How does Mark 12:27 connect with Exodus 3:6 about God's eternal presence? Setting the Scene - Jesus is debating the Sadducees in Mark 12, a group denying bodily resurrection. - He cites Exodus 3:6—a passage every Jew revered—showing that the Torah itself points to life beyond the grave. Key Verses - Mark 12:27: “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken.” - Exodus 3:6: “Then He said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” How the Two Passages Connect • Same divine self-designation—“the God of Abraham…Isaac…Jacob”—used both at the burning bush and by Jesus centuries later. • In Exodus, God speaks in the present tense (“I am”), revealing continuous covenant relationship. • Jesus seizes that grammar: if God still “is” their God long after their earthly deaths, they must still live to Him. Thread of Eternal Presence 1. God’s name “I AM” (Exodus 3:14) highlights His timeless, self-existent nature. 2. Because His being is eternal, His relationships are eternal; covenant doesn’t expire at burial. 3. Resurrection hope, therefore, flows from God’s character, not merely from human longing (cf. Job 19:25-27; John 11:25-26). Additional Scriptural Echoes - Matthew 22:32; Luke 20:38 – parallel accounts reinforcing the same argument. - Psalm 90:2 – “from everlasting to everlasting You are God,” grounding His perpetual presence. - Hebrews 11:16 – patriarchs “desire a better country, a heavenly one,” expecting future life with God. - Revelation 1:18 – Jesus, the living One, holds “the keys of Death and Hades,” proving God’s dominion over life and death. Take-Home Truths • God’s present-tense covenant language guarantees ongoing life for His people. • Resurrection is not an add-on; it is demanded by God’s faithfulness. • Our security rests in the unchanging “I AM,” whose presence spans both sides of the grave. |
    |