eFollowingJesusMar15 - Married in heaven? (read Matthew 22:23-33)

   Pretending to seek instruction from Jesus, the Sadducees (who didn't believe there would be a resurrection at the end of time) think they will embarrass Jesus by asking:  What if a woman were widowed seven times within a large family?  Whose wife would she be in heaven?  To them, the Israelite custom of Levirate marriage (if a man dies, his wife marries his brother; Deuteronomy 25:5) exposes the absurdity of the resurrection.

   Their error is one many Christians make today:  thinking that heaven is this life as we know it prolonged forever - playing golf, eating chocolate éclairs, a reunion with those we know.  But for Jesus, the resurrection is far more profound than this life.  We are transformed; earthly limitations don't apply.  No one belongs to anybody else; everyone will be "lost in wonder, love and praise."

   Jesus never underestimates the power of God, which solves all difficulties.  Heaven will not be plagued with problems; and whatever is the most fantastic good we can imagine, heaven will be so much better as to put the good we think is good entirely in the shade.

   Lord, we are awed by Your power, and eagerly anticipate the resurrection.  

James

james@mpumc.org

Here is the full text of Matthew 22:23-33 -  23: The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, 24: saying, "Teacher, Moses said, `If a man dies, having no children, his brother must marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.' 25: Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother. 26: So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27: After them all, the woman died. 28: In the resurrection, therefore, to which of the seven will she be wife? For they all had her." 29: But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 30: For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31: And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 32: `I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living." 33: And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.

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