God’s Resurrection Power--Mark 12:18-27
Pharisees, legal experts and interpreters of Jewish Law and traditions; generally supported armed resistance and revolt against Roman authorities. Sadducees, wealthy and influential Priestley families, cooperated with Rome, opposing resistance.
Pharisees were influential among ordinary Jews; Sadducees were not. Pharisees believed in a future resurrection; Sadducees did not because they saw no evidence of resurrection in first five books of Jewish Scripture, Genesis to Deuteronomy. Known as books of Moses; Sadducees accepted only these as Scripture.
Among Jews, widespread belief existed in a general resurrection at end of time. Sadducees were the exception. They also thought belief in future resurrection encouraged revolutionaries: Who believed, in dying fighting Rome, they would be raised again.
Sadducees assume if Jesus affirms belief in resurrection, he must also side with majority ready to fight Rome. Which he did not! They pose a question about resurrection and marriage; their point being a woman couldn’t possible have seven husbands.
Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God? For when they rise from the dead they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like angels in heaven.” Mark 12:24-25
Angels are created beings with bodies. Resurrection does not mean life after death in heaven, apart from our bodies. Nor does resurrection mean breathing new life into existing earthly bodies. Resurrection means all new bodily existence; a life after life after death: Having a new body in God’s new world!
“But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”
Mark 12:26-27
Jesus silences the Sadducees, using their own Scripture from Exodus. They know neither their Scripture nor God’s power. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have not yet been raised; but since God is known as their God; Jesus affirms they will be raised!
The Sadducees did not understand the power of God. But do we? The Biblical meaning of “power” is ability—to be able. God is able to raise the dead as demonstrated in raising Jesus. His resurrection is sign post pointing ahead to the resurrection of all!
Jesus’ resurrection means God has power to change us and to change our situation. God gives resurrection power to us. But we have to connect to the power source. Prayer is our connection.
Look at God’s words to Moses; I AM the God of Abraham…. God is the great I AM. God is God of the living and we are alive. You and I belong to God and prayer is our connection to God.
Jesus said I AM. I am the bread of life; I am the light of the world; I am the good shepherd; I am the door; I am the way, the truth and the life; I am the resurrection and life; I am the vine and you are the branches. And I AM with you always; where two or three have gathered in my name, I AM there in their midst.
Jesus is alive and in our midst. How are we to respond? Are we plugged in to his presence? Are we getting a prayer connection? Are we being connected to God’s resurrection power?!