Near Is Too Far
5 min read
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
—Mark 12:32-34
Finally, one of the Jewish authorities asks Jesus a question without actually trying to trap him. At the same time, he was still testing Jesus to see if they held to the same theology, and they did.
When the man asked Jesus for the most important commandment of God, Jesus gave him two commandments. Together, these two commandments have been called “The Greatest Commandment,” and they summarize the ten commandments.
The way that Jesus answered tells us that these two commandments are two sides of the same coin and can never be separated. We cannot claim to love God if we are not loving our neighbors as ourselves. And the way that we love God is to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Jesus’s response also tells us that these two commandments are the basis for every other commandment. In other words, loving God and loving one another is the foundation for a life of faith. Without loving God and loving one another, we are not being the church of Jesus Christ. Rather, we are just playing church.
And so, this man’s theology was right on point. And yet, his theology was not enough for him to enter into the kingdom of God but only to bring him near. As people say, so close and yet so far.
“Perfect” theology, if there is such a thing, is impossible to live out because of sin. And besides, people who make it their mission to seek “perfect” theology will never enter the kingdom of God because their primary objective in every relationship is to test people’s theology.
There is hope, though, with understanding “perfect” theology. At least it brings us near. “Perfect” theology will bring us near to the One who fills in what is grossly lacking in “perfect” theology—Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
A personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is the kingdom of God. And it is the good faith effort to live out “perfect” theology that introduces us to Jesus—not just the pursuit of knowing “perfect” theology and showing off to other people that we know it.
Father, I know that I have been a pursuer of “perfect” theology. Forgive me for those times when I neglect my relationship with You as I pursue it. Especially, forgive me if I ever am found lording over others with my meager knowledge. You are my knowledge. You are my theology. Help me to live it out by Your Spirit and with Your mercy and grace. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
