April 9th, 2025
Wednesday, April 9th
The Cool & Calm Approach
Nicole Goddard
When I read the story of the Sadducees and the Resurrection, I cannot help but think of 3 or 4 men, huddled in a corner concocting the craziest scenario to trap Jesus in his theology. I mean, what a story they created! After a widow loses her husband, she ends up marrying a long line of brothers who each keep dying after they wed, just to keep a family inheritance in the family line. I mean what a hypothetical situation!
If you want to dig into commentaries about this story, it's rather interesting the tale they created tying up numerous laws of the Torah. I imagine these men had puffed out chests full of complete self-assurance that Jesus wouldn’t be able to explain his way out of this one!
What I think is most important to learn here though, is how Jesus handled a group of people who absolutely refused to believe in what he would accomplish in the coming days – the Resurrection.
Jesus simply responded by quoting Moses when he stated, He is not the God of the dead but of the living, because all are living to him. Luke 20:38. Jesus was referencing scripture that the Sadducees would value in order to disprove their own worldly view of marriage and life ending in death. Jesus didn’t argue, he didn’t berate them, just simply gave them some food for thought to spark wonder.
Have you ever found yourself up against hostility towards Jesus. Maybe it’s that family member you see everything Thanksgiving or a coworker that always wants to challenge your beliefs. Follow Jesus’ example here, and simply plant some seeds of uncertainty in their claims. Arguing won’t cut through a stubborn perspective, but a calm and confident rebuttal just might get them thinking.
The Cool & Calm Approach
Nicole Goddard
When I read the story of the Sadducees and the Resurrection, I cannot help but think of 3 or 4 men, huddled in a corner concocting the craziest scenario to trap Jesus in his theology. I mean, what a story they created! After a widow loses her husband, she ends up marrying a long line of brothers who each keep dying after they wed, just to keep a family inheritance in the family line. I mean what a hypothetical situation!
If you want to dig into commentaries about this story, it's rather interesting the tale they created tying up numerous laws of the Torah. I imagine these men had puffed out chests full of complete self-assurance that Jesus wouldn’t be able to explain his way out of this one!
What I think is most important to learn here though, is how Jesus handled a group of people who absolutely refused to believe in what he would accomplish in the coming days – the Resurrection.
Jesus simply responded by quoting Moses when he stated, He is not the God of the dead but of the living, because all are living to him. Luke 20:38. Jesus was referencing scripture that the Sadducees would value in order to disprove their own worldly view of marriage and life ending in death. Jesus didn’t argue, he didn’t berate them, just simply gave them some food for thought to spark wonder.
Have you ever found yourself up against hostility towards Jesus. Maybe it’s that family member you see everything Thanksgiving or a coworker that always wants to challenge your beliefs. Follow Jesus’ example here, and simply plant some seeds of uncertainty in their claims. Arguing won’t cut through a stubborn perspective, but a calm and confident rebuttal just might get them thinking.
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