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Apr 18, 2023 18:30pm

Let it Go, Forget About it, and Try Smiling

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On an episode of the old sitcom “Newhart”, Michael, the has-been movie producer and ex-boyfriend of Stephanie Vanderkellen, is a guest on Vermont Today. Michael is hailed as a great philosopher and gains a following because of his little quips: “Let It Go, Forget About It and Try Smiling.” People are in awe of his sayings and all of a sudden, he is held in the highest regard. But Dick is a skeptic. The whole town gathers together to hear Michael speak once again, hoping for more enlightenment.

Dressed in all white and dripping with confidence, Michael comes out to welcome his followers. He throws out his three little sayings “Let It Go, Forget About It and Try Smiling.” But these answers don’t cut it any more. They don’t work with the real problems of the people. Soon, they realize, he’s no great philosopher, he’s just Michael.

These little sayings may have seemed like he knew what he was talking about in the beginning, but they were just a bandaid. They were simply attempting to cover up the root of the problem. He was suffering from his breakup with Stephanie, the loss of his job, the overwhelming anxiety of debt and no hope for the future.

There’s only so many times you can say “Serenity Now” before it becomes insanity later.

“Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.” (Mark 12:18-27)

At first glance, you might wonder, what in the world is going on here? First, let’s talk about why they would ask about a woman marrying seven men. Remember, the Old Testament law stated that if a woman’s husband dies and there is no son or heir to the family name, the brother of the husband had to marry the widow to carry on the line.

The second thing we unpack from this portion of scripture is a little information about the Sadducees. These men, as stated, did not believe in the resurrection, or after-life. They only believed in the Pentateuch, the first 5 books of the Bible, because these are the books Moses wrote.

But what was really going on here? Did they really want to know about marriage and heaven?

Absolutely not.

These men had stumped the Pharisees with this same question. Since they couldn’t give an answer to this riddle, the Sadducees chalked it up as a win.

So, seeing that the Pharisees and Herodians failed to trap Jesus with their questions, the Sadducees stepped up to mic, expecting to be hailed as the great philosophers they believed themselves to be.

But truly they were a one hit wonder.

Their attempt fell short.

Jesus didn’t even bother answering their question. He knew there was more to their issues. He went straight to the root of the problem. He directed His answer to their stance on resurrection and pointed out their error. In fact, Jesus quoted from Exodus 3:6 to prove there was life after death, which speaks of these men as if they are alive and not dead.

We may think we have it all figured out. On the outside, we look like we have it all together. But Jesus sees the truth. He sees what’s going on inside of us. The deep, dark secrets we hold tight to, hiding them from the light of day. As we draw closer to Jesus though, those secrets are revealed. Our true nature becomes more evident and we see our sin for what it truly is. And we have a choice in that moment.

Do we repent and turn to Jesus? Or, do we allow our pride, shame and arrogance to envelope us and run from Him?

We are in error if we believe we are anything at all without Jesus. He alone offers hope, salvation and life. We must allow Him to expose our hearts and cleanse us from the inside out. Only then can we let it go to God, forget about our sin, and try to smile once again knowing that God has forgiven us.