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The Bible Study – Our texts Wednesday, March 13 are Genesis 44:1-18, 32-34 & Mark 12:28-44. Joseph designs one more test for the brothers who sold him into slavery. They haven’t yet realized who he is. Joseph checks to see whether they’ll allow Benjamin to be enslaved, and bring even further grief to their father. The brothers’ refusal to leave Benjamin behind in Egypt, and Judah’s offer to be held in his place, reveal their hearts have changed. God can also test what’s in our hearts, and see whether we repent of our transgressions. When Judah offers to take Benjamin’s punishment, and be enslaved in his place, this foreshadowed the saving, self-sacrificial work of a descendent – Christ. Jesus gave Himself as a ransom and sacrifice for the sins of the world. In our Gospel passage, Christ challenges an ‘expert’ in Scripture to consider the entire Law, and to turn to the Lord in faith. Jesus is asked which Commandment is the greatest. To Deuteronomy 6:4 Christ adds Leviticus 19:18 – love both God and one another. Love of neighbour is a natural outgrowth of love for the Lord. Jesus alone kept God’s Law perfectly in our place. His substitutionary death on the cross for sin, paid for our salvation. In our text Jesus continues to teach in the temple. He’s vanquished every attempt to trap him with quizzes. Now Jesus asks a question, not only of importance to His listeners then, but to every person alive today: What do you think of the Christ, whose Son is He? How we answer will determine our eternal fate. Jesus challenges hearers to realize that He, the Messiah, is more than a man. He is both true man and true God. Jesus expressly says that it was the Holy Spirit that led David to call his descendent “Lord” in Psalm 110:1. David revealed his faith in his Deliverer, a faith worked within him by God. Secular disbelief today blinds people, making them unable to see Christ as both divine and their Redeemer. The Apostle Paul explained in Galatians 4:4-5: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Heavenly Father, grant us humble hearts to listen to Your Word and accept Your salvation found only in Jesus Christ, our Lord & Saviour. Amen. Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto http://christlutherantoronto.org/beliefs