jesus had been teaching the Sadducees was different than what he was used to hearing from the Pharisees and the elders. Jesus was teaching with knowledge and authority. So he brought up a question to Jesus, not to test Him, but perhaps it was something he himself was wrestling with. Which is the greatest, the most important commandment? To which Jesus answers “Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” Mark 12:29-30 ESV. And, Jesus gives him a bonus, “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”” Mark 12:31 ESV
The scribe echoes Jesus response, but notice that he adds something else. “And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”” Mark 12:32-33 ESV. He has realized that it is faith in God, love for God, that matters first. All the religious activities, including offerings, don’t mean anything unless you have love in the heart for God and His ways. And, we see in our focus verses today, that Jesus noticed this man’s sincere search for truth. He says to him, “And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.” Mark 12:34 ESV
He was close to the kingdom of God. He was searching for the truth. So what was missing? You might remember how Jesus started His ministry, as we read from the beginning of Mark. “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” Mark 1:14-15 ESV. And, we have seen time and again people not being willing to repent, to give up their lives, their ways, to enter the kingdom. It isn’t enough to be near. So what is repentance? We read one definition by Bruce: “Repentance (metanoia, ‘change of mind’) involves a turning with contrition from sin to God; the repentant sinner is in the proper condition to accept the divine forgiveness.” (F. F. Bruce. The Acts of the Apostles[Greek Text Commentary], London: Tyndale, 1952, p. 97.).
Turning from sin to God.
It is difficult. It means “dying to self”, to live a new life. Jesus said “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3b ESV. We see a clear example of this in the story of the rich man who came to Jesus asking how he could inherit eternal life, in Mark chapter 10. But he would not give up “his riches”. Jesus said “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:23 ESV. “And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”” Mark 10:26-27 ESV. Again, this is about turning from our own sinful ways, to God. So that He can transform us, renew our minds.
Unless we had stopped and gotten out of the car during that trip to Southern California, we would not have experienced St. George. The kingdom of God was near then, yet many didn’t enter it. Do you sense the kingdom of God is near? Are you seeking it? To enter it? Jesus said “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”” Mark 10:15 ESV
