What is a Christian called to do other than live out the Great Command?  Jesus’ teaching in Mark on what we have coined The Great Command is the one I prefer to use because of the four aspects listed compared to the three aspects of the other gospels.  The passage from Mark reads:

“One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘What commandment is the foremost of all?’  Jesus answered, ‘The foremost is, “HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD YOUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 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.” And the second is this, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”  There is no other commandment greater than these’” (Mark 12:28-31, NASB).

[I first want to make a quick note how I like that NASB always places Old Testament quotes in capital letters, in case you were wondering why parts of this passage was capitalized.  So yes, Jesus was reciting scripture in His answer of the question, much like all His answers.]

To start this discussion, look how this passage opens; a scribe hears people arguing.  We can make the assumption that he hears the Sadducees and Pharisees arguing with themselves or at Jesus over what they believe and understand, not Jesus arguing with them because Jesus was able to address the question asked of him by the scribe.  After the Pharisees failed at trapping Jesus, the Sadducees gave it a shot.  Both failed, and the attempt at uniting these two very different groups against Jesus ended up with returning to “normal” in their argument with each other.  Unfortunately, I perceive the church to still be discussing their own perceived beliefs about scripture, not yet living the true understanding of what is the foremost of all; love.

Even in the request of what is the foremost commandment, it was a request based upon what law should we be living?  What law does God the Father say we should place at the highest importance?  In the question of law, Jesus replied an answer that is the opposite of law.  The response was this is what you are to be!  Not what you are to do.  We still try to make Jesus’ answer a law type answer and create a law of love.  In our minds we try to define what a “Christian” is using proper Scripture and be obedient to our learning.  This becomes a “striving” of doing good Christian moral things and calling that loving God.  I am reminded of the first line of Psalm 46:10, “Cease striving and know that I am God” (NASB).  Our living is not about doing as much as it is about being; being in His love and living from His love.

The scribe understood Jesus’ answer to be more of who a person is to be by stating “[this] is much more than burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:33b, NASB).  To love as a law is making love a sacrifice or offering, a striving to do the right thing(s).  Love is so much more.  To me the question becomes, what exactly is love?  Are you living your Christian life based upon what has been taught to you as what to do or not to do (are you living Christian Law)?  Or has love transformed you into a new being; a CHRISTian?  Are you willing to ask God where He sees you in this regard?

I desire to live a Faith-Full life, in the fullness of His love alone.