Resurrection

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

RESURRECTION

Matt 22:23-33

23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?" 29 Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead — have you not read what God said to you, 32'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."  33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

NIV

It is interesting that those who do not believe in the resurrection should ask a question about what happens after the resurrection to this woman. Although it is true what they said about the law Moses gave them about brothers taking on the duty of husband to a childless widow, they were still asking about the afterlife which they did not believe in. Jesus has no problem telling them they are in error. Jesus also assures them there is a resurrection. He proves it to them with their own beliefs in serving the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. God did not tell them he was the God of them but that he is the God of those three patriarchs. He is still their God because they were resurrected to be in his presence. They are not in the grave as the Sadducees would believe. First of all, what value does life have if there is no resurrection? What is the purpose of life if there is no resurrection? If all life consists of is being born, growing up, accumulating as much as we can, grow old and die, leaving everything behind to lie in a grave and rot, then we would have to conclude life is worthless. It has no meaning whatsoever. It has no purpose. It serves no function, other than self-pleasures during the course of existence. Jesus promises there is a resurrection. We will be with God once we die. There is a singular purpose of life. It is to find, to re-establish our rightful relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Although even those who refuse that singular purpose, who refuse to accept Jesus as the only way to the presence of God through faith, will also experience a resurrection. But theirs will be to be judged because they condemned themselves through disbelief. They will be judged and thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, the second death. Yet they will still not simply rot in the grave as the Sadducees would have to believe if they disbelief in the resurrection. Yet we will not be judged for any of our sin, for Christ already paid for them. We will be accepted into his presence based only because of our faith in Jesus. We will be there, not as family, but as children of God. There is the flaw of the church of the latter day saints. They have ceremonies sealing a married couple for all eternity. A direct opposite to the teaching of Jesus regarding how heaven will be for those who are married in this life. Yet surely we will be aware of all those we have known in this life who have accepted Jesus. Surely we will be able to rejoice with each other in the presence of our God. But we will be as the angels, singular male and female. All with the purpose of serving at the pleasure of God. Our joy will be complete.

1 Thess 2:18-20

 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

NIV

We will indeed be aware of each other, and those who we helped to see Jesus will be there enjoying the joy of his presence. This will make us even more joyous knowing that God used us to help some to find their faith in Jesus so they too may be there with us. So then should we not live our lives based on knowing there is a resurrection? What does that life look like? We know it is not about the things of the world. We know it is not about how much we can store up. We know it has nothing to do with how many good things we do, or how few bad things we do. We know it is not about that list of do’s and don’ts. But what is it about then? Because there is a resurrection, then we need to be living a life of faith, trusting in Christ not just for salvation, but for our very lives, every aspect of our lives. By faith we are saved. By faith we shall live forever. By faith we will be in the resurrection of the saints.