September 2

Luke 20:27-40 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him (v. 38).

Observation

The Sadducees, who accepted only the material world and denied the resurrection, angels and spirits (Acts 23:8), told a story that was designed to show the absurdity of the resurrection in the light of “levirate marriage.” This was based on the practice that if a husband died, his brother should marry the widow in order to raise up a male heir for him (Gen. 38:8; Deut. 25:5–6). Theoretically, since a woman might have several husbands, the Sadducees contended that the idea of a resurrection was nonsense.

Jesus responded by stating that conditions in the resurrection wouldn’t be like those on earth. Since there is no death and, therefore, no need to replenish the human race, there is no need for procreation in heaven. Furthermore, Jesus pointed out evidence for the resurrection by showing that God continued to be the God of the patriarchs long after they had died. The real point Jesus was making to the Sadducees was, “You’re wrong. The resurrection is real!”

Application

I’m asking myself, “Why is bodily resurrection necessary at all?” Since my soul goes to be with Christ upon my death and I will already have a conscious existence before Almighty God, why do I need the body?

The simple answer is that the physical universe exists to glorify God. Human beings and human bodies fit into that same category of physical things that God created to bring glory to himself (1 Cor. 6:19-20). God will use my body to glorify himself now and forever and ever. How can I bless God in my body today?

Prayer

Father, you are indeed the God of the living, not the dead. May you be glorified in my body now and forever! Amen.

--P. Michael