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This morning we are picking back up in our Study of the Gospel of Mark.
If you are new to MCF, it would be good for you to know we practice a form of preaching called “Expository Preaching”.
What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking book of the Bible and then studying it from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to understand what it means in our lives today.
With that said, we are currently walking through the Gospel of Mark, a gospel written to tell us who Jesus is, what He came to do, and what it means for you and I to follow Him.
As we come back to our study today, we are in the final section of this Gospel.
A section commonly known as the “Passion of the Christ”.
A section that will lead us to the death and resurrection of Jesus.
And what we’ve learned so far is the first part of this section consists of seven combative rounds between Jesus and the religious leaders of his day.
Seven verbal encounters where Jesus’s opponents are working to discredit and disqualify the teachings of Jesus.
To date, we’ve looked at five of the seven encounters.
Today, however, we will be taking a break as Jesus is approached not so much by an opponent, but by someone who has a genuine question and interest in Jesus.
So, in order to set up what we are about to read, I want to begin by asking you this question:
Question: Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were trying to please or impress someone?
In other words, there was somebody in your life that you desired affirmation from, somebody you wanted to impress, or maybe even someone you wanted show your appreciation to.
And so as a result you found yourself exerting a lot of effort and energy trying to figure out what it takes and what you’d need to do in order to gain their attention, affirmation, respect, or acceptance.
I think we’ve all had somebody like that in our lives.
Now, you might be thinking, “Pastor, that’s an odd question.
I’m not sure I’ve ever thought that way.”
I think you have.
In fact, I think a lot of people spend most of their life trying to find that one thing.
Trying to accomplish that one thing that will set them apart.
Trying to accomplish that one thing that will give them a name.
Trying to
Maybe for you it is or was a parent.
For example, I’ve met a lot of men who have spent a life time seeking affirmation from their father.
Everything they’ve done.
Every decision they’ve made.
Has been an attempt to gain their father’s respect and approval.
And so with every promotion, every purchase, and every accomplishment they find themselves hoping this will be the moment their father says, “I’m proud of you.”
Maybe for you some of you it’s a mentor.
Someone you look up to.
Someone you want to impress.
I know for me, for many years there was a mentor in my life that I sought approval from and wanted to impress.
If I’m honest, many of my decisions and choices were made in an attempt to gain his attention and approval.
Maybe for you it’s your boss.
You want him or her to notice your abilities and what you have to offer.
And so as a result you find yourself looking for ways to impress them.
Looking for ways to get their attention.
Looking for ways to set yourself apart from the other employees.
Looking for that one decision, that one sale, that one idea, that one moment where they recognize your potential.
Maybe for you it’s a girl, a boy, or your spouse.
Somebody of the opposite sex that you want to impress or please.
So as a result, you find yourself looking for ways to show your love and affection.
So you send flowers, you plan a perfect date, you clean the house, you do the dishes, trying to find that one thing that will gain their heart, their love, their attention, or their desire for you.
I think if we’re all honest we’ve had people like that in our lives.
People who we desire to impress, please, or gain attention from.
People we want to be close to.
So, let me ask you this.
When it comes to your relationship with God, have you ever found yourself seeking His approval in the same way.
In other words, have you ever given any thought to what it takes to please and know God? Have you ever found yourself looking for ways to impress him and gain his attention and approval.
Again, I think if we’re all honest, we’ve all been down that road.
In fact, that’s why some of you are maybe even here today.
You’re at church because you want to show God your really serious about knowing Him.
After all, you got out of bed, got the kids ready, and came to church.
That’s why some of you perform good deeds and good works. .
That’s why you put money in the bucket.
That’s why you help that person in need.
You want to show God that your the kind of person he’s looking for.
That’s why some of you religiously read your Bible.
That’s why you post scriptures on Facebook.
You want to show God and the world just how spiritual you are.
That’s’ why some of you raise your hands in worship.
You want to show God that you’re serious about worshiping Him.
That’s why some of you don’t drink, smoke, or chew, or go with girls that do.
You want to show God that you’re above the rest.
In fact, I would go as far to say, that much of American Christianity is based on performance Christianity.
The idea that when it comes to God, our goal is in some way to prove ourselves worthy and show God just how deserving of his approval we are.
And what’s interesting is we have a way of categorizing that approval.
We base it on church attendance, good deeds, the language we use, the choices we make, the way we worship, the friendships we make, and the list goes on and on.
Each of us trying to climb the spiritual ladder of approval.
So, I guess a good question would be, “What does it take to please God?”
In other words, what specific deed, accomplishment, or action will it take to finally gain God’s ultimate approval?”
The reason I ask you to consider that question, is because as we come back to our study today, that’s the question on the table.
But as I said, this question isn’t coming from one of the opponents of Jesus.
It’s coming from a man who genuinely wants to know.
Somebody who genuinely wants to please God.
I think, somebody like you and me.
So, if you’re here today, and you’ve always wondered what it takes to please and know God, then today’s message is for you.
So, with that as our basis, let’s pick back up in chapter 12 as Mark introduce us to this next encounter.
Beginning in verse 28 Mark writes:
28 “And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
Mark begins by introducing us to a new religious sect, a sect known as “Scribes”.
So, maybe a good question to begin with would be, “What’s a Scribe?”
Simply put, the Scribes were a class of scholars who taught, copied, and interpreted Jewish scriptures and law.
In other words, they were the scriptural theologians of their day.
Today they would be the scholars who translate the Bible from one language into another.
In our case, the ones who take the Greek text of the NT and translate it into English.
The ones who take the Hebrew text of the OT and translate it into English.
Meaning, these are highly educated and extremely intelligent individuals.
And what’s interesting is, for the most part, the Scribes had been adversaries of Jesus.
Throughout the Gospels, when the Pharisees showed up to challenge Jesus, the Scribes were right there with them.
But as we’re going to see, this Scribe is different.
Apparently this Scribe comes alone, and is genuinely interested and impressed by the words of Jesus.
How do we know?
We know from what Mark tells us.
Mark says, “…and hearing them disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered well...”
In other words, as this Scribe matches Jesus win these debates and verbally defeat his opponents, he is becoming more and more impressed by what he is hearing Jesus say.
And so instead of attacking Jesus, he asks Jesus a genuine question.
So what’s the question?
It’s the same question many of us ask today.
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