The Daily Word
Every Wednesday, when Parliament is in session, around lunch time, there is an item on the agenda called ‘Prime Minister’s Question Time’. It is an opportunity for individual members of the Opposition Parties, largely, to pose critical questions to the Prime Minister.
When Jesus was undertaking His mission on earth, He too got asked many questions to seek to catch Him out and possibly get a reason to have Him arrested. Unlike the PM, apart from His deity which gave Him the powers He needed, He didn’t have notice of the questions, and most were asked in full view and hearing of the crowds that followed Him. One such question was asked by a lawyer, not a lawyer like we have now, but a specialist in religious law. He asked which were the greatest commandments? But Jesus turned it round and asked him what he thought they were, and it led to a summary of the whole 10 Commandments in just 2. “Love the Lord your God with all your being; and love your neighbour as yourself”.
Jesus complemented him on his answer and then effectively used the answer to formulate a Commandment which He defines in John 13: “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another”. What a profound statement! Unlike the Jewish Law which had so many specifics that defined the limits of conformance, this commandment is endless. Where do we draw a line in loving one another? particularly as Jesus followed it up by the words, ‘as I have loved you! This is love in action and not just words.
That type of love is sacrificial, as we find in John 3 16. It is totally selfless, desiring only the benefit of others. It is extreme and it should be characteristic of all our fellowship with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
The question was asked in a song by the Bee Gees, which we need to take on board in the light of Jesus’ commandment, “How deep is your love?"
Article written by Brian Preston, Elder @SFGH Church
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