# 93 Their Minds Were Made Up

Joh 5:21 "For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.

The resurrection of the dead was a firm belief among the Pharisees. The Sadducees, on the other hand did not believe in a resurrection from death. (That’s why they were sad you see? Sorry, couldn’t resist)

But that’s why their rejection of Jesus as the Son of God is even more puzzling to me! The Pharisees believed that only God had the power to raise from the dead. Jesus here, claimed to have that power, and He backed it up with irrefutable evidence when He walked this earth.

He touched the open coffin of the dead son of the widow of Nain and said, “Young man, I say to you arise,” and he who was dead sat up and began to speak.” (Luke 7:14,15)

He also brought the daughter of Jairus back to life! “Little girl, arise!” Then her spirit returned and she arose immediately.” (Luke 8:54,55)

And of course, there was His beloved friend Lazarus. Dead for four days, but when Jesus said, “Lazarus come forth! He who died came out.” (John 11:43,44)

Here’s Jesus, doing what the Pharisees believed only God  could do, and yet they refused to acknowledge Him as God.

In like manner, the Sadducees, seeing people brought back to life from the dead, refused to believe. Why?

Simply because this man Jesus did not fit into their preconceived mold. Their minds were made up. Their hearts were hardened. Their Messiah would do things their way, within their rules. This problem is still with us today. We still have the tendency to make Christ into our own image.

The minute His indisputable truth comes up against our preconceived erroneous notions, we reject it, and in rejecting His truth, we are rejecting Him for He is truth! He said in Joh 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”

The Pharisees and the Sadducees decided to hang onto their ideas of truth and paid for it. How about you? Think differently about Jesus (repent) Hold onto Him as the source of all truth. When Jesus stood before Pilate and the subject of truth came up, listen to His response. He said “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." (John 18:37)

Hear His voice. It is truth and it is His truth that will set you free. (Jn 8:32)