In Mark chapter twelve there is a familiar story about a group of Sadducees who came to Jesus, questioning him about the resurrection. The Sadducees were a sect of the Jews known for their disbelief in angels and spirits, as well as the resurrection. This is the question they asked: "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all, the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife" (Mr 12:19-23).
Now that sure sounds like a loaded question, doesnt it? Can you imagine seven men fighting over the same woman in heaven? Maybe on a soap opera, but not Heaven. Though the question sounds sincere, it was skewed and designed to put Jesus in a theological corner. Disbelieving in the resurrection, these Sadducees created a ridiculous scenario that would make the very idea of resurrection seem laughable. It is very possible that they had already used this same tactic on someone else and was successful, but not on Jesus. Jesus responded first by telling them that they were in great error because they did not know the scriptures or the power of God (Mr 12:29). He then proceeded to ask them a question that put them in a greater theological corner: Have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' (26)? Now it is here that the casual reader might stop and say Well, what do the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have to do with the resurrection? The answer to this question is found in the verb tense that was used when the Lord mentioned being the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He used the Greek verb eimi, which means am.
The tense of this verb is extremely important, especially when one considers that when God made the statement I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, those three men had already died. If there was no resurrection, God should have said, I was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Once Jesus pointed out the verb tense to those Sadducees, he left them with an obvious and weighty conclusion: [God] is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken" (Mr 12:27). If something as small as the word am can dismantle an entire theological or doctrinal premise, then it is important that we read and study every word of Scripture with great care. Along these same lines, Jesus stated, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled (Mt 5:18). Commentaries tell us that Jot (or I) is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet (Clark). Tittle One of those little strokes by which alone some of the Hebrew letters are distinguished from others like them (JFB). Jesus is saying to us the even the smallest letters and etchings of scripture are highly significant when it comes to understanding Scripture.
When reading through the scriptures, read slowly and carefully; then, read it again and again. Our aim in scripture reading is not to see how many chapters we can read in one setting. We read to understand so that we can apply it to our life, as well as teach others.
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Cliff
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