The Resurrection and the Life
One of Jesus' best friends was a man named Lazarus. His sisters were Mary and Martha. Jesus loved to stay with them when He came to Jerusalem, because they lived close to the city. One day Lazarus died, and Jesus went to be with his sisters after he had been dead 4 days. They did not realize that He waited, so they could see one of the greatest miracles, one that proved Jesus was the Messiah for many people who saw it. He raised His friend from the dead. Martha went to Jesus before He arrived at their home, and she assured Jesus that she believed He could have healed her brother if He had been there before He died. It was then, that Jesus taught her why He had delayed. (John 11:25-26) He wanted everyone to see and know that He was "The Resurrection and The Life." We need to be assured of this also.
Yes, Jesus can and does raise the dead, as we hear from missionaries around the world to this day. However, the fact that He is the resurrection and the life applies to all who believe in Him. Those who died before He arose Himself were resurrected from Hades and taken to Heaven when He rose again and descended to Hades to proclaim His victory over Satan and to empty Hades of all the believers in Paradise. Now, whenever our physical body dies, we just go directly to be with Him in Heaven, if we know Him as Lord and Savior. Therefore, those who know Him never die, we just change locations. After Jesus told Martha that truth, He asked her, "Do you believe this?" I would like to ask all of us that same question, because it makes a huge difference in our life here and our eternity.
Tomorrow, I intend to read John 12-15.
Yes, Jesus can and does raise the dead, as we hear from missionaries around the world to this day. However, the fact that He is the resurrection and the life applies to all who believe in Him. Those who died before He arose Himself were resurrected from Hades and taken to Heaven when He rose again and descended to Hades to proclaim His victory over Satan and to empty Hades of all the believers in Paradise. Now, whenever our physical body dies, we just go directly to be with Him in Heaven, if we know Him as Lord and Savior. Therefore, those who know Him never die, we just change locations. After Jesus told Martha that truth, He asked her, "Do you believe this?" I would like to ask all of us that same question, because it makes a huge difference in our life here and our eternity.
Tomorrow, I intend to read John 12-15.