Mark 12:18-27-- A Final Shot at Justice

Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves behind a wife and has no child, his brother should marry the wife and raise the children for his brother. There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children. The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise; and so all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one's wife will she be? For all seven had married her." Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am 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; you are greatly mistaken."

The next group that had a bone to pick with Jesus was the Sadducees. They were a school as old as the Pharisees, attempting to change policy.  At the time of Jesus, the Sadducees had the upper hand, as most of the priests were of the Sadducee party.  The Sadducees believed that God’s word consisted only of the five books of Moses, and that the rest of the Bible should not be considered truly inspired.  Because of this, they did not believe in the resurrection from the dead, for they did not see it taught in the Torah.  And so they confronted Jesus for his belief in resurrection.  They invented a story about a woman who ended up marrying seven brothers.  This could potentially happen, through a law called the levirate law, where a brother would marry his brother’s widow if they had no children in order to allow the brother to have descendants.  This situation the Sadducees proposed, while stretching the possibilities a bit, really did happen with three brothers in Genesis 38:6-11. 

Marriage in ancient times was not just a commitment, but authority of a husband over his wife.  So the question is, which one of the brothers has authority over her? Jesus answered them doubly.  He answered both what is real in the resurrection, as well as that resurrection is in the Torah.  In the first, Jesus is saying that in the resurrection there is no need for marriage.  What is implied is that the point of marriage is to create a context in which children can be raised—and since everyone in the resurrection will live forever, eternal life will not be created anymore through having children.  Even as the angels in heaven are perpetual, and so have no need of children, so will be those in the resurrection.  The second answer (to the question they did not ask) is whether there is resurrection in the Torah.  Jesus quotes Exodus 3:6—a book written by Moses— in which God refers to himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Jesus then says that if these three were dead eternally, God would not refer to them at all, for he is God of the living.  The dead—spirits in the place of the dead—are under Sheol or Death.  Thus, they will be resurrected, or else God would not call them his. 

It is easy to focus on Jesus' teachings on love and humility and think that this is the ultimate teaching of Jesus and that his teaching on the final days is insignificant.  Certainly, Jesus' ethical teachings is significant, but if we neglect Jesus' teaching on the resurrection, we miss out on an essential part of God's redemption.

Abraham and Jacob are two examples of people who lived miserable lives.  They obtained only the bare essentials of God's example, but their lives were full of being faithful to God for almost nothing.  Jacob suffered at the hands of his children for the full end of his life and Abraham surrendered his father's inheritance for land that he would never receive.  Even so, good, loving people give up everything for those whom they love, but obtain nothing for themselves.  In the end, it looks like God asks for much, while giving little.  There are big promises, but few of these promises see fruition in a good person's life. 

The resurrection is the hope that those who love will receive what they deserve.  It is the redemption, not only of those who live in the time of the kingdom of God, but of all who came before.  It is the reward of the patient, and the redemption of the humble who suffered for nothing.

The resurrection is the second chance at life for the slave who suffered under a master all his life.  It is the opportunity for the abused wife to obtain happiness.  It is the chance for those who died homeless to have a home.  It is God's true love to all those who lived miserable lives so that others might live freely.

Without the resurrection, there is no true justice.