Today we are reading from Mark 12: 18-27:

18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; 21 and the second married the widow and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22 none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. 23 In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.”

24 Jesus said to them, “Is not this the reason you are wrong, that 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 story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.”

Another day, another time the religious leaders try to trip up Jesus.  Yesterday it was over politics. Today, it is was over heaven and the resurrection.  The Sadducees(who didn’t believe in the resurrection, because in their interpretation, they don’t see it in the Books of Moses) come and ask Jesus a question about the resurrection.  

So, they are asking a question about something they don’t even believe in, simply to try to trip up Jesus. What a sad way to use Scripture.  Not to learn from.  Not to be shaped by.  Not to grow closer to God, but simply to try to trip and confuse others.  

Why do we read the Bible?  

Do we read it to learn and grow from?  Or do we read for some other reason?  To prove that we are good?  Or to justify ourselves before God or other people.  Maybe to try to make ourselves feel superior.  

Why do we read the Bible?  

The religious leaders read it and used to try to get to Jesus. In their presence was the very Word of God, the one to whom the Scriptures pointed.  He was right there, in front of them, and their reading of scripture didn’t draw them to Him. 

Why do we read the Bible? 

Today we hold in our hands, the Holy Scriptures this sacred gift that will point us to God.  Read it.  Listen to it.  Pray over it.  Meditate upon it.  Ask God to reveal Himself to you through it.  It is one of God’s great gifts to you, to me, to us all.  Read it looking, read it listening.  

Read it. 

Today, may in the time we spend in scripture, may we feel God’s grace and God’s love. Read, listen, and experience. They didn’t read scripture in that way. May we not make the same mistake.  

If you’d like to get each day’s daily scripture reading sent to your phone along with this reading guide, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up!