You Are Not Far From The Kingdom of God

I have been gathering with some friends to take a fresh look at Jesus. We wanted to get know the personality of Jesus a bit better. Often times I would read something and look for the teaching which is not all bad. I sometimes would lose sight of the context in which it was said and the greater context of how it fits in with all of Scripture. What I have found is that sometimes the teaching is in how Jesus said something and who he said it too. For instance when Jesus was talking with the Pharisees and Sadducess, he would use phrases like brood of vipers, wicked and adulterous generations, whitewash etc... Then he would talk to the crowds and the disciples with parables and have a calmness to him. He would then later explain what he meant to the disciples in detail.

I have tendency to lump everyone in groups, teachers of the law bad, disciples good. Until last week at lunch i was reading mark and ran across something that i never noticed. Jesus told a teacher of the law, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God" 12:34. I just sat there dumbfounded. Once again I was in awe by this guy Jesus. You mean Jesus told a teacher of the law the same group of people that he called brood of vipers, wicked etc... that he wasn't far from the Kingdom of God. You mean people that are not in the "in Kingdom" can be closer to the Kingdom. What a beautiful mindset that is full of grace. This statement is haunting me. It is reassuring that I don't have to argue with people and or be bitter or frustrated because i don't' think people are getting it. (i know the guys answer was really good but what if someone just gets a glimpse into the Kingdom would there be a hunger created there?) God can slowly uncover whatever is blinding them and He draws them closer to His Kingdom. We are just people who need to have the right motives and plant seeds of hope, grace, forgiveness, love. God will draw them to himself.

Motives...What was peters motive in Matt. 16:22? Well Jesus knew and called one of the beloved disciples, Satan! Jesus is just. He doesn't show favoritism. He is interested in the heart no matter what box we fit in society.

I have to say that I am falling more in love with Jesus. He is a very complex person, duh he is God in flesh. It is good to look at Him from a different perspective.