Jesus' Second Commandment (from Mark 12:28-34)

This week marks the beginning of the class I am teaching/leading at Cross of Hope. With this in mind, I have decided to revamp my blog to help follow along with the conversation.  In preparation for the first session, I would like to point out the particular initial 'neighbor-love' comments from the gospels.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all provide versions of this story which lay the groundwork for the call to love and serve the neighbor. Today, let's glance at Mark 12:28-34. The scribes ask Jesus,
"Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus' reply in Mark's gospel includes two scripture quotations. The first comes in verses 29-30, where Jesus is shown to quote from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, and the Greek version of Joshua 22:5 (according to the Lutheran Study Bible, 1683). The second quote comes in verse 31, where Jesus is quoting it seems from Leviticus 19:18.

The connections with the Hebrew scriptures here paint a picture that the love of neighbor is not something new with Jesus, but rather a constant call and mission which God has directed God's people to understand and embody.  The way Mark presents this passage really places an emphasis on relationship- as great detail is given about loving God and being in relationship with God, but also being in relationship with the neighbor or one another. This has significance in the Biblical narrative, but most certainly also in an understanding today of who we are as individual Children of God, which we will continue to unpack.


SOURCE:  The Lutheran Study Bible.  (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2009), 1683.

Putting Life and Character in Perspective...

Happy New Year and Merry Eleventh Day of Christmas!  This should mark the return of the regular posting of this blog. I will be blogging alongside leading a faith formation opportunity about neighbor love at Cross of Hope Lutheran in Ramsey, MN.

I came across the following on Facebook tonight, and thought it was too good not to share. It was shared by a seminary friend, who had re-posted it from Church Funnies. Enjoy it, but also think about how often you and I might be just like this woman.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An honest man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman hit the roof, and the horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger-printed, and photographed, and then placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would Jesus Do?' bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car!"


- AUTHOR UNKNOWN -