I was just reading the Bible where the Pharisees and Sadducees questioned Jesus about various subject matters. Now we have to understand that these people are very knowledgable with the Book of the Law. They knew the Mosaic Law by heart and are well-versed with the writings of the prophets. Basically, everything in the Old Testament was already a part of them.
When Jesus came down to Earth to fulfil the prophecies, He was bringing a new perspective on life. Of course, it would be a shock for the people there who had always thought God was demanding sacrifice here and there. Imagine having someone coming up to you saying that everything that has been taught to us, from childhood until now, does not matter much to God. That's basically how the scholars felt. However, if it's Jesus who was saying it, it's wise to open up our hearts and listen. Because Jesus was teaching something brand new to them, the Pharisees and Sadducees refused to listen and rejected that Jesus is the Son of God. This is a question about pride.
Let me just say that everything in this world does not matter if we don't have God in us. We might have tons of knowledge and understanding about the laws and the Bible, but what's the use of simply following rules and regulations if it does not drive us to an effective lifestyle? A humble heart, willing to be corrected by God, is more pleasing to God than a knowledgable yet prideful spirit. I understand now what Stephen the martyr was criticising before his death sentence. "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Spirit..." -Acts 7:51. It's not a matter of memorising the entire Scripture front to back; it's a matter of our willingness to accept His Spirit to manifest in our lives.
I find Jesus' visit to earth quite interesting. I keep hearing preachers and teachers explaining how Jesus spends most of his time with the "rejected" groups of people. His disciples were made up of tax collectors and fishermen. They were not really prominent men. Jesus came to heal the broken and give life to the hopeless. Yes, all of this is true. However, the role of the Pharisees and Sadducees are quite vital too. They asked some hard-hitting questions starting from Mark 12:13. They tried to corner Jesus into stumbling in His own words, but were quite taken back at His responses. In this process of replying their questions, Jesus also clears up the errors in their beliefs. These "stiff-necked" people, as Stephen calls them, had a distorted view of whom God really is. The Sadducees do not believe in life after death and (sarcastically) questioned Jesus about a hypothetical situation (Mark 12:18-23). Jesus rebuked the flaws in their beliefs by saying that "God is a God of the living, not of death."
One of the most striking quotes from this Q&A session was when Jesus answered the teacher of the law's question: "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" A normal person would expect Him to answer from one of the Ten Commandments or simply say "All of them are equally vital." Jesus' reply was unexpected: "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31). The teacher who asked this question responded to Jesus' answer by saying that he agrees with everything Jesus had said. Jesus considers this a wise answer and said to the teacher, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
Jesus does not expect us to be rich in life. He does not expect us to know everything there is to know in this world. He simply wants us to love God with everything we've got and to reflect His love to other people. In the end, all physical matters will disappear, but love remains. Yes, Jesus came all the way down to Earth to tell the world about a very important message: He loves us, each and everyone...
Spread the love, y'all!
Justin
