Luke 20:34-38: a reflection

34Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him.”

Answering a question meant to trap him, Jesus affirms the resurrection and reveals that God is the God of the living: those who have died in faith are alive to him. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, Jesus says, for all are alive to him. Jesus shows from Scripture that the dead are raised: when God called himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, long after those men had died, he showed that they still live to him, for he is the God not of the dead but of the living. Those who have died in faith are not lost to God; they are alive to him, and the resurrection awaits them. This shows that God is the God of the living; the faithful who have died are alive to him. God is the God of the living; the faithful dead are alive to him. Those who die in faith are not lost to God, but live to him. The resurrection awaits those who belong to God. Death does not separate the faithful from the living God.

Notice what Jesus reveals about God and those who have died. He shows that the dead are raised, and points to something striking: God called himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob long after these men had died. But God is not the God of the dead, Jesus says; he is the God of the living. So if God is still their God, then these men, though they died long ago, still live to him; they are alive to God. And so it is with all who belong to him: he is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all are alive to him. This is a great hope in the face of death. Those who die in faith are not lost to God, not ceased, not beyond his keeping; they are alive to him, held in his life, and the resurrection awaits them. God remains their God, and they live to him. Death, which seems to separate us finally from the living, does not separate the faithful from the living God; they are alive to him, and will be raised. This gives hope both for those who have died in faith and for ourselves: that God is the God of the living, and those who belong to him live to him beyond death. We do well to hold this hope: that God is the God of the living, and the faithful who have died are alive to him, awaiting the resurrection. God is the God of the living; the faithful who die are alive to him. Those who die in faith are not lost, but held in God's life. The resurrection awaits all who belong to God. Death does not separate the faithful from the living God.

That is worth resting in, for God is the God of the living, and those who have died in faith are alive to him, awaiting the resurrection, as Jesus revealed. Death can seem to separate the dead finally from the living; but Jesus showed that God is the God of the living, and that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, long dead, live to him. The faithful are not lost. When death seems to sever those who belong to God from life, remember that God is the God of the living, and the faithful who have died are alive to him, awaiting the resurrection. Rest in the hope that God is the God of the living and the faithful who have died are alive to him, awaiting the resurrection, as answering a question meant to trap him Jesus affirmed the resurrection and revealed that God is the God of the living, saying he is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all are alive to him; for Jesus showed from Scripture that the dead are raised, since when God called himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob long after those men had died he showed that they still live to him, for he is the God not of the dead but of the living, so that those who have died in faith are not lost to God but alive to him and the resurrection awaits them, which is a great hope in the face of death, since those who die in faith are not lost, ceased, or beyond his keeping but alive to him, held in his life, with the resurrection awaiting them, and God remains their God, so that death which seems to separate us finally from the living does not separate the faithful from the living God, for they are alive to him and will be raised, giving hope both for those who have died in faith and for ourselves that God is the God of the living and those who belong to him live to him beyond death, so that we do well to hold this hope.

Lord Jesus, answering a question meant to trap you, you affirm the resurrection and reveal that God is the God of the living: those who have died in faith are alive to him. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, you say, for all are alive to him. You show from Scripture that the dead are raised: when God called himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, long after those men had died, he showed that they still live to him, for he is the God not of the dead but of the living. Those who have died in faith are not lost to God; they are alive to him, and the resurrection awaits them. Show me what you reveal about God and those who have died. You show that the dead are raised, and point to something striking: God called himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob long after these men had died. But God is not the God of the dead; he is the God of the living. So if God is still their God, then these men, though they died long ago, still live to him. And so it is with all who belong to him: he is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all are alive to him. This is a great hope in the face of death. Those who die in faith are not lost to you, not ceased, not beyond your keeping; they are alive to you, held in your life, and the resurrection awaits them. Death, which seems to separate us finally from the living, does not separate the faithful from the living God; they are alive to you, and will be raised. This gives hope both for those who have died in faith and for me: that you are the God of the living, and those who belong to you live to you beyond death. Take that to my heart. When death seems to sever those who belong to you from life, help me remember, Lord, that you are the God of the living, and the faithful who have died are alive to you, awaiting the resurrection, and let me hold this hope for those I have lost in faith and for myself.