Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. But regarding the fact that the dead rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken” (Mark 12:24-27).

Jesus was responding to Sadducees, who said they believed in the Old Testament law but did not believe in angels or everlasting life. To try to make everlasting life sound illogical, they described a woman who had been married to seven brothers during her lifetime (marrying each one after the death of her previous husband). She was married to all seven on Earth; who will she be married to in heaven?

I can almost imagine Jesus yelling “Duh!” at the beginning and end of His reply. Heaven is not like Earth. We are not married in heaven.

How often do we imagine heaven as some sort of replica of Earth? I used to refer to a beloved Christian retreat center, along the Hudson River approximately two hours from my home, as “Heaven’s annex on Earth.” It was an exaggeration. I know heaven will be better than Mount St. Alphonsus. We try to imagine heaven by picturing the most perfect improvement upon everything we loved about life on earth.

It will be more. First Corinthians 2:9 tells us “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the human heart, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” We can only imagine, but it will be far greater than our greatest dreams.

What do you think of when you imagine what heaven is like? While writing this post, I thought of this song by MercyMe that offers one perspective.

Copyright © 2023 Michael E. Lynch. All rights reserved.