Resurrection vs. Resuscitation

Luke 20:27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 "Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?" 34 Jesus replied, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 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, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection. 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." 39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, "Well said, teacher!" 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Keywords: Sadducees, resurrection, marriage, angels.

The Sadducees are a religious group who were named by David’s co-priest, Zadok. The name means righteous ones.[1]

Resurrection[2] Biblical Teaching

1. Resurrection is different from resuscitation.

2. Resurrection is bodily.

3. Resurrection body remains mysterious.

Resurrection: Future bodily rising from the dead of all persons.

Old Testament: Resurrection was used as an idea to express hope for the natural rebirth of Israel. Ezekiel 37; Isaiah 26:19 Death is not final because the righteous will return to live with God.

New Testament: Resurrection is better explained in the New Testament. Luke 7:11-17, Mark 5:22-43, Matthew 10:8 The concept was pivotal in the early church.

Biblical Teaching: Biblical teaching falls into three categories. 1. Resurrection is different from resuscitation. Lazarus was resuscitated because he would later die. 2. Resurrection is bodily receiving the full redemptive atoning work of God. 3. Life in the resurrected body will be different from what is previously known.

Angels are created beings whose primary function is to serve and worship God.[3] Unlike God they are not eternal or omniscient. In Hebrew and Greek, the word defining angel is transliterated into messenger. Angels can carry messages to people as well as carry out God’s will as He directs them.

Marriage is a sacred covenantal union between one man and one woman who swear before God an oath of lifelong loyalty and love to one another.[4] The first marriage was instituted by God in the Garden of Eden between Adam and Eve. It is the framework for intimate companionship. Marriage is also used as an analogy to describe the relationship between Yahweh’s relationship with Israel.

A resurrected body will never die. Jesus will continue to be forever. The individuals who returned to life were resuscitated and died at a later time. In the resurrected body, our lives will be different. Our lives will be better because death, pain, and evil have been defeated.

Bibliography

Cox, Steven L. “Angel.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 66-67. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

Kelly, Brent R. and E. Ray Clendenen. “Marriage.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1059-1061. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament, edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, 199-265. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 1984.

Mitchell, Mike. “Sadducees.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1401. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

Norman, Stan. “Resurrection.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1348-1349. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

[1] Mike Mitchell, “Sadducees,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 1401. [2] Stan Norman, “Resurrection,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 1348-1350. [3] Steven L. Cox, “Angel,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 66-67.

[4] Brent R. Kelly and E. Ray Clendenen, “Marriage,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 1059-1061.