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Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson Mark - Who is Christ?
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to MARK
PART 6 Jesus' Entry Into Jerusalem and His Last Works (Mark 10:46 - 12:44)
9. The Great Commandment (Mark 12:28-34)MARK 12:28-34 Do you believe that God exists? Then love him, for he created you, showered you with good things, and blessed you daily. He saved you, gave you life, strengthened you, and will take you to his own glory. He who does not love God is against him. Do you know that God is present with you, and that he is the All-Powerful? Then honor his presence in you, and worship him, for he created the universe out of nothing, and he knows all men, the good and the evil, by name, including you. The great, holy God loves you, wretched man, for he also loves the wicked. He did not want to destroy them, because of their sins, but he gave his Anointed One to purify men that whoever believes in him should not perish but have the power of everlasting life in him. Do you sense the great extent of the love of God? The holy Father gave his only Son instead of us, hardhearted and stubborn sinners, that we might turn to him, open our hearts to his love, be changed sothat we no longer hate men, but love everyone with all our hearts. You may say that God is one, then how do we say that Christ is the Son of God? We answer with clarity that love means both oneness and multiplicity. God is one as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; as Jesus said: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father. I and My Father are one.” (John 14:9; 10:30) As such Christ testified before the representative of the scribes, saying, “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” However the scribe was not satisfied with this, but he went on saying, “And there is no other but He”, because he had not known God yet in his truth, but saw him as an idol. His limited understanding could not grasp the fact that God had a Son, who is one with him from everlasting to everlasting. Yet, in spite of his narrow-mindedness, he sensed Christ’s wisdom and kindness, and opened his heart to him, and Jesus confirmed to him that he was not far from the kingdom of God. Do you really love God? Then keep his commandments, and devote your heart, thoughts, and strength to your Lord. Discipline yourself. Do not submit to the developments of modern technology. Do not read misleading books, or be enthusiastic about TV movies. God alone is worthy of your love. So serve him with all your heart, giving your time and money in his service. Do you feel your weakness in practicing the love of God? We are weak too. But we quote the statement of the apostle Paul: “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5) This heavenly power helps us to love both God and men. It is not we who love, but God who dwells in us. The Holy Spirit will not give rest to you until you have forgiven your enemies their sins against you, and humbled yourself to make peace with them. You have to see the love of God, which forgave your faults on the cross, and this makes you prepared to confess to anyone you have wronged, and ask forgiveness. Did you observe, in the discussion between Christ and the teacher of the Law, that the latter concentrated on the oneness of God, while Jesus spoke about love to God? Jesus did not deny the oneness of God at all, but he emphasized the love of the Holy One, which is the mystery of his oneness in the Trinity, for God is love, and he who abides in love, abides in God, and God in him. PRAYER: O Holy Father, you are love. Put the fire of your love into our hearts that our thanks for your faithfulness may be magnified. We worship you because you manifested yourself in your Son and established your Spirit in us that we may love you and love others, serve them with kindness, and testify before them the great mystery that you are one God in a Holy Trinit your love may dwell in them too, and they may know you in your holy love. Amen. QUESTION:
QUIZ 3Dear reader,
If you give correct answers to 20 questions only of the above 24 questions, we will send you the next booklet of this series. Please write your name and full address clearly on the answer sheet, and send it to the following address: Waters of Life Internet: www.waters-of-life.net |