bullhorn

I like to imagine certain scenes in the Bible. Maybe you do this too. I try to picture the faces of the crowd when they watched Lazarus walk out of his grave. I try to envision what it felt like to be Peter walking on the water. What was the weather like on those days? What did it smell and sound like? What were the logical, only-human brains of these people telling them as the natural laws of our world were being broken?

Another scene I like to imagine is found in Matthew 22. Jesus has been teaching the people and, like always, gathered a crowd. There are all types loitering around to hear. Some are faithful and zealous. Some are simply curious. And then some are quite angry at it all. The Pharisees, for example, can’t stand Jesus. And His wild popularity among the people doesn’t help. Until He came along, the Pharisees were the cream of the crop, the highly respected ones, the keynote speakers and sell-out artists. Now, Jesus has messed it all up. And that brings us to our scene.

One of these jealous and rather ticked-off Pharisees thinks of a question—a trick question. I imagine that he walked up to Jesus with a gleam in his eye and a sly grin on his face. He probably dished out some false respect and asked, in a voice certainly loud enough for the surrounding masses to hear, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

What do you think the crowd did right then? I think they probably fell silent. How do you think Jesus’ Twelve disciples were feeling at that moment? My gut tells me they suddenly got very nervous for their Master. See, Jesus had a lot to consider. The Old Testament Law (Torah) consists of five (5) very long and detailed books. And then there is the Prophets (like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel) and even the Writings (like Psalms and Proverbs). Out of all that, what would Jesus choose? How could He possibly respond?

And what about Jesus? He knew this was a trick question. (One of the perks of being God, you know.) He understood the selfish motivation behind it and knew the heart of the one asking. In my mind, Jesus is also smiling, but it’s a very different smile. His is one of quiet confidence. It’s the kind of smile that makes the Pharisee’s smile disappear. I think He probably waited for a few seconds. Not because He was racking His brain, but just because He wanted the moment and the question to sink in. Then, when the timing is perfect, just as everyone is leaning in, He answers. “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Don’t you know that Pharisee was stunned silent? Not only was this the perfect answer, it was more than he asked for! He asked for one—the greatest—singular…but Jesus didn’t play by this Pharisee’s rules. Jesus always seems to have His own set of rules, doesn’t He?! I imagine the guy looked back at his Pharisee buddies with wide eyes as if to say, “Well? A little help here… Say something! Anything!!!” His buddies probably just shrugged their shoulders and gave the cringe-look, like when you watch your friend attempt to clear the jump, but he just crashes and burns.
Jesus, on the other hand, is probably ecstatic. Even though the motivation behind it was wrong, the question itself is great! And He is probably thrilled it came up! Our faith is all about love. Everything else hangs on that. Everything! All the other commandments and rules and life principles…the tens of thousands of books and CDs and seminars and conferences…without love, they’re useless, worthless, silly!

Oh, and let’s not forget that Jesus gave us two—plural. To Jesus, the greatest commandment of love is two sided. It’s not just about loving God. It’s also about loving people. Those two things are connected. In fact, they’re so intimately intertwined that, to Jesus, they are one. The way we love God spills out into the way we love people. The way we love people is the direct result of the way we love God. You can’t have one without the other.

Think of it this way: the way we love God = the way we love our children = the way we love our coworkers = the way we love our neighbors = the way is love our employer = the way we love the atheist = the way we love the waitress = the way we love our spouse = the way we love the gay rights community = the way we love God.

Christianity is about a lot of other things, but they’re all secondary. They are all hidden behind the thing. What it all boils down to, what really matters, is love.

Thank you, Rob Bell and the Nooma team for a fantastic resource!