Love at the Centre: The Greatest Commandment in Mark 12:13

Black text in a bold, slightly distressed font reads, "Love your neighbour as yourself," centered on a white background with a rough, uneven black border, creating a striking and rustic visual design.

Mark 12.13-34

In this passage, Jesus faces two challenges. First, the Pharisees and Herodians attempt to trap him with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus answers with wisdom, declaring, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Later, a scribe asks Jesus about the greatest commandment, and Jesus replies, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength,” and, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” These responses emphasize the centrality of love and allegiance to God’s Dream for the world.

What is attractive about God's Dream?

At the heart of this passage is love—love for God and love for one another. This simple yet profound truth lies at the center of God’s Dream and is deeply attractive, especially at Christmas. In a season that can feel rushed or commercialized, this reminder to love with our whole selves brings us back to what truly matters.

Jesus’ wisdom in navigating the questions of his opponents is also compelling. He refuses to fall into their traps, instead pointing to a higher truth: everything belongs to God. At Christmas, this declaration invites us to remember who we are and whose we are. Our lives, our gifts, and our love are all part of God’s vision for renewal and restoration.

What is challenging about God's Dream?

The call to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength can feel overwhelming. It challenges us to reflect on the ways we compartmentalize our faith, giving God only parts of our lives while holding back others. Similarly, loving our neighbours as ourselves is not always easy, especially when relationships are strained or when the world feels divided.

Jesus’ statement about giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s also challenges us to reflect on our allegiances. Are we living with full devotion to God’s dream, or are we divided by competing loyalties—whether to power, wealth, or comfort? This passage calls us to examine our hearts and to align our lives more fully with God’s vision.

What is transformative about God's Dream?

This passage transforms our understanding of love as the foundation of everything. Loving God with our whole selves and loving our neighbours as ourselves aren’t just commandments; they are the blueprint for living into God’s Dream. This kind of love has the power to heal relationships, renew communities, and bring hope to a fractured world.

At Christmas, we celebrate that God’s Dream is not just a theory but a reality made flesh in Jesus. His life shows us what it means to love fully and sacrificially. This passage calls us to embody that love, trusting that God’s dream of restoration begins with hearts aligned to love. When love is at the center, everything else falls into place.