Who are you looking forward to seeing in Heaven?

Mark 12:18-27

Who were the Sadducees?  They were religious guys that did not believe in a life after death, whereas the Pharisees were religious guys that did believe in life after death, both groups were doing all in their power to undermine Jesus’ teachings.

A group of these Sadducees got together and came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. ²⁰ Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. ²¹ The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. ²² In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last, of all, the woman died too. ²³ At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

It sounds like a great question, but as we look at Jesus’ answer, we learn it is based on ignorance of the Scriptures.  Its purpose was to trap Jesus, but the Pharisees who asked about paying taxes are going to understand this is not an average man they are talking to.

This is Jesus’ reply; “Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? ²⁵ When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. ²⁶ Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? ²⁷ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

Now I hope that makes your thinker go to work on some of the foolish things we hear people say when someone has passed from this life into eternity.  Angels are not all knowing, only God is, angels are still learning and marvel at the truths of our great and mighty God.  We may meet Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at some point even our family, but the priority will be to see Jesus and to sit at His feet in worship.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice