The Lord of Life; Luke 20:27-40

Delivered during the Sunday Morning Worship Service, 3/23/2025. Jesus' confrontation with the religious leaders in the Temple at the end of His ministry continues with a challenge from a group of Sadducees concerning the reality of life after death. Thinking they have an iron-clad argument against the resurrection, they present Jesus with an extreme example of what the Torah teaches about marriage. But Jesus exposes their "straw man" argument by revealing a glimpse of what Kingdom-dwellers are actually like in the age to come. He then, with a brilliant exegesis from the writings of Moses, proves unequivocally that the Torah teaches not only the reality, but the necessity of life after death. Luke's focus remains on the absolute authority and preeminence of Christ in all things, and particularly as the "hinge" upon which the door of eternity swings. For along with the resurrection comes the inevitable judgment when only those who are "worthy" in God's eyes will gain entrance into His eternal rest. And this worthiness can only be attained through belief, surrender and obedience to Jesus-- the Lord of the Living, the Lord of Life!