That's a Good Question!

Ron Gray, Missions and Outreach Pastor

In Mark chapter 12, Jesus challenges the religious leaders of the day through a parable. In the parable

Jesus tells the story of a group of tenants who failed to give the landlord what was due him. These

tenants were so wicked in their intent that they went as far as beating and killing the representatives

the landowner sent to collect the rent. In a final attempt to establish a proper relationship with those

entrusted with the care of the vineyard, the landowner sent his son whom he loved. Desiring to take

ownership of the vineyard the wicked tenants killed the son, believing that if they killed the heir, the

vineyard would be theirs. Jesus concluded the parable by stating that the owner would surely come and

destroy the wicked tenants.

A very horrible story, one that the religious leaders knew was aimed at them. God was the Landlord.

Jesus was the beloved Son. The religious leaders were the wicked tenants. That had to sting!

The religious leaders were not pleased with being the brunt of this parable so, as Mark 12:12 says,

“…they looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them.” The

strategy they used to find a reason to arrest him was to send provocateurs to ask a series of

controversial and leading questions. They asked about paying taxes to Caesar, and the resurrected state

of those who had been married multiple times. Of course, they weren’t really interested in the answers

to such questions. They were looking for a way to trip Jesus up, and seize him.

Bad hearts, bad questions.

It seems that there was at least one teacher of the law who was sincere. You can read of his encounter

with Jesus in Mark 12:28-34. Hearing that Jesus had given good answers to the previous questions, he

came to him with a question to gain wisdom and learning; not to trip up and test. His heart was different

from those who had earlier demanded a sign (Mark 8:11), or had come to trap him with questions (Mark

12:15), or who had taken offence at a ‘carpenter’ exceeding their expectations (Mark 6:3). This man

came with earnest inquiry and a receptive heart.

Unlike the Chief Priests, teachers of the law, and the Sadducees, this man passed by the thorny issues of

the day; taxes to Caesar in the context of Roman occupation; divorce and adultery in the context of

Herod the Great’s infidelity; theological questions and topics of debate. He headed right to the heart of

life with God. He asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” (Mark 12:28). In

other words, ‘Enough of this nonsense! What matters most to God?” In having such a posture, this man

brought himself to the doorstop of the Kingdom of God. At least, that’s what Jesus thought (Mark

12:34).

Good heart, good questions.

As we might expect, he received the perfect answer from Jesus.

“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: Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31)

In summary: love God fully and let that life changing love overflow to others.

Loving God with our entire being is the highest use of our self. It orients us correctly and allows us to

flourish as God intended. It is the purest way to love ourselves. By commanding that we love him first,

God is being gracious and kind to us. He knows it would not be loving to allow us to be the centre of our

own affection. Just as it would be unloving to allow a toddler or a teenager to run the household. It is a

load that they were not intended to carry, though they often strive to take it. They thrive in their lane.

We thrive when we place God at the centre of our affection.

Putting God first is the purest way to love oneself. It allows us to flourish by putting us right where we

belong; subordinate to him. This also allows us to right-size our affection for others. They do not ascend

to the place of a god in our lives, yet they are also not subordinate to us. They are not equal to God, but

no below us. They are right where they belong. By doing this we treat them and love them as we do

ourselves.

The man who brought this excellent question found out what mattered most to God. He discovered that

a heart that directed love to God and others was more valuable to God that all the religious observance

in the world. It was this that caused Jesus to observe that the man was close to the Kingdom. All of this

came about because this fellow asked God the right question.

One more thought on the place of questions in our relationship to God.

If we want to enter the Kingdom of God, we must show up with an earnest heart that is open to what

matters most to him. With that in mind I have recently started praying the following prayer. I hope you

find it as helpful as I have.

Prayer:

Jesus I come to you today to gladly receive whatever it is that you are offering. I do not know what to

ask, but Holy Spirit, you do. Prompt in me the questions that you want me to ask. Prompt in me the

questions that lead me closer to the heart of God. I want to receive from you.

Lord, what matters most to you today? I surrender myself to that. Talk to me about that. Please tell me

about the priorities of your heart. I want to hear from you.

Amen.