Perspective

Luke 16:29-31 ESV

But Abraham said, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

The season is upon us. Graduates from Kindergarten to College are lining up to walk and shack hands. The pomp and circumstance is playing and “friends are friends forever” is playing all across the land. Sitting in one such gathering it is easy to see that something important is transpiring. Ritual attire is worn, ritual songs are played, speeches given, family and friends travel from far and wide to crowd together on uncomfortable seats for an hour to watch this rite of passage. To watch and see it would be natural to believe that this is a very important day in the life of the community, the school, and those present. Gifts are given, promises made, celebratory meals gathered around, and there is cake! Yet, this isn’t the most important thing to happen in these communities that week.

As Jesus is teaching the people about the realities of their life, he makes a rather bold and outrageous statement. That even if someone were to get up and walk out of a tomb, those who don’t believe the law and the prophets won’t believe him either. Jesus is telling his disciples that the preaching and teaching of God’s word (Law and prophets) is more convincing than a dead man walking around! As important as that graduation is, would not a grave in the cemetery opening and a person coming out telling us about how to live so as to gain eternal life be seen as more important? And yet Jesus says the preaching/teaching of God’s Word is a surer witness!

Every week the word of God is taught in our community, some weeks more effectively than others, and some locations more clearly, but it is taught. It is easy to wonder how the Israelites could grumble when God provided a miracle six days a week. Every morning giving them Mana, the bread of heaven, that they might eat and live. Yet, we have a surer witness, a more powerful sign, God’s word, all of it (Moses was just writing Genesis). The most important thing to happen in a community happens every week, Sunday morning. God’s Church gathers, his word is preached, his people share a meal, and sing songs.

How could the Israelites be so dense? How could the Pharisee’s not understand? How can people find anything more important to do on a Sunday, then gathering in the assembly of the saints, and be taught by his word? They like us have fallen into the sin of seeing and believing. Our eyes are veiled from seeing what is actually transpiring. When Christians gather more dross is burned away, more of Christ is revealed, more territory is conquered for Christ’s Kingdom. Will you see life as it is or will you see the trappings of this life and think they are more than dross? Read the Law, read the Prophets, read the Gospels and the Epistles, and watch as a surer sign is given, as the Spirit unfolds himself to you.

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO