The God of the Living
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Luke 20:20-21:4
(esp. 20:27-40)
"Many bulls encompass me;
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion...
For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet..."
Psalm 22:12-13, 16
It's Tuesday of the Passion week. The cross of Jesus is close.
Two criminals have probably already been lined up for Friday afternoon on Golgotha's hill. And we know that a third One - though no criminal at all - will join them in the middle.
And we know that the "bulls" and "dogs" of Psalm 22 will encompass and surround Jesus on Friday. But on Tuesday, they've already started to gather around Him.
Not to arrest and crucify - not yet. For now, they want to lay some theological traps for Jesus. Even planting spies in the crowd, who would "pretend to be sincere" (20:20).
The first trap (20:20-26) - theological yes, but also a bit political. Jesus makes quick work of this one - "... render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”
The second trap (20:27-40) - another theological one, and this time, coming from the Sadducees.
Luke notes for us at the beginning (20:27) - the Sadducees were "those who deny that there is a resurrection." (And denying the resurrection made them "sad, you see.")
In hopes to delegitimize the resurrection, they contrive a short story. And a bit of a silly one!
Seven different brothers marry the same woman,
Each marrying her after the brother before had died.
The question is,
In the resurrection, whose wife will she be?
First things first, Jesus addresses their question, explaining that marriage will not be a part of life in the resurrection. "... those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given marriage" (20:34).
But Jesus knows what they are up to ultimately - they are trying to make a mockery of the resurrection. So rather than simply leaving it there, He makes his case for the resurrection's truth. He points to Exodus 3, "the passage about the bush" (20:37).
When God appears to Moses in the burning bush, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would have been dead for centuries by that time. But take note, God does not simply say to Moses, "When Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were alive, I *was* their God." No. He says, *I AM* the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."
In other words, "As I appear to you now, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are very much alive. In my presence. I am not the God of the dead. I am the God of the Living."
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I believe this passage gives two reasons for hope and encouragement today, especially as we consider our future hope of heaven:
1. At the beginning of this month, my wife and I celebrated our anniversary - 18 years! We truly cannot believe that our marriage is old enough to be a voting-age adult!
We praise the Lord that He has blessed us with a strong, healthy marriage. We are more in love than we ever have been, and we are truly each other's best friends!
Over the years, we have from time to time talked about this passage (we actually were just talking about it last week). And to consider that we will NOT be married to each other in heaven, it does make us a bit sad! (And to some degree, I think that is appropriate!)
But what a testament to the joy, satisfaction, and intimacy of heaven: that even the greatest intimacy, the greatest earthly joy - a strong, healthy, God-glorifying marriage - will not be needed in heaven. The thing that marriage points to - the marriage of Jesus and His Church - will be our joy and satisfaction for all eternity.
Believer in Jesus, this hope awaits you! Jesus died and rose to give you this hope of eternal life.
"... in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Psalm 16:11
2. Think of the loved ones who have gone before you who knew Jesus. As I write this, I think of my precious father-in-law, Bob Palma. It's hard to believe that Becky's dad went to be with Jesus almost 10 years ago now in March 2017. He was just 63, and the 9 years I got to spend getting to know him feel so short now.
And I know you have loved ones just like that, too.
Friend, rejoice that those loved ones - RIGHT NOW - are more alive now than they ever were here. He is not the God of the dead, but of THE LIVING. They are alive, joining with the throng - "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!" And we look forward with hope that one day we will join them.
"Set your minds on things that are above,
Not on things that are on earth.
For you have died,
And your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ who is your life appears,
then you also will appear with him in glory...
Christ is all, and in all."
Colossians 3:2-4, 11
- Joe