A Verse
Luke 20:38
He is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.
A Comment
In a showdown with a group of Sadduccees, Jesus proclaimed the hope of the resurrection. The Sadducees denied the resurrection and typically only accepted the first five books of the Old Testament as Scripture. Jesus’ points them to Exodus 3:6, where God is described as the God of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. According to Jesus, though the patriarchs were dead, God continued to be their God, which implies that their soul remained and that there was hope for a future resurrection. If nothing about Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob remained, in other words, if there was no immortal soul, then God would not have revealed that He was their God. Yet, God relates and rules over even the immortal souls of those who have died and will soon be raised from the dead to a newness of life in the New Creation. Take heart, then, this morning. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Not even death. For even in death, He is with us, knows us, relates to us, and promises to raise us to life again when Jesus returns.
A Prayer
O’ Jesus, thank you for the hope of the gospel. We might face death, but death does not get the final word. Death is the final enemy that will be destroyed at your return. And You have already shown us by Your own resurrection that death’s power has been broken. Give us eyes to see and celebrate this hope this morning. In Your name, Amen.
A Blessing
Now the God who is from everlasting to everlasting,
who has loved you with an everlasting love and gives you everlasting life,
now support you with the everlasting arms in these days and all the days until Jesus comes. Amen.
from Grace Be with You by Dale Ralph Davis
God of the Living