Shalom,
In whatever we do, let’s do it according to the will of God rather than focusing on worldly matters. To do so, we need to explore, understand and put our faith in the word of God. More than that, we are to put it into practice in our daily life.
The theme ‘Jesus, the God of the Living’ is taken from Luke 20:27-47 which calls for faith. If Jesus Christ is the God of the living, what about those who had died because of natural causes, accident, war, or even because they were defending their faith?
This kind of question was also asked by a group of people to Jesus. What was their response to Jesus’ answer? Luke 20:27-40 write, “Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.” Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.” Then some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” But after that they dared not question Him anymore.”
They were silenced, not asking anymore question about eternity because Jesus had answered them correctly and precisely.
Since the apostles’ day until now the Sadducees hasn’t believed in resurrection. What about those who died in Russia-Ukraine war? What about us who are still alive—if God permits—when He comes again? When the reality of life concerning our marriage or family doesn’t happen the way we wanted it to, we shouldn’t be panicked into asking “why?” because the answer can actually be found in the Bible. Therefore, we need to diligently read the Bible.
Jesus said Moses met God for the first time when he was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law. He saw a flaming bush that didn’t burn up and God introduced Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:1-6). Furthermore, Jesus emphasized that God is the God of the living, not the dead, because God perceives that everyone is alive. Moses believed because God Himself told him so. After Abraham, Isaac and Jacob died, they were succeeded by the nation of Israel who followed Moses’ law and believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Now we also believe in the same God. Hence, in our following Jesus, we need to be sanctified that we may reach perfection (Matthew 5:48).
Introspection: Do we believe that one day we will be perfect? Do we believe that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is also our God? Do we still have many hesitations about it when we hear and read the word of God?
Who is Jesus? When the Jews asked Jesus how He could see Abraham while He wasn’t even 50, Jesus answered that He existed before Abraham did because He is God (John 8:58). May the Holy Spirit lead us into all truth (John 16:13) to enable us to believe that Jesus is the God of the living. That way, we won’t be swayed by this high-tech world that deceives many to believe that they need no God.
Jesus told the Sadducees that earthly marriage wouldn’t be brought to eternity. It’s because those who are eligible to enter the new world will have different pattern of life from the earthly one. What matters most is that we believe that when He comes again, all people—the dead and the living—will be made alive before Him.
The Sadducees believed neither in resurrection nor in afterlife, meaning, they assumed that there was no punishment for wicked deeds and no rewards for good deeds. If it were true, man’s life wouldn’t be different from animals’. It’s the same as atheism that disbelieves the existence of God. If God didn’t exist, we could eat and drink and live in debauchery considering that there would be no consequence after death (1 Corinthians 15:32). Why did we give ourselves to be disciplined by the word of God if we later succumb to the deceptive allure of the world’s depraved lifestyle (v.33)?
Introspection: Moses and the Israelites believed in Pentateuch. What about us, the gentiles? Do we believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Or are we the proponent of no-afterlife doctrine?
Jesus teaches us that in the world to come sexuality will be irrelevant because it is created only for the life on earth. No one can argue this because He is God and He exactly knew where He would go after His death. Jesus wasn’t a mere religious leader. As a matter of fact, when He was baptized, the Holy Spirit came upon Him with a voice from heaven, saying “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21-22). And then He was transfigured by His Father on the mountain and a voice came out, telling us to listen to Him (Luke 9: 28-31, 34-35).
Application: We should believe in and live out the word of God on daily basis. In eternity, there won’t be marriage and sexual related matters. Rather, we are to give account of everything we have done in this world. On resurrection day we will live in spiritual body to be equal to the angels for we are sons of God. We must know that God has given eternity in our heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Our mortal body may decease but our spirit is eternal, and God’s sovereignty is able to separate our spirit from our body before it returns to dust (Psalm 104: 29-31).
Jesus is the Word of God, incarnated into flesh (John 1:14). As a Son, He was given the right to raise the dead as His Father also raised the dead (John 5:21). The Spirit of God has made us and His breath gives us life (Job 33:4). Job 32:8 writes, “But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.” Knowledge needs to be earned, but intelligence comes from God. Our death is very different from animals’ because man was created according to the image of God the Trinity (Genesis 1:26). Mortal body is to perish but the spirit will remain. The evidences: 1) Revelation 6:10 writes about the spirits of the martyrs who cried out to God, asking Him to avenge their blood. 2) The spirit of the rich cried out from Hades, asking Abraham to send Lazarus to the earth to warn his five brothers who were still alive (Luke 16:23-28). 3) To the criminal on His right side, Jesus promised him a life in paradise with Him (Luke 23:42-43). 4) The spirit of Paul was ascended to paradise and heard inexpressible words, things no human is allowed to tell (2 Corinthians 12:3-4).
Application: We must be assured that believers who died in the Lord are in paradise, in the garden full of joy that is a mystery place for us. But God says that when He returns, the dead will rise and those who are still alive will be caught up with Him in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Are we ready for that day? As Christians, we shouldn’t feel complacent just because our worldly needs have been met. Our purpose is to enter the New Jerusalem. Therefore, our mind must be like Jesus who emptied Himself by taking the form of a slave and becoming obedient to the point of death (Philippians 2:5-8). Don’t hold our worldly possession so dearly that we even quarrel for it!
How was Jesus’ state after He was raised from the dead? John was fearfully trembling when he met Jesus but He comforted him. Then He told him that He lives forever (Revelation 1:1,10-11,17-20). While Revelation chapter 1 writes about Jesus who rose from the dead, Revelation chapter 22 speaks about the New Jerusalem and the Apostle John who was joyfully ready for His coming.
The choice is ours along with its consequences. Do we still want to live in this seemingly dazzling world that is heading to destruction (1 John 2:17) to be punished by fire (2 Peter 3:10)? Do we deny the resurrection of the dead and then live carelessly, thinking that nothing will happen in afterlife? Remember, the Bible is so consistent from the beginning to the end that we mustn’t reduce any part of it or interpret it by our own will. As the citizens of the Kingdom of heaven we are awaiting the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:17-21). In the light of that, we need to set our life goal to be aligned with our final destination: the New Jerusalem where we will be living with Him forever. Amen.