For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him

Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying: "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife." Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him." Then some of the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, You have spoken well." But after that they dared not question Him anymore.

- Luke 20:27-40

In yesterday's reading, Jesus was questioned by those who seek to trap Him. He was asked, "Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Jesus asked to be shown a Roman coin. He then asked, "Whose image and inscription is on it?" The reply came, "Caesar's." Jesus taught, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

My study bible has a note on today's entire passage: "The Sadducees: the high priestly and landowning class which controlled the temple and the Jewish Council. In a striking difference with the Pharisees, the Sadducees rejected the resurrection of the dead and they came to Christ to dispute it. Jesus' answer is concise and irrefutable. Since God is not the God of the dead but of the living, both those who are physically alive and those who are deceased, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all live to Him (vv. 37, 38)."

I think this story is important for a number of reasons, and I'd like to focus on the glimpses it gives us of another reality which Christ brings to us through His answer. Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying: "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother." We first consider the worldly perspective and the essential importance of offspring to continue lineage, family, heritage. We understand this question to be given by those who do not believe in resurrection - so for them, this worldly perspective is all-important, the central focus of religious life.

"Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife." The central question here remains a question of property, family name, lineage and heritage. Whose wife is she? To which brother does she belong? We remember that this is a question posed by those who do not believe in resurrection -- it is a question from a worldly perspective which is challenging One who is teaching resurrection.

Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection." Jesus gives us His perspective, and the perspective of the eternal kingdom. No longer are there concerns of property, lineage, inheritance - nor even the necessity for offspring stemming from these concerns. In "that age" - the nature of an eternal kingdom - no one marries or is given in marriage, all concerns of property, lineage, inheritance are gone. In fact, all understanding of the necessities of life and continuation are completely shifted: no one dies. There is eternal life. They are "equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection." The implications of this statement are remarkable, and we can only ponder what it is to be equal to the angels and sons of God. But the promise is clear: not only is life altered, unimaginably, and the nature of time, but our very being is shifted into a different sort of status, with implications for what the duties and life in that kingdom will be for those who are of "that age," sons of the resurrection.

But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him." Then some of the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, You have spoken well." But after that they dared not question Him anymore. For the experts on the Law, Jesus turns to Moses, to explain the hints of this kingdom and "this age" of the resurrection that are already there in Scripture. "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" is an eternal, ever-present God, with an ever-present reality that is part of the life of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who are not merely deceased (our perspective) but who live in that God. Therefore Moses himself has given us glimpses of this eternal life, this communion of saints, in which all live and are eternally present. Even Moses has understood that "He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him." We recall that Jesus sent out His apostles, telling them to preach, "The kingdom of heaven has come near." So, this very present glimpse of the kingdom, which Jesus preaches and embodies, is itself the presence and reality of God - and that which we must consider present to us, even "in our midst" and as we live life in our worldly perspective of "this age."

As Advent comes to us, we have a sense of the light dawning, coming into our lives. This story today is in a sense the perfect teaching for Advent, as we are to understand the reality of this kingdom breaking through "in our midst" - and its presence to us. That dawning light reminds us that something is coming to bring the kingdom and its entire reality to us, to be in our midst, among us, within us. So, how do you think of Advent at this time? If it is not to make that kingdom more real, more powerful, more present, I do not know what the purpose is. What is the nature of life itself, life abundantly, He brings? He gives us the perspective we need in order to understand more fully our lives, our natures, and the things for which we are destined and capable. We are to be "equal to the angels," "sons of God." The incredible impact of this light is its gift of life in abundance, and the brilliant honor to creation - and we human beings - that this story lifts us into. The God of the living teaches us about an eternal communion, eternal life, freeing us from the slavery of death and all it stands for in our worldly perspective. What does this light mean to you? How does it break through into your life and teach you about what you are capable of being, of living to? In the communion of saints, we have life - abundantly - to call upon to help us through. How does the kingdom's light break through to you?