What do you think happens after you die?
It’s one of the most revealing questions you can ask—and one our culture either avoids or answers with wishful thinking. We’re fascinated by the afterlife, yet deeply confused about it. Some imagine heaven as an endless church service. Others picture a vague spiritual existence. Many assume this life is all there is, so they live only for the moment.
But here’s the truth: how you answer that question determines how you live right now.
In Luke 20, Jesus confronts this very issue when the Sadducees—wealthy, educated religious leaders who didn’t believe in resurrection—try to trap Him with a ridiculous hypothetical about marriage in heaven. Their question wasn’t sincere; it was sarcasm wrapped in theology. They couldn’t imagine eternity as anything more than an extension of earthly life.
Jesus doesn’t just answer their question. He exposes their shallow thinking, redefines what eternity really means, and reveals His own divine identity in the process.
When We Shrink Heaven, We Shrink God
The Sadducees made a critical mistake: they reduced resurrection to their limited imagination. They thought heaven would be just like earth, only fancier—better houses, golden streets, same relationships, same struggles.
Sound familiar? Many of us do the same thing today. We either make eternity a grander version of this life or reject it altogether because we can’t wrap our minds around it.
But C.S. Lewis nailed it when he wrote: “The life of the resurrection does not mean prolonging this life, but transforming it.”
Jesus corrects their assumptions by explaining that resurrected life isn’t about marriage, procreation, or preserving legacies. It’s about perfected love, immortality, and being fully alive in God’s presence. Marriage is beautiful—like a candle giving light in darkness—but when the sun rises, you don’t mourn the candle. You rejoice because something greater has come.
Heaven doesn’t erase love; it perfects it.
Jesus Proves Resurrection from Scripture
Then Jesus does something brilliant. He proves resurrection using the very text the Sadducees accepted—the books of Moses. He quotes God saying, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”—not “I was.” Present tense. They’re alive because God keeps His covenant promises beyond the grave.
Resurrection isn’t speculation. It’s a covenant promise that will be fulfilled.
The scribes were stunned. Luke tells us they “no longer dared to ask Him any question.” Why? Because Jesus doesn’t just quote Scripture—He understands it. The Sadducees knew the text but missed the truth.
You can read the Bible, memorize verses, even attend church regularly, and still miss God’s power if your heart is closed.
Real Life Recognizes Jesus as Lord
Jesus then turns the tables and asks His own question: “How can the Messiah be David’s son if David calls Him ‘Lord’?” (Psalm 110:1). The answer? Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. He’s not just a moral teacher or spiritual guide—He’s Lord of the living.
And if He’s Lord, everything changes.
Live Like Resurrection Is Real
So here’s the question this sermon leaves us with: Are you living for this age—or for the age to come?
The Sadducees were religious, educated, and respected—but spiritually unprepared for eternity. Jesus stands before them, and before us, as the Lord of the living. Because He went to the cross, rose from the grave, and is alive right now, you can have real life—today.
If you’ve never trusted Christ: Surrender to Him today. Turn from living for this world alone and receive forgiveness, new life, and eternal hope.
If you already believe: Hold this world loosely. Serve Jesus fully. Real life with Jesus begins now and lasts forever.
As N.T. Wright said, “Because Christ has been raised, the future has already begun.”
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help us live today in light of eternity. Open our hearts to Your truth, reshape our minds through Scripture, and give us courage to surrender fully to You as our living Lord. May we hold this world loosely and hold You tightly, knowing that real life begins now and lasts forever. In Your name, Amen.
