November 5, 2000 - LESSON: Mark 12.28-34, NRSV

SERMON TITLE: How Far?

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  1. Are we there yet?
    1. This is the question of small children who are traveling with their parents on a trip.
    2. The trip to a child seems long.
    3. The question may be asked so often that it leads to the total distraction of the parents.
  2. Asking the question, "How Far?" requires an intelligent use of information.
    1. While in the US Navy, we stopped in Edinburgh, Scotland.
      1. We were hosted by a service club.
      2. I met a young woman who asked me if I wanted to go for a walk to the Queen's Park.
      3. I asked, How far?
      4. It was only a "wee walk," which turned out to be three miles.
    2. If you are traveling in upper New England and asked someone, How far?, it would be "Up the road a piece."
      1. It did not make any difference if the road was up or down.
      2. A piece could mean almost anything up to ten miles.
  3. In Mark 12.28-34, NRSV, there is an important dialogue taking place between Jesus and a Scribe.
    1. A Scribe was a very important person and a member of the ruling council.
      1. He was a writer and transcriber of the Law.
      2. He was an interpreter of the Law.
      3. A little like a Sacred Lawyer.

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    1. Some Sadducee's were questioning Jesus about the resurrection.
    2. One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he also asked him a question.
      1. He asked Jesus, "Which commandment is the first of all?"
        1. Remember this is one who is well-versed in the Law.
        2. From his point of view, he already knows the answer to his question
    3. Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 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.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
    4. Then the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that 'he is one, and besides him there is no other'; 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,'--this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
    5. When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
  1. What do you believe Jesus means when he says to the Scribe, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
    1. Jesus is commending the Scribe for his intelligent understanding of the basic principels of the Law.
    2. There is something lacking.
    3. That is an intelligent application of the principles of the Law.

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  1. It is this with which Jesus is constantly concerned.
    1. Jesus had a lot to say about hearing and doing.
      1. Listening and understanding is not enough.
      2. It is the practical application that he is looking for.
      3. It is the practical application that Jesus is offering power to achieve.
    2. It ought also to be our concern.
  2. How far is it?
    1. I cannot answer this question for you.
    2. I can only answer it for myself.
  3. You can measure how far by your capacity to love.
    1. To love God
    2. To love one's neighbor as one's self.
      1. We know it is not a wee walk.
      2. We know that it is not up the road apiece.
      3. We know that it is in relationship with the one who saves us, Jesus Christ, our sacrifice and redeemer.

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