IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

God is the God of the Living

Date: May. 22, 2022

Passage

Mark 12:13-27 (ESV)

13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.

18 And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 12:27

He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

The Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus by asking him a question about taxes. Jesus saw their hypocrisy. Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” We belong to God. We should be ready to give everything to God when he needs us!

Then Sadducees came with a weird story about brothers marrying one woman and all dying without children. They wanted to prove that there is no resurrection. They made a very fatalistic story, filled with the power of death and darkness. Jesus said to them. “Have you not read in the book of Moses, In the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!” God was saying that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are still with him in heaven. They are still living with God. There is resurrection in God!

God has power to raise the dead. There is no death for those who believe in him. We will gain eternal life in the kingdom of God. Lord, it is easy to live under the power of death, darkness and fatalism. But you are the God of the living. Jesus has overcome the power of sin and death. We are no longer ruled by the power of death, but through the power of Jesus to overcome the power of death!

Prayer: Prayer: Help us to have resurrection faith!

One Word: One Word: God is God of the living.

Daily Bread

Plagues of Death and Disease

Exodus 9:1-12

Key Verse: 9:7

And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

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