Luke 20:27-38 (NRSV)
Read Luke 20:27-38 on biblegateway.com
Verse 27Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him Verse 28and asked him a question, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Verse 29Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; Verse 30then the second Verse 31and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Verse 32Finally the woman also died. Verse 33In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her." Verse 34Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; Verse 35but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Verse 36Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. Verse 37And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Verse 38Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive."
Devotion
On occasion I read the "On Faith" columns and blogs on the Washington Post’s Web site (www.washingtonpost.com). While many of the posters are articulate, polite and thoughtful, I’m constantly amazed at the number of people who aren’t. There is so much vitriol about the faith, the church, even the teachings of Christ himself. These writers have no interest in fostering dialogue with those who hold opposing viewpoints. They’re intent on demeaning what they see as irrelevant, oppressive, simplistic ideas. It’s eye-opening, and more than a little depressing.
Jesus must have felt that on occasion. Time and again he is surrounded by people who are intent on tripping him up and discrediting his teaching and authority. In this chapter we find Jesus in the middle of a rabbinical argument on how to read scripture. The questions he’s asked are antagonistic. They're meant to set Jesus up.
So how should Jesus respond? With venom, reason, defensiveness, pity, sarcasm? At times we, too, encounter detractors to the faith – online or face-to-face. How are we called to respond?
Prayer
Lord, the world is full of people who want to discredit your power, even your very existence. Give us the courage to speak out for you – and to do so with clarity, compassion and conviction. Amen.