Risk Tolerance and Faith: Mark 12:32-34
Which one am I? Life is full of choices. Am I the risk-taker or the person who plays it safe? Am I the one who listens to new ideas or do I shut myself off? Am I willing to explore or would I rather stay at home? These questions are all without context and exceptionally open-ended, so the answer to each one might change as context is added around it. The point, though, is to spend time considering who we are.
The scribe compliments Jesus’ wisdom. Jesus replies in kind, acknowledging the scribe is not far from the kingdom of God. This exchange is profound, but not because of what is said. The exchange is profound because of where and when it happens.
The chief priests, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees all tried to trap Jesus. In each scenario, Jesus defeated the challenge. This scribe comes to Jesus as other people try to bring Jesus to an end. The courage of this scribe to not only come to Jesus but to acknowledge that Jesus has wisdom is profound. At the very least, this scribe will come under scrutiny from the religious elite. At the worst, this scribe could lose his communal standing and his place in the religious community.
No wonder Jesus tells the scribe he is not far from the kingdom of God! Here is a scribe who will take risks to acknowledge Jesus is correct. Here is a man with potential in the kingdom of God because he recognizes truth and does the unpopular thing by embracing it.
This also explains why nobody else is willing to ask any more questions. Jesus changes lives. Interacting with Jesus comes with risk. The rest of the religious elite see the scribe listen to Jesus and do something to make him unpopular. The rest of the religious elite want nothing to do with that.
This scenario began with various groups trying to show Jesus up. Before their eyes, Jesus has not only not lost but begun to make sense to parts of their community. Instead of showing Jesus to be charlatan, one of their own has validated Jesus’ authority.
It is sad the remainder of the religious elite would rather close themselves off to Jesus than experience the change He can bring to life. It is also incredible that one of the religious elite had the courage to respond to Jesus in the middle of a hostile environment. These results are not as uncommon as might be thought, however. Jesus’ teachings have the power to change lives. Jesus’ teachings can cause us to make decisions that aren’t popular. Some choose to close themselves off so they don’t have to deal with embracing Jesus’s change. Other people kick open the door and let Jesus’ change take hold.
The question we should all consider is, “which one am I?”
