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Commentaries
English
Mark
  
8. The Mysteries of Resurrection
(Mark 12:18-27)
18Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying,19“Teacher, Moses wrote to us that it a man’s brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.20Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring.21And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise.22So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also.23Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.”24Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?25For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.26But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to Him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?27He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.”


The Sadducees and their followers were religious and secular scholars who neither observed the word of God, nor believed in revelations, spirits, resurrection, or life after death. They were logical people who believed only in the things, which they, themselves, reasoned. They used to prove their unbelief in philosophical ways supported with unrealistic examples. One of their examples was about a woman who married seven men successively, and consequently they asked whose wife would she be in heaven?
Christ confronted their basic disease in the heart. He uncovered their illusive deed, and their blasphemy against the wise word of God, for in spite of their cleverness, they were blind to the eternal life of God, and had no experience of the power of heaven. Science does not reveal to us the mysteries of God’s knowledge and power. It is only faith that receives the true revelation.
Jesus made it his business to establish and prove the fundamental truth of resurrection to the skeptics and infidels. He told them that humans in heaven are not flesh and blood, that there will be no men and women, for the lust of the flesh ends there. Those who believe in Christ will be like angels in their glories and innocence, for the Spirit of God who dwells in them is God himself hidden today in their humility, and manifested tomorrow in glory. Yet, all those who listen to and follow the misleading lies of Satan, and hate the others haughtily will be like the angels of the devil, filled with darkness, fear, and trembling, because the spirit of their lying father dwells in them (Matthew 25:41).
Jesus proved to his tempters the truth of Moses’ appearance in the wilderness, where the Holy One proclaimed himself as the God of the fathers of Israel. How great are the grace and faithfulness that we see in these names of God! He connects himself to the temporal, sinful, weak men, justifies them, and makes a covenant with them forever. Because of their faith, he gave them life, and they rose to the life of God. In fact, Abraham was glad when he saw Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who was born in the world of a woman. And now he is looking forward to seeing many children of Ishmael born again through the Holy Spirit that they may participate in God’s eternal life, which fills whoever believes in Jesus (John 3:16; 20:31).

Prayer
We thank you our Father, for you adopted us, gave birth to us again in Jesus Christ, and planted eternal life in our hearts through your Holy Spirit. Keep us in your love, establish us in the living faith, and make our hearts peaceful and desirous for the faithful hope. Overcome the lust, cunning, and envy in us in all those who live in Christ in the world that we may join the fathers of faith in the other world in thanksgiving and praising on your imminent coming. Amen.
Question
How do believers live in the other life?