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At present we’re all incredibly conscious of the importance of upholding the Bibles teaching on marriage as between a man and a woman. In the midst of this on-going struggle, I was struck recently when reading again Jesus’ teaching in Luke 20.34 and 35 that ‘there is no marriage in heaven’.
The context is the Sadducees coming to Jesus with a loaded question. ‘Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question.’ (27) The Sadducees knew exactly what they’re doing. They are simply attempting to bait Jesus with a classic “what if” question!
So, Jesus - Moses wrote for us about how to handle a situation if a married man dies without producing children. The wife is to remarry one of her brothers-in-law in order to have a child. But, what if this happened, and a woman remarried brothers and never had any children with them, who would she be married to in the resurrection? (28-33)
The Sadducees refer to an old Mosaic law that had hardly ever been enacted. It’s a trick question because they didn’t believe in the resurrection. There is also a pastoral dimension to it. Who will carry on the family name?
Jesus, as was his want, didn’t engage with the question. He goes straight to the heart of the matter. And, what a surprising response it is.
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’.(34-36)
As Jesus puts it, people in this age are involved in marriage. As we know it is still one of the great moments of most peoples’ lives.
But, and it is a big but, in the age to come there will be ‘neither marriage nor being given in marriage!’ What is going on here? Isn’t the life to come a sort of never-ending extended family get together?
He goes on to say, ‘and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.’
Jesus here is giving us a unique insight into the life to come. As Christians we do indeed believe in life after life. If we are God’s children, then we are children of the resurrection. Just as Jesus died and rose again, we believe we will die physically and after death we will be raised again physically. Life after life starts today with Christ and continues on into eternity. Our physical death is but a stepping-stone into a whole new future. To reinforce this point he refers to the patriarch Moses.
37 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”. 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.’
What can we learn from this fascinating dialogue?
We see that Jesus believed in and taught of a forthcoming physical resurrection. We see that he believed that in the life to come there will be continuity with this life. We will be recognisably ourselves. Yet there will be discontinuity.
At present we live by faith and not by sight.
In the life to come we will be with Jesus face to face.
At present we pray and read the Scriptures and in this way we believe we commune with him – we talk with him and he speaks to us.
In the life to come he will speak directly and we will respond in praise and wonder.
More specifically we can see from Jesus teaching here that marriage is a gift from God given for human flourishing. It is given for mutual companionship but also for human reproduction. It is for the good ordering of human community.
Yet we also see that it will be unnecessary in the life to come. In that future and eternal life we will experience human community as a part of God’s renewed people dwelling on God’s renewed planet. All of the things that currently divide us will be overcome - racial tension, hatred, hostility, war, rage and malice. We won’t be defined by our sexuality, and we will enjoy true intimacy one with another. Young and old, men and women and those who are uncertain. The rich and poor and the seemingly significant and seemingly insignificant. The rage and anger that is so much a characteristic of our age will be no more. The tension within the church over issues related to marriage and sexuality will also be no more!
Does this somehow dishonour and diminish marriage in our current lives? I think not. As it says in the Prayer Book, marriage between a man and a woman is to be honoured by all and no one should enter into it lightly or selfishly, but responsibly and joyfully, with mutual respect and the promise to be faithful. At the same time, it also means that we don’t build our entire world around our marriages. We commit to and invest in it, but we also need to keep it in perspective. Friendship with others is vital for a healthy marriage. Christian worship and service should be key features of family life. Christian community should be an important commitment. Churches should model the life to come by being places where people of any background are welcome. Single people shouldn’t ever be viewed as second-class citizens but should find rich friendship and love in the context of Christian community. None of this can be assumed and requires generous hearts.
This is an amazing vision of true human community. So how can we ensure we are a part of it – both today and in the future?
Jesus put it this way – ‘those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead’ (v.35)
How can we be considered worthy?
Surely, none of us are worthy. Especially, of the age to come, of the resurrection from the dead. Every time we share in Holy Communion we acknowledge our unworthiness. We reach out hands to receive bread and wine. In this way we remind ourselves, personally and collectively, that it is only through trusting Jesus that we can enjoy new life today and the hope of a glorious future in his eternal kingdom. Jesus himself deems us worthy of taking part in the age to come, worthy of the resurrection from the dead!
Our ongoing challenge is to help as many people as possible to how to be worthy.
Bishop Stephen Hale
Acting General Secretary of EFAC Global
