The Gospel According to Mark: Jesus the Suffering Servantنموونە

Long before Jesus was born as a human being, God led the Israelites out of slavery into a land where they would begin a new life. He'd chosen the Israelites to be his representatives, to reflect him to the world, and to tell others about him. (That story is in Exodus and Numbers.)

God gave his people some very important words that we often call The 10 Commandments. Moses, the leader of the Israelites, said this about God’s words:

“Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).

Many generations later, Jesus repeated these very same words that he'd probably learned from his earthly parents.

Religion often gets a bad name. But Jesus was a very religious person in the best sense. He loved God fully. He worshipped God faithfully. He studied and knew Scripture. He taught Scripture. He obeyed God’s laws. His actions always matched his words. And he wants his followers to do the same.

Focused Reflection

verses 28-43 (Jesus quotes Scripture)

• How do you love (or: follow, obey, surrender to) God with your

1. ​head (mind, thoughts)
2. heart (convictions, affections, desires)
3. hands (actions, service)

• Which of these (head, heart, hands) is the most natural and life-giving way you connect with Jesus?
• When do your thoughts, affections, and actions work together for good?
• When do you find it difficult for your thoughts, affections, and actions to be lined up together with God’s will?

verses 41-44 (a woman gives everything)

• How did the woman's actions show that she loved God with her whole heart, soul, mind, and strength?

General Reflection

• What do you learn about Jesus from this passage?
• What do you learn about following Jesus from this passage?

Extra Info

• The Hebrew word shema​ means “listen.” The verses Jesus quoted in verses 29-31 are from Deuteronomy 6. They were known as "the shema” because that was the first word.
• In the Old Testament, when you see the word LORD​ written with all caps, it represents the holy and personal name of God, Yahweh, which the Jewish people considered too sacred to speak aloud. It has just four letters in the original language and is called the Tetragrammaton.