Wednesday - You’re Getting Warm!
Day 31
We are getting closer every day to Easter, which means there will be egg hunts everywhere over the next week. Most of the time, the brightly colored eggs are easy to spot - in the crooks of trees or tucked within tufts of new spring grass. Usually the hiders of the eggs watch as the finders look high and low, gathering the candy or money-stuffed eggs and placing them in their Easter baskets. Many of the hunters become so distracted by their full baskets, piled high with eggs of all colors, they plop down in the grass right then and there and begin opening their eggs, devouring their contents. Towards the end of the hunt, there are usually a few eggs left unfound, and since the hiders know where they hid all of the eggs, they might begin to say to the last few finders, “You’re getting warm…warmer…you’re burning hot now,” as they get closer to the well-hidden egg. And these finders will be glad they kept looking and listened to the clues! Who knows what treasure might be in that last egg!
(Speaking of Easter baskets, have you downloaded the free PDF version of “My Special Easter Basket” yet? Visit my website gaybbrown.com to download and print. Have you started collecting items for the basket or made plans to gather some children you know to assemble their own baskets for their family’s table? Holy week is just around the corner!)
In today’s reading, Jesus is impressed with one of the Jewish scribes who is getting warm. He is asking the right questions of Jesus and making connections.
Read Mark 12:28-34
One of the scribes approached, having heard the different religious sects “debating” with Jesus. Seeing Jesus answer them effortlessly, he asked, "Which command is the most important of all?” (Mk. 12:28) Recognizing that this scribe isn’t scrapping for a fight or trying to entrap Him, Jesus is delighted to answer this one and quotes the central statement of Jewish belief, known as the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God; the Lord is One.” This is the greatest commandment, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The second, and equally important command is to love your neighbor as yourself. These two commandments, to love God and love others, simply combined all ten of the commandments given to Moses by God on Mt. Sinai into two categories: the vertical commands, focusing on our relationship with God, and the horizontal rules which impacted our relationships with other humans.
The scribe replies that Jesus is correct and reflectively speaks back what Jesus has declared: God is One - there is no one else but Him. To love Him in these ways and love our neighbor as ourselves is far more important than all the burnt sacrifices. If we loved well with all of our being, we wouldn’t have to continue offering all of these sacrifices. This scribe must have been thinking on this for a while; there has to be more to this life and this faith than continual bloody sacrifices.
Jesus saw that this scribe answered wisely and encouraged him, “You’re getting warm, buddy. You’re not far from the kingdom of God. Don’t stop now, but keep thinking and looking. You are on the right track.” The prize egg wasn’t hidden, but was right in front of the scribe. He was so close! Do you think the scribe found it?
Big Picture Questions for Today:
When considering a controversial topic within scripture, do you tend to keep searching and meditating until you have found what God has for you? Or do you give up easily, thinking, “I’ve got enough; I’m satisfied.”?
What about those two great commandments? Love God and love others. Easier said than done, right? How can you love God and love others today?
Pray, and ask the Lord to show you how to love Him and love others well today.
Blessings,
Gay B Brown