Joel M Bradshaw

18And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

24Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither 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. 26And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”–Mark 12

Jesus here corrected the Sadducees twice. First, he used their own preferred Bible passages against their theology. Sadducees only thought the Books of Moses were the ones to study. But I want to briefly focus on Jesus point about marriage in Heaven. Some of my single readers long for eternity to possibly have a spouse. Some of my married readers, and especially those who have lost their loved one, look forward to reuniting in Heaven.

Jesus point was in response to the ridiculous example of the seven brothers. The Sadducees were essentially asking, “What was going to be the woman’s identity?” Her identity on earth while married was as wife. So in Heaven, which of those brothers would claim her identity? Jesus attacked that idea more than he attacked heavenly marriage.

1. In Heaven, your primary identity will no longer be husband or wife. The commands in Ephesians 5 to love sacrificially will no longer be primary in your life.
2. In Heaven, the point is no longer your marriage or your singleness. You won’t be working on your marriage or trying to get married.
3. In Heaven, you will be like the angels. Scripture doesn’t present angels as sexual beings or as ones having relationships. Angels are tasked to serve God and find that purpose alone in that relationship. They seem very satisfied with that arrangement, too.

So in Heaven, I expect to see all my saved loved ones. I long to see the babies that my wife and I have buried: our Esther, our Lily, and our precious Grace. I look forward to loving my wife with a love not tainted at all by my selfishness. But the point will not be my marriage, but instead Jesus. I won’t concern myself with what pleases my wife, but instead with what pleases Jesus. Life will be different. There will also be no sin, so these relationships will be satisfyingly perfect.

And for those of you reading this and getting sad or disappointed, just remember that the Bible presents Heaven as greater and more awesome than you can ever imagine. My earthly identity glorifies Jesus but is expressed as a husband and a father. As I long for Jesus, my heart is naturally also concerned with the wife, children, and family he has given me. One day I will love Jesus like the angels do. My identity will be just him and my purpose will reflect that.–JMB