Eternal Life

The major groups of Jesus' day in the region that we know as Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, consisted of some fairly well known names and some not.  The Pharisees were perhaps the largest group.  They were both politically and religiously powerful but were perhaps not as wealthy as their rivals, the Sadducees, who really occupied the upper echelon.  Other groups included the Zealots, the Sacarii (the dagger men!), and the Essenes.  They all differed with each other.  Divisions among the populace was as common in Christ's day as it is in ours.

Much as we do today, they differed along the lines of religious belief.  The Pharisees accepted all of the writings that we now include in our Old Testament.  The Sadducees, however, only accepted the first five books as being God's word.  These books were called the Pentateuch, the writings of Moses, and were considered by them to be the only truly inspired books.   

It is not known exactly when the idea of a "resurrection" became popular, but N.T. Wright seems to indicate from his extensive research, that the idea only gained traction around 200 years before the time of Christ, despite the fact that it is commonly referenced in Biblical texts.  David in Psalms mentions an eternal existence for people frequently, the best known perhaps being, "and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23). 

The Sadducees scoffed at the idea of a life after this one as they argued that there was no reference made to such an existence in Moses writings (the Pentateuch).  And they did not accept the other ancient writings as being inspired or valid.  This background allows us to better understand the confrontation between Christ and the Saduccees that Matthew mentions in chapter 22 of his Gospel.

That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.

"Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him.  Now there were seven brothers among us.  The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother.  The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh.  Finally the woman died.  Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?" (Matt. 22: 23-27). 

This is obviously a contrived story, made up and presented to Christ with the intent to mock and embarrass Him.  But He is prepared.

Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God."

(A direct slap in their faces!). "At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage;  they will be like the angels in heaven." (He could have left it here, but goes on).  

"But about the resurrection of the dead--have you not read what God said to you (now He begins quoting from Exodus, a book they accepted as holy) 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Issac, and the God of Jacob.'  He is not the God of the dead but of the living."  (Matt. 22:  29-32).

He is not the God of the dead but of the living!  Incredible!  Those who seek to know Him in this life, and come to do so, will never stop living!  They will pass from this existence into an eternal existence with God that will never cease.  An eternal life in the presence of God.  What an incredible concept.  If Christ had only stated this it would have been remarkable in itself.  

But then He goes on to prove it.  We'll see that soon.