The Gospel of Luke records some words of Jesus in response
to the Sadducees that might seem troubling to those who have lost a beloved
spouse:
Jesus said to them, "The
sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered
worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry
nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are
like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (Luke
20:34-36)
A close examination of this passage reveals that the
relationships of those who have trusted Christ as Savior and Lord will be
infinitely better after the resurrection in the heavenly kingdom.
The Sadducees taunted Jesus with the Old Testament law that
provided for a widow by requiring the deceased’s brother to marry her
(Deuteronomy 25:5), and thus they hoped to discredit the doctrine of bodily
resurrection. In answering the Sadducees, Jesus referred to the marriage
customs of the time. Arranged marriages were common, young women were “given in
marriage.” Though we speak today of the father “giving away” the bride, it is
hardly the same as it was then. What’s more, young widows were expected to
remarry for practical reasons. Jesus’ answer revealed that the resurrection life
in the age to come will be radically different – and better—than life in this
fallen world of death and bereavement.
First of all, Jesus says that “those who are considered
worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead” will enter
into a new relationship with those
they love, a relationship infinitely higher than the cultural norms in our
fallen world. Marriage was instituted by God to provide companionship
(primarily for the man, who seems to have had the greater need) and to
propagate the human race (Gen. 2:18; 1:28). The need to propagate the race will
no longer exist in the eternal kingdom, and need for companionship will be
fulfilled in a greater way than we can imagine. There will be no loneliness in
heaven!
Second,
that new relationship is a relationship of pure love. As resurrected “sons of God,”
we will share God’s character, free of sin, and therefore free of selfishness. “God
is love” (1 John 4:8, 16), and so we will know and
show that pure love toward our departed loved ones, toward others, and most importantly toward God.
Third, that relationship is a permanent relationship: “for
they cannot even die anymore: (Luke 20:36). The emphatic words in this
statement are striking: “even” and “anymore,” The subordinate conjunction “for”
implies that this resurrected, immortal new life is the reason for the new
relationship. In this fallen world, the traditional marriage vow is “till death
do us part” or “as long as we both shall live.” Death ends that relationship as
every widow or widower painfully knows. In this life, death hangs over every
relationship. Christ came to free us from that dread by securing eternal life for
everyone who trusts in Him:
Therefore, since the
children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the
same, that through death He might render
powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free
those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
(Hebrews 2:14-15)
In the age to come,
our relationship of pure love will have no end!
So, far from being a disappointing declaration, Jesus’
answer to the Sadducees unveils a new relationship of love in the heavenly
kingdom that is pure and everlasting. We will see them again, indeed, and it
will be infinitely better than before!
