The Resurrection: Reality, Not Dead Religion

Day By Day By Grace

Bob Hoekstra

March 26, 2010

Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the
temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that
they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the
dead. (Acts 4:1-2)

The resurrection of Christ is the difference between a dead religion
and a personal relationship. Living by resurrection power is the
difference between earthly striving and heavenly reality. These
differences can be seen in the contrast between the religious
authorities of Israel and the disciples of Jesus.

The disciples were proclaiming to the people the wondrous message of
the risen Lord Jesus. "They taught the people and preached in Jesus the
resurrection from the dead." Such a message infuriated the religious
leaders. "The priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees
came upon them, being greatly disturbed." Today, many religious leaders
reflect a similar response. In the popular religious world,
universalism and skepticism prevail. Each religion is viewed as one
more road leading to God. For many, the miraculous is unacceptable, as
human reasoning reigns supreme. In many religious circles, the
resurrection of Jesus Christ is either an object of scoffing or an area
of hypocritical compromise.

The Sadducees of old were like this. They would talk about the
resurrection, even asking Jesus questions that seemed to affirm that
God could raise people from the dead. "Therefore, in the resurrection,
whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her" (Matthew
22:28). This question followed their scenario in which seven brothers
would become the husband of the same woman, through seven death and
marriage sequences. What a mockery this question represented. First, it
was given in hypocrisy. "The Sadducees, who say there is no
resurrection, came to Him and asked Him" (Matthew 22:23). Second, they
were unaware of what the Scriptures said about such a heavenly matter.
"For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage"
(verse 30). Jesus explained that these religious rationalists made two
great errors in their approach. "You are mistaken, not knowing the
Scriptures nor the power of God" (verse 29).

We who have been born again by faith in the risen Lord Jesus can err in
a similar fashion in our day by day living. We can talk about the
resurrection of Jesus, but behave as though it were not an actual
reality for Christian living. We can be mistaken, "not knowing the
Scriptures nor the power of God."

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your patience when I profess belief
in the resurrection, but live by my inadequate human resources. Help me
to understand what the Scriptures say about living daily in the power
of the resurrection of Christ, Amen.