This post is part of a series that will take us up to the Easter holiday that celebrates the Resurrection of our Lord.

Mark 12:18–27 (ESV) – 18 And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

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.”

Once again religious leaders went to Jesus to test him. This time it was the Sadducees. They wanted Jesus to agree with them that the idea of a resurrection of the dead was ridiculous. This topic was a noted dispute between the Sadducees and the Pharisees. The Pharisees believed in a future resurrection. In order to show how ridiculous the idea was, the Sadducees introduced a scenario to Jesus as they questioned him. Suppose a woman had been married seven times in her life. Whose wife would she be in the resurrection?

The Sadducees thought that they had Jesus. How could he not agree that such a notion was silly? However, Jesus not only disagreed with the Sadducees, but he showed them that their knowledge of the Scriptures and of God was lacking. They failed to understand that our resurrected lives will differ from our current lives. They also failed to understand that God is able to do all he desires. There will be a future resurrection and the people of God will have eternal life in a new creation. What a wonderful future for all believers!

Father, we look forward to the day of resurrection when all believers will be given new and glorified bodies that are fit for an eternity with you. Help us even now as we live in anticipation of that day. Amen.

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