Let the Dead Bury the Dead - Morning Devotion on Jan. 11, 2024

Let the Dead Bury the Dead

He said to another man, "Follow me."

But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father" Jesus said to him, "Let the dead burr their own dead. but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Luke 9:59-60

Jesus' teaching was crystal clear on the standard of loving God. When one of his disciples asked him if he could go and assist in the funeral of his father, Jesus told him to stay with his mission and "Let the dead bury the dead."

Standing in the Presence of God

November 7, 1982

When a follower asked Jesus if he could go home to bury his deceased father, Jesus said, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead." From these words of Jesus, it is clear that the Bible contains two different concepts of life and death. The first concept of life and death concerns physical life. Here, "death" means the end of physical life, as was the case of the disciple's deceased father who was to be buried.

The second concept of life and death concerns those living people who had gathered to bury the deceased man, those whom Jesus called "the dead." Why did Jesus refer to people whose bodies were alive and active as the dead? He meant that since they had not accepted Jesus, they were far removed from the love of God and were dwelling in the realm of Satan's dominion. This second concept of death does not refer to the expiration of physical life. It means leaving the bosom of God's love and falling under the dominion of Satan. The corresponding concept of life refers to the state of living in accordance with God's will, within the dominion of God's infinite love. Therefore, even if a person's physical self is alive, if he dwells apart from God's dominion and is in servitude to Satan, he is dead as judged by the original standard of value. A similar conclusion can be drawn from the Lords words of judgment upon the faithless people of the church in Sardis: "You have the name of being alive, and you are dead." (Rev. 3:1)

On the other hand, even though a person's physical life may have expired, he remains alive in the true sense if his spirit abides in the kingdom of heaven in heaven, a realm in the spirit world where God governs through love. When Jesus said, "...he who believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live" (John 11:25), he meant that those who believe in him and live within the realm of God's dominion have life. Even after their physical bodies have returned to the soil, their spirits enjoy life in God's dominion. Jesus also said, "...whoever lives and believes in me shall never die." (John 11:26) In saying that believers will never die, he meant that those who believe in Jesus during their earthly life will obtain eternal life not in this world, but in spirit, within the bosom of God's love. They will be alive, both in this life and the next. Jesus words assure us that death, in the sense of the end of physical life, has no effect on our eternal life.

Exposition of the Divine Principle
Resurrection 1.1

Followers; follow instructions!

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.  Disciplined ones (Disciples) execute orders.

Should someone who is sincere about following Jesus, need to make this following statement?

Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, 

“Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

Are they making the comment publicly just to be heard?

We are not on the same level as Jesus Christ!

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

This verse is not implying that Jesus was poor but that the nature of his ministry kept him on the move, and followers should expect the same. 

Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

We may find ourselves as servants of God, but we may also need more training and maturity.

But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead (waverers) bury their own dead.

Don’t neglect the high spiritual calling I’ve given you; let the spiritually dead attend to the routine task of life.  The choice is still yours!

What does Jesus require of us to follow him?

Jesus requires absolute obedience, and commitment.  

Who else but Jesus would align himself with the lowest and the least of His society, those with no political clout or social standing.

What does it mean to follow Christ?

Jesus’ call requires sacrifice. Matt 16:24-25

Then Jesus said to his disciple, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

What does Jesus want us to do to follow him?

Matt 28:20. Jesus told his disciples to make new disciples and teach them to obey his commands. 

He also said that if we obey his commands, we will live in his love. John 15:10

So obeying Jesus’ commands is important.