Investing Truth

Investing

Investing the Truth and Recognizing the King

In Mark 12, a scribe asks Jesus what the greatest commandment is. Jesus responds with the call to love God and love others—summarizing the entire law with one word: love. The scribe agrees, and Jesus tells him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." But being "not far" still means not in. He knew the right answer but didn't recognize that the King of the kingdom stood before him.

By comparing Mark 12 with Matthew 22 and Luke 20, we see how each Gospel writer highlights different aspects of the same encounter, enriching our understanding. The conversation turns when Jesus quotes Psalm 110, asking how David could call his descendant "Lord." The religious leaders couldn't answer. They had information but lacked illumination.

Acts 2 confirms that Psalm 110 points to Jesus—David's Son and Lord—who died, rose, and now reigns at the Father's right hand. This is the heart of the gospel: Jesus is both King and Priest, and His identity must be recognized, received and revealed by God and through us as a way of life. He was standing in front of the very King he claimed to love—but couldn't recognize Him, didn't receive Him nor would he reveal Him because the Father had not made Him known to them.

Teaching and preaching are described as spiritual investments—sowing the seed of truth into the hearts of hearers. But only God causes growth. The one field we can always cultivate is our own heart. We are called to saturate ourselves in the Word, water it with prayer, guard against distraction, and let the Spirit cultivate fruit.

Ultimately, the scribe missed what many still miss today: recognizing Jesus, not just knowing abo