9 Nov 2025, Luke 20:27-34, The God of Living and the Living people of God

There’s one Easter I will never forget for the rest of my life. It was back in 2001. What made that Easter Sunday morning so special? Well… because I was holding a trumpet in my hands.

You see, at one point in my life, I actually dreamed of playing the trumpet, not as a professional musician, but simply to play hymns with the majestic, powerful sound of the trumpet….. that would lift people’s hearts in worship.

After being discharged and returning home joyfully, I celebrated, saying, “I’m a civilian again!” (When young people are in the military, they are technically government property!)

So, as any newly freed young man would do, I made a bucket list, and one of the first things on that list was: “Learn to play an instrument.” For some reason, The trumpet just called to me.

By coincidence or perhaps by divine appointment, one of my ministry team members was a good trumpet player. With his help, I began to learn, and soon after, we had a great goal: “Let's wake people up Easter morning with our trumpet!” so that the entire world may know our Lord is Risen!"

From January 1st, we practiced whenever we could. We chose the hymn, "Because He Lives." It seemed like a perfect plan. We were so excited!

But as time went on, it began to feel impossible. My lips hurt, my breath ran out too quickly, and the notes never sounded right. Eventually, my friend came up with a new plan. He said, “Do Young, how about this.  “You just play the first line, and the pianist and I will take over for the rest." I was a little disappointed, but I accepted. My part was simple — 'Because He lives, I can face tomorrow…'

Finally, Easter morning arrived. The church was packed even the second floor was full. Dana was there to see her boyfriend’s performance too. The worship leader announced, “This morning, we have a special Easter performance!” After the big welcoming, we stood up front, ready to play. I gripped the trumpet firmly, trying not to shake. As I placed my lips on the mouthpiece, they were trembling. So, I pulled back, took a deep breath, and pressed the mouthpiece against my lips again. Gathering all my courage, I blew the first note. Squeak! Horrible Squeak! Silence. Everyone froze. I tried again. Squeak! More silence. One last attempt... Squeak!

I don't remember how many times I tried, but when I finally finished my little solo, the congregation, so kind and generous, responded with thunderous cheering.  I heard laughter too. I’m sure it was meant… as encouragement. I was so embarrassed. I was a wounded soul and couldn't lift my face until the entire Service was over. Then, someone came up to me and said something I will never forget. They encouraged me, saying: "Well done, Do Young! "I definitely believe Jesus rose from the dead now because of you. Well, how could Jesus stay in the tomb with your trumpet sound? Anyway, thank you!"

To this day, I’m not sure if it was a compliment or not. But at the time, with my wounded heart, I thought to myself, “Happy Easter, Jesus my Lord, You live… but I died” Yes, He lives, but I died that morning.

But now, when I look back, I realise something beautiful. That phrase I said that morning “I died” maybe that was where the seed of resurrection was already planted. Because, there is no resurrection without death. There’s no Easter morning without Good Friday. Whether my trumpet playing was a success or a failure. It doesn’t really matter. Whether my life stands strong or stumbles, The message of the Resurrection remains true, and it still wins over every situation.  

And perhaps…. just perhaps….. the joy of resurrection is felt most deeply.. by those who feel dead inside. Because they are the ones who need hope the most.

Our God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

In those places we feel like we are dying, God is already raising up 'life.'

This is the Gospel. Because He is the God of living people, He will surely bring us back to life.

In today's scripture, the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, they come to Jesus. Their purpose was clear: they didn't come to honour Him. They came to test Him, and to mock Him. In short, they wanted to say that the resurrection was illogical nonsense.

As I mentioned briefly in our newsletter, they only believed the first five books of the Bible “Genesis to Deuteronomy” as Scripture. And since the word “resurrection” doesn’t directly mentioned, they concluded, “Resurrection isn’t biblical. It does not exist.”

But there was a deeper reason behind them. It’s because, quite frankly, life was already so good for them. The Sadducees were part of the extremely privileged upper class. They had super power, religious status, and honour.

Simply put, they were living in their own personal paradise right there on Earth. Since they had everything, they didn't need the next world, the world of resurrection. I would say…for them, The Resurrection was simply too distant for them to care about. Therefore, it was a useless hope and an inconvenient truth. “When I die, that’s the end.”

Teacher,” they said, “According to Moses laws, he told us…… seven brothers married the same woman, but all died without children. They asked, “when they all rise from the dead, how can the marriage possibly work out?" Jesus answered "Okay, listen closely. The answer is already in your own scriptures."

Jesus points them back to their own Scriptures and says, “Have you not read what Moses wrote at the burning bush? God said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

Now, what’s the crucial point here? It’s the tense,  the word “am.” (Please forgive me for bringing up grammar today, but this really matters!)

God didn’t say, “I was the God of Abraham.”  He said, “I am the God of Abraham.” If God had said “I was,” it would mean Abraham was gone, that Isaac and Jacob had vanished into the past.

But God says, “I am.” That means…… Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are still alive to Him because God’s relationship with them never ended. The Sadducees imagined a God who only existed in history

“the God who helped Abraham long ago,” 

“the God who once blessed our ancestors.” But Jesus teaches them something far deeper:God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

He is not only the God of the past or of some distant future…. He is the God who is here, now, with us. The God of the living!  your God!, my God!, our God! today.

My brothers and sisters, it’s already the middle of November. Amazing. Everywhere we go, we can feel Christmas drawing near. Lights twinkling on the streets, carols beginning to play, and somehow, our hearts start to feel that quiet, gentle warmth of anticipation. In this season, the word 'Immanuel'… ‘God with us’ comes to us.

Strangely, Matthew's Gospel begins with Immanuel, announcing Jesus' birth. "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel." The beginning of the Jesus’s story.  What’s even more amazing is that Immanuel is repeated… at the very end of Matthew saying "I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

The story of Scripture today… the story of the first Christmas, begins and ends with Immanuel.  That was no coincidence at all!  It was God’s doing.

I love this…from beginning to end, He is the living, present-tense God, the God of the living,…..who is with us at His birth, in the darkness of the cross, and in the triumph of His glorious resurrection. The story of Immanuel never ends. What an incredible comfort and grace that is!

Now, the important question remains for us. If God is…. the "God of the Living…… are we truly living right now? Are we alive?..................

I thought about my own life when do I feel most alive? When does my heart truly beat? There are many moments, but one stands out. One example is this: when I am needed as your minister. 

When someone comes to me and says, “Please help me with this,” “Please pray for me,” or “Let’s start this new ministry,” or even, “I don’t quite understand this Bible verse  can you help me make sense of it?” My body might be a bit tired, and my stress levels might rise, but it is in that moment…the moment of responding to someone’s need, of answering that calling before God that I feel truly alive. (So, friends, please make me work hard! I promise I will not report you to the Synod or to Fair Work Australia! )

I believe that in your own lives and situations, you will find moments where you discover your 'aliveness' within the Resurrection faith.

Whether it’s big or small, visible or unseen, it is about willingly responding with your heart, with your best. 

And it is then that we see God more clearly and feel His presence most intensely.

Remember, this journey does not end in death; it continues in the faith that God is with us even unto death. This is how we encounter the God of the Living, and this is how we gain eternal life.

So, even though it was a story from long ago, I still remember that Easter morning. I imagined the quiet dawn breaking, the sound of the trumpet ringing out with the cheerful news of resurrection. That’s how I thought Easter had to be.

But in the end, it wasn’t about whether the trumpet succeeded or failed. just as our life is not about whether we succeed or fail, live or die, win or lose.

Even with a failed trumpet, God was still alive. And His love,  the love of the God of the living, remains with us forever, when we come to Him just as we are, with the faith of the Resurrection in our hearts……..

Our final song today says it beautifully confesses, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living, just because He lives.” 

Yes, because the Risen Jesus lives, we have a tomorrow, our fear disappears, and our life finds meaning.  We can finally understand, "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Luke 20:38)

This isn’t just a debate about what happens after death, it’s the reality of Immanuel:  Jesus, our God who is with us now and forever, whom nothing and no one can take away. What an incredible!

So today, I’d like to reimagine that song with new refletion: ‘Because we live--- He is with us. Because I live--- His love continues. Because we live--- His story goes on.

Because He lives, we live. Because we live, His love lives on.’ 

That is faith.

That is resurrection life.

That is our unchanging hope in heaven.

And may this message today….. bring comfort to those who need comfort,hope to those who need hope, and purpose to those who are searching for meaning.

Amen.