Majoring In The Minors

Majoring in The Minors

Mark 12:18-27

18. Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying,

19. “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that IF A MAN’S BROTHER DIES and leaves behind a wife AND LEAVES NO CHILD, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER.

20. “There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children.

21. “The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise;

22. and so all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also.

23. “In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven had married her.”

24. Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or 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. “But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, and the God of Jacob’?

27. “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”

(Mark 12:18-27)

If you were as small as an ant, it would certainly change your view of the world. Suddenly, a field of grass would turn into an incredibly thick forest. A street curbing would become a towering wall of rock. For you, it would certainly be reality, but reality as viewed from your perspective. The reality you see, however, may not necessarily be the true reality.

Our perception of reality changes based upon our unique perspective. It is our point of view. What we see from our point of view may be true, but it may not be all that is true. There is a difference between that which is true and that which is the truth.

For instance, it is true that I am a sinner. But it’s also the truth is that I am a sinner saved by grace. It is true that my righteousness is as filthy rags before God. But it is a greater truth that I am clothed in Christ's righteousness. Christ is my righteousness, and I stand complete in Him. It is true that I suffer defeat from time to time. But, it is also true that I am an overcomer in Christ, and ultimate victory belongs to the people of God. It is true that at times I question my salvation. But it is a greater truth that my salvation is not dependent on my mortal feelings. While it is true that I may not feel saved, the greater truth is that I am saved.

At times it is difficult to see the forest because we are concentrating on individual trees. Without noticing, we get sidetracked and focus in on concerns that don't really count. At times we major on minor issues. We do this in marriage when we focus in on the small things which irritate us instead of on the positive relationship which means so much to us. It's so easy in raising our children to focus on the mistakes they make instead of on their character development. In our jobs, there are always those tasks which are unpleasant. We can let them occupy our time and tongue or we can emphasize those things which make our work meaningful. Even in the church, we can major on the minors. In the church the challenge always is to keep the main things the main thing.

The Bible is itself a living illustration of man's tendency to major on the minors. Over and over on its pages, we see God calling His people back to Himself. God is forever re-focusing the priorities of His people on the things that really count. In our scripture today, Jesus confronts the unbelieving Sadducees who were notorious for their lack of perspective. They were too focused on their own social status to focus in on the things which were really important. They had limited vision, they were myopic, they saw only the human dimension. The Sadducees rejected the supernatural because they couldn't understand it. They mistakenly didn't believe in the resurrection because it defied human logic. So Jesus confronts the Sadducees concerning their error regarding the resurrection. And in this text, He points them to what really matters.

Do you find yourself getting sidetracked on minor issues? Do you major on the minors, too? It is so easy to get sidetracked on peripheral issues instead of concentrating on understanding the Scriptures and experiencing the power of God. If we do, we will be limited in our vision. We will end up mistaken in our conclusions. And our spiritual life will be constantly frustrated because we will continue to see through human eyes and perceive through human understanding. The challenge for us is to shape our thinking in light of God's truth and God's power. As we do that, a whole new world will open up to us.