Lenten Devotion for 4 April 2011 Anno domini

Lenten Devotion for 4 April 2011 Anno Domini

18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, 19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. 21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. 22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. 23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. 24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? 25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. 26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. (Mark 12:18-27)

In our last study comprising the preceding five verses of Mark 12:13-17, we observed the Herodians (pro-Roman elements) and the Pharisees (pro-theocracy) coming to Christ and trying to trip Him up as to whether it was right to acknowledge Rome, or to deny their rule, in favor of the theocratic rule of the Chief Priests. Christ overturned their argument and vanquished them. But evil never gives up (the devil never sleeps). Now we see that they have sent the Sadducees to confront Him. If any deny the power of God and Holy Scripture, it was the Sadducees. They denied the resurrection, and now they come to the ‘Resurrection and the Life’ to create a question whereby they may undermine His testimony and Truth. Materialistic and power greedy, these men came to the wrong Man.

18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, 19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. 21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. 22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. 23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

Why would these miscreants, who did not believe in the resurrection, ask such a complicated question whose answer depended entirely upon the presumption of a resurrection? They asked it believing that their muddled reasoning would trap Christ in His response to the last question regarding the resurrection. They had no faith in the power of God because they admitted to none of the Truth revealed in Holy Scripture. The ‘haven of the wicked’ lies in the fact that they are not bound by truth, and feel free to use deception. whereas, a man of honor is bound by truth and will not resort to deception. In the end, truth always wins out.

“Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?” The presumptions of the Sadducees revealed great error in their thinking. What is the source of spiritual error? - an ignorance of God’s Word. If we fail to grasp the extent of it, we shall also fail to admit to the Power of it.

For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. Christ flatly denies the fundamental basis for their theology here by firmly stating that there is a resurrection. In heaven, God’s provision for the procreation of the race has been completed and no longer is marriage essential to that end. In this sense, we will be as the angels (and in no other).

And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? It is impossible to pretend a reliance on Holy Scripture and, at the same time, deny the Power of its Author. “Have ye not read?” If so, “How readest thou?” A simple reading of Holy Scripture will not always open the fullness of truth to our eyes. We must read and study diligently for understanding just as we would read a love letter in our youth. Christ is the great I AM! (not the I was, or will be). He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (through whom the blessing was transmitted). If these were dead, how can He be the God of the living? The early fires of faith burned in the hearts of these men and pointed to the coming Redeemer. Abraham was, perhaps, the first Christian! Examine this passage: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:56,58). The strong faith of Abraham looked forward to the coming Savior. Our faith looks back upon the accomplished fact. His faith was a saving faith in Christ. And we are, through that same faith, descendents of Abraham:
“Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” (Gal 3:7-8). See, my inquiring friend! The Gospel was preached unto Abraham – and he believed it!

“He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.” With this, the Sadducees, like the Herodians and Pharisees, are vanquished, not only by the written Word quoted, but the Word itself in the Person of Christ! If there be no resurrection, in what do we hope? What a comfort to know that God will be my God throughout this earthly journey, and then beyond into Eternity Future. Here is a question Christ directs directly to you: “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:26). While we yet live is the moment of decision. If you are yet alive, it is due time to make your election sure in Christ. If not today, then when?