One of the most shocking and provocative aspects of the passage from this past weekend was Jesus’ final statement to the sincere scribe. “You are not far from the kingdom of God,” Jesus said.
For review please read the six verses one final time.
Mark 12:28-34 says,
28. 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?" 29. Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30. 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.' 31. The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." 32. 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. 33. 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." 34. And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
How presumptuous of Jesus! I mean seriously! This scribe came up and asked a sincere question. He doesn’t appear to be trying to trap and trick Jesus. Jesus then answers and the scribe responds in agreement. In fact, the scribe’s response was one of spontaneous excitement! “Beautifully said, Teacher!”
So, what gives Jesus the right to “judge” this scribe! Can’t He see that the scribe was trying to understand? Is Jesus demanding too much? Why was he only “not far” but not yet “in” the Kingdom of God?
Scripture says that “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). All of us! And it also says in James 2:10 that “Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.”
So where does this leave us? Where does that leave this scribe? Scripture is clear that man cannot be made right with God on the basis of works. Why? It is because we all have sinned. We all do sin. And we are not capable of keeping the entire law, perfectly.
And therefore, we need a Savior!
We need a Savior who has fulfilled the law perfectly!
But, this scribe, as sincere as he may have been in his questions, had yet to see his need for the Savior. So he stood there, in front of the Almighty God and simply called Him Teacher. He stood there before the Creator of the Universe – stood, not knelt, not bowed, not fell to his face – he, a sinner, stood! And he exclaims “Good answer” and not “Save me!” He didn’t cry out “Woe is me” as the prophet Isaiah did.
It is clear that he had yet to understand his complete inability to make himself right with God! He had yet to understand his incredible helplessness and need of a Savior!
And I wonder, today, do you recognize your need for your Savior? Do you recognize how far you are from being made right on the basis of your own works? Or have you mistakenly thought that you are saved by grace – but preserved by works? Do you stand before the Maker of the Universe with your “filthy rags” in pride?
Friends, salvation is found in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone!
So if you are trusting in Christ for your salvation, take this moment and thank God that you are IN the kingdom of God. But if you are not, there is no better time than now, to stop and place your faith in Jesus Christ. Mark 1:15 says it most clearly, “Repent and believe in the gospel.”
May the Lord continue to transform us through His amazing Word!
May we be genuinely changed by this powerful truth!
Blessings,
Chris Newkirk
Posted on
Monday, February 1, 2010
by Chris Newkirk