Luke 20:27-40_Sermon_Life and Death

k2_11_09_25_#20_Luke 20:27-40_Life and Death

{ILS} Golden calf

• Three distinct parts of this image

• Moses up at the top with the 10 commandments

• He’s been gone for an extended time

• Calf made of gold everyone had donated - Aaron consented

• Prize possessions melted down to get answers

• People worshipping this tangible object

• Tired, Hungry, and Impatient - Who knows

• Question - WHO WILL CAPTURE AND KEEP the Israelites’ attention?

{SCR} Luke 20:27 Some Sadducees, who deny that there’s a resurrection, came to Jesus and asked, 28 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies leaving a widow but no children, the brother must marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first man married a woman and then died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third brother married her. Eventually all seven married her, and they all died without leaving any children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 In the resurrection, whose wife will she be? All seven were married to her.”

{MPT} Power struggles are life and death

• The Sadducees constantly suggest that Jesus is a threat - US or HIM

• Playbook of some leaders is to create an existential threat

• Generate concern the threat is gaining momentum 

• We are the only ones that can save you

{MPT} Controlling the interpretation is life and death

• Moses is the true voice for our people 

• And

• Sadducees are the ones that can interpret Moses better than anyone

• If Sadduccees can discredit Jesus publicly, 

• neutralize the threat, everyone can move on - - {Reversing Parable}

• Reset the parable

{SCR} Luke 20: 34 Jesus said to them, “People who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy to participate in that age, that is, in the age of the resurrection from the dead, won’t marry nor will they be given in marriage. 36 They can no longer die, because they are like angels and are God’s children since they share in the resurrection.

{MPT} Jesus redefines life and death

• People who below to this age

• Wrapped up in the politics of the Roman Govt and Jewish Rebellion

• Wrapped up in complex challenges of family and professional life

• If you project your concerns of this world and perception onto God’s future kingdom

• Consider the most beautiful place you’ve ever been

• Is there any substitute for seeing it in person, the first time

• Belonging to this age is forcing our struggles onto Jesus’ mission

• Everyone forced their struggles

• Disciples for position 

• Pilate

{SCR} Luke 20 37 Even Moses demonstrated that the dead are raised—in the passage about the burning bush, when he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 He isn’t the God of the dead but of the living. To him they are all alive.” 39 Some of the legal experts responded, “Teacher, you have answered well.” 40 No one dared to ask him anything else.

{MPT} Even after he caused death, Moses had new life

• Jesus granted people opportunities but that’s not a new idea for God

• The fact that the Sadducees  did not ask further questions is indicative that they did not truly want to know. about , that they did not need help

• We bless God when we approach in a curious way, offer in an intentional way, and ask questions to understand. 

• When we live that way, things presented as life and death simply are not