Fearing Resurrection. – Why the Afterlife Threatens

When was the last time you changed your mind about something?  What did it change about how you live?

Within CHURCH, you have groups that have different types of SPIRITUALITY.  And if you think about it, it’s very TEMPERAMENT driven.  This is why there are different types of churches.
(SEE Varied Spiritualities Diagram)

SADDUCEES ENGAGE JESUS (v.18) “Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection…”
Mark immediately frames the encounter around:

• Their theological denial – They didn’t believe in life after death. They didn’t NEED the resurrection to be true. In fact, for them it was better that it didn’t.

• Their interpretive lens – PROOF-TEXTING is the practice of taking a verse or short passage out of its context in order to support a predetermined belief, argument, or position.

If you don’t believe in HEAVEN, you need to get as much out of this life as possible. Regardless of what it costs anyone else.  And then you need to GUARD it, ensure that no one takes it.

If you don’t believe in HELL, there is no consequence for your actions. There is no judgement. This confirms the inherent bias that you are essentially a good person.

This is a picture of SELF-DECEPTION: The Sadducees had no excuse for not knowing Scripture. They were not unable but unwilling, and Jesus rebuked this unwillingness.

Jesus does not defend resurrection HYPOTHETICALLY. He ASSUMES it LITERALLY.

Then: “They neither marry nor are given in marriage…”  
NOTE: Jesus is not diminishing marriage.
He is showing: Resurrection life transcends earthly institutions

Resurrection introduces:

• Fullness – Where there is wholeness.
• Permanence – Where there is no death.
• Transformed existence – Where the all the effects of sin are removed.
  (SEE Wholeness Diagram)

Resurrection Changes Everything

• Covenant continues
• Death is not ultimate
• God is still the God of the living

“Because I live, you will live too.” — Jesus, in John 14:19