So what’s your picture of heaven?
Is it a place where everyone has wings, plays a harp, and sits on a cloud? Don’t know about you, but I sure hope that’s not what I’m doing for next gazillion years.
Does it really have pearly gates? Gold-paved streets? A sea of glass?
Hanging out with the Big Names
Will I get to hang out not with the big names of the Bible like Moses, David, Peter, and Paul? Will it be a reunion with long lost family members as well as
those family pets who brought us so much joy?
I’ve got a sneaking suspicion we’re going to be surprised at who we see there. And I’m guessing there are going to be a whole lotta folks surprised to see me there!
Whatever we think it’s like, it’s better. Way better.
An Awkward Conversation
That seems to be Jesus’ point in an awkward conversation with a group of guys known as the Sadducees (Mk 12:18-27). It’s the third discussion He’s had with His opponents at the temple in the week leading up to His crucifixion.
Big Wigs and Muckety Mucks
First some priestly big wigs, religious muckety mucks, and senior Jewish leaders wondered where this Rabbi from the boondocks of Galilee gets off shutting down their enterprise of buying and selling of sacrifices (Mk 11:27-33).
That little chat ends with the Lord telling them a little tale about the Tenant Farmer Rebellion (Mk 12:1-12). Turns out these Hebrew power players are the bad guys in the story.
A Trick Question about Taxes
Next up, some Pharisees tag team with a few big fans of Herod in an attempt to trap Him with a trick question about taxes (Mk 12:13-17). Once again, not only dazzles them with His answer but they end up caught in their own ambush.
It’s Tuesday of what we call Passion Week. The week that ends with His followers putting His bloody dead body into a tomb on Friday and His history-making resurrection on Sunday.
Stump the Rabbi
And resurrection is the topic on the table when the Sadducees approach Jesus for a little game of “Stump the Rabbi.” It’s a crazy scenario about eternity. They’re making their first and only appearance in John Mark’s bio of Jesus.
Well-to-Do Hebrew Dudes
Just who are these guys? They’re generally well-to-do and wealthy Hebrew dudes who have leveraged their place in society for positions of power. Specifically, positions of power at the temple in Jerusalem.
The Sadducees actually run the temple. Their archivals, the Pharisees, are in charge of all the synagogues everywhere else. The two groups are in what amounts to a turf war over who controls Judaism.
No Resurrection
Wanna know something crazy thing about the Sadducees? They may control the massive temple in the big city but get this. Mark tells us they are “religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead” (v18).
According to what we find over in Acts, their theology said “there is no resurrection or angels or spirits” (Acts 23:8). They don’t believe in any sort of eternal existence…yet they’re running the joint in Jerusalem. I told you it was crazy.
Imagine That
Religious historians tell us the Sadducees are actually known more for what they DON’T believe. They didn’t believe that the soul is immortal. No eternal rewards or punishment. No heaven. No hell.
Their belief system sounds a lot like the lyrics of “Imagine.” Did John Lennon become a Sadducee when he married Yoko?
Keep all that in your hip pocket as you listen to their question for Christ. Actually, it’s not so much a question as it is a ridiculous could-God-build-a-wall-so-high-that-even-He-couldn’t-jump-over-it scenarios.
The Brother-in-Law Law
They start with what would appear to be a rather strange but certainly legit situation. “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry the brother’s name” (v19).
What the Sadducees are bringing up is a passage in Deuteronomy 25:5-6 that’s called the levirate law. Before you Google “levirate,” I can tell you it comes from the Latin word “levir,” which means brother-in-law. It’s the Brother-in-Law Law.
Ancient Jewish Life Insurance
Why would God include such a scenario in Scripture? That’s because property rights are HUGE in Jewish culture. And the husband holds those rights. A divorcee or widow is in a world of hurt without a husband.
This law is an important form of life insurance in the ancient Jewish world. It also allows the family line to continue and the estate to be passed down to the next generation. Otherwise, the mom and her kids are on the street with no source of income.
Taking It up a Notch, or Seven
It’s a solid start for the Sadducees. But then they take it up a notch. Or seven.
“Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children. So the second brother married the widow, but he also died without children. Then the third brother married her.
“This continued with all seven of them, and still there were no children. Last of all, the woman also died. So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her” (v20-23).
Two Thumbs WAY Down
Maybe you’ve seen the old musical “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” Well, the Sadducees trot out a ridiculous song and dance for our Savior called “One Bride for Seven Brothers.” Oscar and Hammerstein they are not.
Or maybe it’s “Seven Weddings and Eight Funerals.” Not exactly a romcom my wife and I searching for on Netflix. Whatever the case, Jesus gives this flick two thumbs down. WAY down.
Power Brokers Come up Short
He cuts to the chase when it comes to this crazy case. He says their question has two huge holes. “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God” (v24).
Imagine accusing the power brokers who run the temple that they come up short when it comes to knowing and understanding God’s Word. What a powerful reminder that no matter who we are, we never get past our need for His truth.
A Love Letter from Our Creator
When we come to see God as He has revealed Himself in and through Scripture, we see His unlimited power and ability to do anything He sees fit.
Think about it this way. Flip back to the curtain going up on creation in the opening lines of Genesis. If we can wrap our heads around God creating absolutely everything from totally nothing, you’ve gotta figure anything else He wants to do is a piece of cake.
Do you truly want to hear from the Almighty Creator of the universe? I’ve got GREAT news! He’s written us a love letter to us. He’s inspired the 66 ancient documents collected we’ve come to call the Bible. Meet Him there. He’s ready and waiting.
The Death Rate Remains Undefeated
Our Savior sets them straight on what REALLY goes down for married couples on the far side of eternity. “For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven” (v25).
He subtly tells the Sadducees that they did get one thing right. People WILL die. The death rate stands undefeated.
He’s Been There
But the Lord quickly pokes holes in their cockamamy question. Remember these goobers who don’t believe in resurrection pose a ridiculous scenario about it.
The Son of God says there will be no marriage once we’ve transitioned into His presence. No one will be married. No one will get married. Instead we’ll be “like the angels in heaven” (v25), who the Sadducees also don’t believe exist.
What in heaven does this mean? One thing for sure, we can trust what Jesus says about marital status in eternity. He’s the only One who’s been there and see how this works.
Jesus’ Bride
The rest of what He tells us here is hard to figure out from this side of the grave. I have a theory. But let me be quite clear. It’s NOT a hill I would die on.
First of all, the followers of Christ are part of the church, which the writers of Scripture call His bride (2Cor 11:2; Eph 5:25-27, 32). The Lord Himself loves talking about the idea (Mt 25:1-18; Mk 2:19-20; Jn 3:29).
The Greatest Party in the Universe
We’re all invited to the greatest party the universe will ever see, the wedding reception of Jesus to His bride (Rev 19:7-9). And why wouldn’t we? As His church, we’re the one He’s marrying (Rev 21:2-11)!
As a result, I believe that relationship with our Savior will result in such a deep and soul fulfilling intimacy that human marriage will be a total waste of time.
What would be the point?
Can We Hang out?
Don’t forget, Paul says what a husband and wife have is only a picture of the mystery that happens between Jesus and His bride (Eph 5:22-33). See, even Christ’s marriage is a mystery. Does that make you feel better?
So what happens sort of relationship will those of us who are married have with our spouse in eternity? I’m not sure. Whatever the case, I’ve asked my wife if we could hang out when we get there. I think that’s gonna be pretty stinkin’ cool!
Like Angels
What does the Lord mean when He says we’ll be “like the angels in heaven” (v25)? Does that mean that after we die, we get our wings, put on a diaper, and sit on a cloud, and play a harp for eternity?
Nope. Get that picture of heaven out of your head right now. Dr. Luke helps us out a bit here with what Jesus says.
We’ll Never Die Again
After leaving this life and passing into eternity, believers “will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection” (Lk 20:36).
Did you notice how our Savior not-so-subtly brings up angels in His answer? These heavenly beings are all part of what the Sadducees don’t believe exist.
Home in the Heavenly Palace
Again, is there a better expert on what goes on in eternity than the One who came from there? Before He came to our rescue on the greatest rescue mission the universe has ever seen, the Second Person of the Trinity made His home in the heavenly palace.
Isaiah gets a jaw-dropping look at Jesus on the throne and receives his prophetic assignment (Is 6:1-8). The Apostle John confirms the Lord’s identity in this passage in His bio of our Savior (Jn 12:41).
Jesus’ Favorite Nickname
In yet another glorious glimpse behind the curtain of eternity, Daniel sees “someone who looks like a Son of Man” receiving total authority over the entire universe forever (Dan 7:13-14).
Ever wonder why Jesus’ favorite messianic nickname for Himself is the Son of Man? No you know where that comes from. Back in the throne room of eternity.
Have You Read Your Bible?
Christ then does a little Bible study with the dudes who run the temple. “But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—haven’t you read about this in the writings of Moses, in the story of the burning bush?” (v26).
Imagine asking the top dogs of any denomination if they’ve read their Bible. Just curious, guys. Any chance you’ve ever read about resurrection in God’s Word?
The One with the Burning Bush
Maybe you’re wondering why Christ refers to the “the story of the burning bush” (v26) instead of referring to Exodus 3:1-6. Back in those days, the various documents of Scripture didn’t have chapter and verse numbers. That came a thousand years later.
Back in the day, this was the way of describing a specific passage. You know, kinda like the TV show “Friends.” This would be “The One with the Burning Bush.”
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
That’s the one where Moses is tending his father-in-law’s sheep on Mount Horeb. A fiery shrub catches the Big Mo’s attention. Turns out that God Himself was in the flames.
When the Lord invites Moses to come closer, He identifies Himself. “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Ex 3:6).
Twenty times we see the Lord linked directly as the of God Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Twelve times in the Jewish Scriptures. Another eight in the New Testament.
Not He Was, but He IS!
Jesus doesn’t want the Sadducees to miss the grammar of what God said to the Big Mo at the burning bush. “Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, ‘I AM the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’” (v26, emphasis added).
Did you catch that? Not He was. But He IS! The men the Jews call their founding fathers had long since had their funerals by the time God speaks to Moses. Yet the Great I Am says He IS the God of these long gone guys.
Alive and Well
Some big-time Bible historians estimate Abraham died around 1780 BC, Isaac around 1752 BC, and Jacob around 1647 BC. If you’re wondering, the convo at the burning bush went down about 1450 BC.
So despite the deaths of Abe, Ike, and Jake, God makes it clear to Moses that He is STILL their God. What the WHAT?!? That can only be the case if their souls are alive and well with God after they physically died.
The God of the Living
Jesus doubles down on that idea when He says, “So He is the God of the living, not the dead” (v27). Christ’s point is that the Big Three are currently in the presence of the Eternal God.
A Brutal Crash-and-Burn
Then the Son of God drops the mic on the Sadducees. “You have made a serious error” (v27). They haven’t just made a slight mistake. This is a brutal crash-and-burn!
Another look at the original language makes that glaringly apparent. “Serious” (Gr. polus/πολυς) describes something on the upper end of the dial. On the scale of 1 to 10, this is a biggie.
And “error” (Gr. planao/πλαναω) means to hold the wrong view or be completely fooled and deluded. It’s the idea of wandering and stumbling off the path and you have no clue how bad things are.
Warning Lights on the Dashboard
Jesus wants these so-called religious big wigs to know they are in the midst of making a huge mistake. They’ve based their entire premise on something that just isn’t true. Not just a slight miscalculation but a massive error.
He wants them to see the warning lights flashing on the dashboard. Stop right where you are! You’re headed in the wrong direction! When it comes to the resurrection, you’re getting colder. They don’t know it but they’re putting the sad in Sadducee.
When I’m Making a Huge Mistake
Got a question for you. And for me. How will we respond if and when Jesus looks us in the eye and lovingly says, “You’re making a huge mistake”?
Am I willing to listen? Am I willing to admit I’m wrong? Am I willing to slam on the brakes, turn around, and follow His lead?
My Faith Must Be My Filter
I don’t care who you are and how long you’ve been following Christ, none of us has this thing called life down perfectly. Every single one of us is a work in progress. We’ve all got stuff. Whether we see it or not.
Stop for just a minute. Does your view on any issue line up with what the Lord says? Stuff like politics, money, marriage, family, and work. This is a powerful reminder that my faith must be my filter for everything.
Left or Right, Liberal or Conservative
I’m writing this in a presidential election year. Do I read Scripture through the lens of my political views, looking for verses to back up how I vote? Or do I process my politics through who Jesus is and how He has called me to love others?
Yikes. Did I hit a nerve? Good. This isn’t about whether we’re on the left or right, liberal or conservative, and live in a red state or blue state.
If we think eternity is only going to be filled with folks who vote like us, talk like us, and look like us, we’re going to be in for a BIG shock! Jesus wants us to know we’re making a serious error!
The Other Side of the Cemetery
So what’s your picture of life on the other side of the cemetery? Whatever we think it is, it’s going to be WAY better than we can ever imagine. I say we go with the Guy who came strutting out of the graveyard.
If you’ve got a great marriage (and I’ve got a FANTASTIC one!), what’s waiting for you is beyond anything you could ever wrap your brain around.
A Sneak Preview
God has given a lot of the human authors of Scripture a sneak preview of eternity. It’s obvious that they struggle to put into words what they’ve seen. Have you ever been lost for words trying to describe an amazing vacation or an incredible party?
Mind if I recommend a book? Outside of what I’ve read in God’s Word, John Burke’s “Imagine Heaven” is the best thing I’ve ever read on the hereafter. If what he writes doesn’t get you fired up for eternity with Jesus, your wood is wet.
Whatever the followers of Jesus think it’s going to be like, it’s going to be better. WAY better. Here’s a tip. No matter which side of life we’re on, let’s stop selling God short.
©2020
Jay Jennings
