This lesson must begin with a reminder of Jesus' unique position as God's spokesman. The gospel of John, likely the last of the four gospels to be written, devotes significant emphasis to Jesus' role as God's spokesman. No one else spoke as God's Son. No one else had a relationship with God as the Word in the creation process (John 1:1-3). No one else produced the new creation after sin marred the original creation--only Jesus is God's source of light and life (John 1:4,5).

The gospel of John emphasizes the fact that Jesus declared God to be the source of all he said, taught, and did. Consider these statements from Jesus:

John 5:19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.

John 5:30 I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 5:36 But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish--the very works that I do--testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.

John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 8:28 So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

John 12:49,50 For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me." (Read John 12:44-50 for Jesus' complete statement.)

John 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

Jesus the man had a relationship with God that no human ever had or ever will have. In what he did, said, and taught, he was totally dependent on God. Nothing in his ministry or death originated from his initiative. Everything originated from his relationship and communication with God the Father.

Jesus' deeds and statements must be at the foundation of every Christian's understanding of God's will. Paul's statements, or Peter's statements, or John's statements, or another other New Testament writer's statements are not to be used to "redefine" Jesus. An understanding of Jesus must be the beginning point of understanding all New Testament teachings.

The texts for this lesson record the reactions of two people on the same occasion. Both Matthew and Mark record the assault of Jewish religious/political leaders on Jesus during his final week of physical life. Jesus' popularity rose to such heights among the Jewish people that these leaders made determined efforts to discredit Jesus as a teacher from God. Different groups attempted to discredit Jesus' knowledge and understanding of scripture.

Matthew told of a person, a lawyer, who asked Jesus what was God's greatest command. A Jewish lawyer knew scripture and was acknowledged to have expertise in Jewish religious law. This lawyer was not seeking information. He was "testing" Jesus.

Mark told of a person, a scribe, who overheard Jesus' answer. Scribes were also acknowledged experts in Jewish religious law. He heard Jesus' response and was impressed. He understood Jesus' answer reflected God's priorities. He commended Jesus for his answer. He acknowledged loving God with all one's being and one's neighbor as one's self was fundamental in God's priorities. Those commands, not sacrificial worship commands, stood as the foundation for God's priorities. Jesus was impressed with the scribe's understanding. He told the man he was not far from God's kingdom.

Questions from this lesson's texts:

1. According to Jesus, what is God's greatest command? (both texts) Discuss the meaning of the command.

2. According to Jesus, what is God's second greatest command? (both texts) Discuss the meaning of the command.

3. In both texts, Jesus clearly declared the number one command. In both texts, Jesus included the number two command in his response. The question asked for Jesus to state the number one command. No request was made for the number two command.
   1. In your understanding, why would Jesus include both commands in his response?

   2. Do you see any significance in the fact that a response properly reflecting God's priorities must include both teachings? State your understanding of the significance.

   3. What significance do you attach to the fact that Jesus acknowledged God has priorities in His commandments?

   4. What significance should be attached to the fact Jesus said there was a number one and a number two command?

4. Personal thought question: one expert in scripture used scripture to attempt to trap someone else. One expert in scripture recognized God's priorities. How do you use scripture?

Christians who love God also love people. A "whole person" love for God cannot refuse to "love your neighbor as yourself." Godly character and integrity honors both divine expectations.

Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 5

Copyright © 2002
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ

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