The key to the kingdom is love!

Reflecting on Mark 12:28-34

"You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34)

The kingdom of God is this world as it was meant and made to be.
We first see the kingdom of God in Genesis 1-2.
It is an idealistic picture, but it makes one point clear.
God’s kingdom is designed to be ruled by God-like human beings.
Which is why Jesus restores the kingdom of God; He is a God-like human being!
To be like God, to reflect God’s character… and what is God like?

“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” (Exodus 34:6-7)

When Moses asks to see God’s glory, God promises to reveal His goodness (Exodus 33:19).
God’s glory, what makes God great, is compassion, grace, patience, love, etc.
Humans were created to know and to show this glory, this great goodness.
If we would love God and others in a God-like way, our world would be paradise.

This teacher of the Law seems to be a genuine student and seeker of God’s wisdom.
He came and heard the debate, but was not there to test Jesus.
He recognized God’s wisdom in Jesus’s answer, and wanted to go deeper.
By his question, he seems to know that not all God’s Laws are the same.
And Jesus does not answer with a question, but gives a helpful answer.
In this moment we see a God-moment occur between a sincere seeker and Jesus.

By his response to Jesus, he shows his own understanding of the Law.
The many laws in the Moses Law serve a higher purpose.
The sacrifices, the temple, the priesthood, the moral code…
All are in service to God’s great character and goodness: love.
“Love is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (Mark 12:33)
Through my study of the bible, I have come to the same conclusion.
To love God and to love people is the true sign of bible knowledge.
Not memorizing or quoting the bible, or preaching great sermons.
Not hours and hours of bible study, or understanding Greek and Hebrew.
Not reading commentaries, or writing books, or systematic theologies.
Not going to church, or performing miracles, or sizable donations.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Jesus senses this man’s sincere heart and open mind towards God’s Law.
He sees in his understanding of love that he is on the right track.
What does Jesus mean that he is not far from the kingdom of God?
I do not sense that Jesus is saying ‘almost, but not quite!’
Jesus is affirming him, not calling him out for falling short.
He is almost there, it is just a matter of time.
As long as he understands love as God’s desire and design, he will get there.

This is true for christians today, and for all people.
This man, who had not yet surrendered to Jesus, was almost there.
In fact, he may have been closer to the truth than some of the disciples.
Some of them still thought ‘power’ or ‘position’ was the key to the kingdom.
Many christians today still do not understand that love is the key.
What is more, I know non-christians who do understand that love is the key.
They are closer to the kingdom than christians who do not understand love.

“When Gentiles (outsiders/non-believers), who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.” (Romans 2:14-15)

If you want to experience God’s kingdom, follow Jesus, the God-like human being.
It is not by keeping the laws, but self-giving love for others.
This was Jesus’s point to the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-22).
This includes loving both the righteous and the wicked (Matthew 5:43-48).
This is how we image/reflect our Father in heaven as His children (Matthew 5:45).

None of us can reflect this love perfectly.
We all fall short of the fully glory and goodness of God.
But if we recognize love as the key, and sincerely seek it, that is enough.
We are not far from the kingdom of God’s love, we’re almost there.
And do you know a non-christian who is sincerely seeking love like this?
Be encouraged, they are also almost there, and God will draw them in.
For it is not our perfection of love, but our pursuit of love that matters.
God’s love in Jesus covers our falling short.

The Law of Love was written on this man’s heart.
Is this Law of Love written on your heart too?
Are you imperfectly yet sincerely seeking to love like this, like Jesus?
Then be assured: “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:34)

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I am not there yet. But Your love encourages me as I seek to learn and grow in the way of self-giving, other-serving love. This is what makes You shine with God's glory, and how I can reflect the loving glow of God's glory.

Use me to make the world around me more like Your kingdom, a place that shines with God-like love!