Today’s reading: Mark 12:18-14:26
My selection: Mark 12:24-27
24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”
My reflections: In this brief paragraph, Jesus corrects the error of the Sadducees, but also the errors of Islam, Mormonism, and many Biblically ignorant or unbelieving people today. Note:
1. There is a resurrection. The common belief that there is nothing after this life is false. The Sadducees were wrong on this and so are many people today who prefer not to face God and final judgment.
2. Earthly, human marriage does not continue in heaven. As much as I enjoy my marriage, that relationship will not extend into the eternal state. God must have something better. Here Mormons and Muslims err. This does not imply that marriage is somehow an inferior relationship unworthy of heaven. The relationship between Christ and the Church is compared to a marriage. There will be a marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven, but no marriage between humans.
3. The dead do not become angels. The beleiving dead are like angels (with regard to marriage) but Jesus did not say they become angels. Angels have been confirmed in righteousness (i.e. they are unable ever to sin) but they have never been humans. In heaven, believers will be confirmed in righteousness and enjoy perfected bodies and souls, but will not be angels.
4. God is all-powerful, His word is infallible, and people wander into foolishness and error who lose sight of these truths.
My challenge: Do your beliefs conform to a right knowledge of God’s word and God’s power? The Sadducees were wrong in so many ways. Don’t be like them. Check your theology about heaven with the Scriptures.
Tomorrow’s reading: Mark 14:27-15:41
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