1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 14 If a man die, shall he live again? Job 14:1-2, 5, 10-12, 14a.
During troubling times, man reads things into the events happening and thinks they see apocalyptic inferences. Many speak of the coming End of Time. Often these spoken inferences are accepted as common understandings. Mankind begins to wonder about life after death.
‘If a man die, shall he live again?’ This has been the greatest, longest running question, What happens after death? Will man live again? Many Christians believe they will live again, in a heavenly body. How do we know we will live again? Will it be in a place we hope to live? In truth, all are children of the resurrection; some to everlasting life with the Creator; the rest to everlasting life with their temptor. All shall be resurrected. The question, therefore, is not, "Will we live again?”, but, "where will we live again?”
This morning, I want to look at the proof of us ‘living again’. For those who do not believe in a life hereafter, let us hear what The Bible says. Will you believe The Bible? Each one should answer the question, "Where will I live again?”
What Biblical proof gives me assurance of a resurrection and life after death? Turn with me to Luke 20:27-40.
Jesus speaks of the Children of The Resurrection.
Here the Sadducees pose a question to Jesus about the resurrection of the dead. Vs. 27. 27 Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection;
The Sadducees do not believe in the resurrection. The Pharisees, another sect of Jews, do; and so does Jesus. Today, as then, there are those who believe and those who don’t.
Who are the Sadducees? They are the descendants of Zadok, whose lineage can be traced back to Eleazar, son of Aaron. They were granted the privilege of officiating as priests in the Temple after the return from the Babylonian Exile. These “Zadokites,” from which evolved the word “Sadducees,” formed the nucleus of the priesthood staffing the Jerusalem Temple of first century Palestine. They were like an aristocracy, composed at this time of both priests and well-to-do laity.
The Sadducees were conservative, limiting their beliefs to what was in the written law. They maintained that the oral interpretation of the written law, extending it to apply to every imaginable circumstance, was not revelation, and, therefore, not to be believed. Therefore they did not believe in a resurrection. Compared to the Sadducees, The Pharisees, largely a lay movement sect, bought into the oral law. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead and in angels; two doctrines not explicit in the Pentateuch, the first five books of Hebrew Scripture.
The discourse over the next few verses is a trick by the Sadducees toward Jesus about the resurrection life, ‘Who will be married in the next life?’ If the question was impossible to answer, so also was the situation provoking it absurd, and so was belief in a resurrection. This proves it, or so the Sadducees thought.
Notice what Jesus plainly says—vs. 34-36. 34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
In verse 34, ‘children of this world marry and are given in marriage:’ Jesus speaks first of the condition of this present life. Marriage and procreation are necessary for the continuation of the human race, for “children of this age” to continue in being.
In verse 35, ‘neither marry nor are given in marriage:’ Jesus says there is a sharp difference between life as we know it here on earth, and life in eternity. In the “age to come” people will not die, nor will children be born. Hence, there is no need for marriage and procreation. Life will be different, not a mere continuation of this life in imaginary, or ideal terms. Now, Jesus does not speak of the resurrection of the dead, the general resurrection at the End Time, but of resurrection from the dead, the resurrection of the righteous who are among the dead. In this new age, the next life, people are not involved in marriage relationships. Personal relationships will transcend to a new level, making procreation unnecessary. Jesus is saying that “marriage,” as such, is a condition quite foreign to the new age. (Heaven)
In verse 36, ’equal unto the angels:’ These “unembodied” spirits, neither marry nor die. Humans will be like them in these two respects.
Jesus now shows them that the resurrection was implied in Exodus 3; therefore, the concept was designed from early on. 1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: 4 God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 6 He said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
In verse 37-38, look at the reference, ‘the dead are raised’. Jesus argues with the Sadducees on their terms and out-argues them. He uses the Passage from Exodus 3:6 and the scene of the burning bush to point out to them that there is, indeed, scriptural basis for belief in the resurrection from the dead. It is significant that he quotes from the Pentateuch because these first five books were the only ones the Sadducees recognized as revelation. Jesus has just pointed out to them that they had wrongly assumed that earthly conditions, such as marriage, would persist into the next world.
Long after the deaths of the patriarchs-Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- God, appearing to and speaking to Moses, could still speak of himself as their God. Thus they must either still be alive in some way or can confidently expect to be raised by him from the dead. The Sadducees did not understand their own scripture wherein Moses himself revealed the fact of the resurrection. Jesus said God is the God of the living and the dead.
JESUS’ OWN TESTIMONY.
John 6:40. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 11:20-27. Jesus speaking to Martha at the time of Lazarus’ death. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
JESUS’ OWN PROOF. (His resurrection from death)
Mt. 28:1-6. In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Luke 24: 36-40. 36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
Apostles’ teachings.
Luke writes of Jesus’ resurrection. Acts 1:1-3. The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Do you believe in the resurrection? Apostle Paul did. I know you do, too. 1 Thes. 4:13-18. NIV. 13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Are you a child of the King? Would you be counted worthy to be a Child of the Resurrection? Examine yourself this morning and ask yourself, ‘Have I been born again? Have I been baptized for the remission of my sins to be a child of the King?’
If you are counted as a ‘child of the King’, you have been born again. Is your life representative of a child of the resurrection, worthy to be saved? Only you know the answer. Only you know if your life has been in accord with the commandments of God. If the Lord returned now to call His children home, will you be resurrected to a life of joy and peace in Heaven, or will you be resurrected to an eternity with all those who are evil and follow their leader, Satan?
