Preen

Luke 20:27-47 (The Message)

27-33 Some Sadducees came up. This is the Jewish party that denies any possibility of resurrection.

They asked, "Teacher, Moses wrote us that if a man dies and leaves a wife but no child, his brother is obligated to take the widow to wife and get her with child. Well, there once were seven brothers.

The first took a wife. He died childless. The second married her and died, then the third, and eventually all seven had their turn, but no child. After all that, the wife died. That wife, now—in the resurrection whose wife is she? All seven married her."

34-38 Jesus said, "Marriage is a major preoccupation here, but not there. Those who are included in the resurrection of the dead will no longer be concerned with marriage nor, of course, with death. They will have better things to think about, if you can believe it.

All ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God. Even Moses exclaimed about resurrection at the burning bush, saying, 'God: God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob!' God isn't the God of dead men, but of the living. To him all are alive."

39-40 Some of the religion scholars said, "Teacher, that's a great answer!" For a while, anyway, no one dared put questions to him.

41-44 Then he put a question to them: "How is it that they say that the Messiah is David's son? In the Book of Psalms, David clearly says,

God said to my Master,
"Sit here at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet."

"David here designates the Messiah as 'my Master'—so how can the Messiah also be his 'son'?"

45-47 With everybody listening, Jesus spoke to his disciples.

"Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preen in the radiance of public flattery, bask in prominent positions, sit at the head table at every church function.

And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless.

The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they'll pay for it in the end."

Jesus is so patient with the people around him.

He listens to their questions...even when those very questions show how little understanding they really have.

Their question about marriage is of the "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin," sort.

Interesting...but ultimately irrelevant.

The resurrection is not a place concerned with hypothetical ethics. Jesus says there will be "better things."

Jesus is not a nose-in-the-air, or even a head-in-the-clouds sort of leader. His teachings are real, powerful and present.

Why does he ask about the messiah's role as "Son of David?" To illustrate that he is a servant in this human world.

Jesus doesn't wear an academic gown or seek anyone's praise. He doesn't play games of imaginary theology. He isn't interested in the illusions of power and privilege that our world can provide.

He is a servant. He is soon to be the "suffering servant."

What lessons in leadership. The "strong" are those who help the weak. The "powerful" don't vie for the seat of honor. The way of the cross is not found among the preening power players.

It is gift of God's spirit...intense humility...powerful obedience...servant leadership.

Prayer: Show us the way of the cross. Lead us into humble paths. Give us your peace and power.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.