Our scripture this week is Luke 20:27-38.
Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a 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. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too. Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”
The Sadducees approached Jesus with a question they hoped would discredit Him. Jesus knows what they are trying to do, but instead of sending them away, He answers honestly, hoping they will see the wonderful gift of resurrection God has promised for those who love Him.
He teaches that our Heavenly Father is the God of the living, that having been created in His image, God wants us to be with Him eternally. The Sadducees believed that death was the end. Jesus came to show us all that it was not, that God had more for us after our mortal lives.
This scripture passage doesn’t tell us if the Sadducees changed their minds, but it was a lesson for all who heard it then, and for us today. Death does not destroy us. We can live for God now with His assurance we will be united with Him at the resurrection.
Gracious God, we are grateful for the gift of eternal life with You. Help us to live in ways that honor Your blessing to us and share Your love with the world. Amen.