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“COMEBEMYFOLLOWER”
others. Note what he did for them: “He opened up their
minds fully to grasp the meaning of the Scriptures.” (Luke
24:45) No doubt, that happy occasion brought back to
their minds the many, many times that Jesus had done
something similar for them—and for any who would listen.
He often took well-known scriptures and explained
them in such a way that something wonderful blossomed
in the minds of his listeners—a new and deeper understanding
of God’s Word.
20 On one such occasion, Jesus was speaking to a group
of Sadducees. They were a sect of Judaism associated with
the Jewish priesthood, and they did not believe in the resurrection.
Jesus said to them: “As regards the resurrection
of the dead, did you not read what was spoken to you by
God, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of
Isaac and the God of Jacob’? He is the God, not of the
dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:31, 32) Here was a
scripture they knew well, written down by a man that the
Sadducees revered—Moses. Do you see, though, the force
of Jesus’ explanation?
21 Moses had his conversation with Jehovah at the burning
bush about the year 1514 B.C.E. (Exodus 3:2, 6) At that
time, Abraham had been dead for 329 years, Isaac for 224,
and Jacob for 197. Yet, Jehovah still said: “I am” their God.
Those Sadducees knew that Jehovah is not like some pagan
god of the dead, ruling a mythical underworld. No,
he is the God “of the living,” as Jesus said. What must
that mean? Jesus’ conclusion was forceful: “They are all
living to him.” (Luke 20:38) Jehovah’s beloved servants
who have died are safely preserved in God’s limitless, unfading
memory. So sure is Jehovah’s purpose to resurrect
such ones that they may be spoken of as living. (Romans
20, 21. How did Jesus explain the words that Jehovah had spoken
to Moses at the burning bush?