Not Far from the Kingdom

It is an intriguing phrase, isn't it? "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (12:34) Jesus says these words to one a scribe - an expert in the Jewish Law - a man who would have known the Old Testament Scriptures thoroughly. His trouble was not a lack of knowledge, though. His trouble was a matter of his heart. It was a matter of loyalty.

Imagine with me the events of Mark 12. It is a remarkable chapter in which all of Jesus' encounters except the last one (12:41 - 44) are with Jewish religious/political leaders (these two concepts not being divided in this period of Jewish life). At the heart of all of these encounters is a vision of God's greater authority in the world.

Despite the differences between the Sadducees and the Pharisees, they basically agreed in their focus - they were committed to the restoration and continuation of their nation. They were thorough-going nationalists even though their nation was occupied and controlled by the Roman Empire. Their disagreements, while often using theological language, were largely disagreements about the best method for bringing prosperity and independence to themselves and their people. The Pharisees focused more on religious observances - we might go so far as to say morality. If everyone would live rightly before God, God would bless the nation with salvation and independence. This was the motivation behind their stringent rule-keeping. The Sadducees, while not opposed to morality, were focused more on the proper function of the Temple - its sacrifices and offerings. They were also focused on the relational aspects of political life - interacting with the Roman authorities. Both of them were primarily interested in their nation. This was a political disagreement between the two groups - not over goals, but over means and methods, policies and procedures.

Jesus is speaking into the midst of these disagreements - and makes enemies of both sides. His message is not one of different methods to achieve nationalistic goals. His is a message that is bigger than a politically or geographically defined nation. He is preaching the authority, the power, and the blessing of God's Kingdom in the midst of the entire world. His interests are not bounded by national borders or citizenship or immigration. Those concepts were meaningless to the Kingdom he was proclaiming. The grace of God was tearing down the boundaries - including national and ethnic boundaries - that divide people. God's grace, God's favor, God's presence was for all people - no matter where they grew up or what language they spoke or who their father was. And this is why both the Sadducees and the Pharisees hated him. He wouldn't play their small-vision game. He would not compromise on the large vision of God's eternal kingdom.

And it is with this as a background that Jesus spoke those intriguing words to one of the scribes in Mark 12 - "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." These are words of hope, but they are also words of judgment. The scribe is not far from the Kingdom of God, but he has not gained entrance into yet. He is still an outsider, despite his deep knowledge of Scripture.

What has just transpired to evoke these words? Jesus has identified the greatest commandment as being two-fold: the love of God and the love of neighbor. The scribe has agreed. Jesus knows that if the scribe will simply follow those commands to their ultimate ends, he will find himself living according Kingdom principles. If he will love God by loving his neighbor - and not limit his definition of neighbor to people like himself - he will find himself loving Gentiles and Romans and barbarians. In short, he will find himself looking out for the best interests of all people - just as God does.

In light of today's headlines, I find this a profound challenge for the people of God. We are too easily tempted by the small vision of nationalism, and we too easily lose sight of the larger concerns of God - concerns that transcend national borders or national interests. Like the scribe, many of us know God's commands. But like the scribe, many of us, I fear, might hear Jesus' words today, "you are not far from the Kingdom of God." We are more interested in God's blessing for ourselves and our nation than we are for the best interests of all people. We may be great citizens of our own nation, but miss out on our citizenship in the Kingdom. We may love the authority of our nation more than the authority of God. 

But there is hope here too. "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. . . You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."