Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die."
As some of you know my Grandma passed away on Monday the 7th. As a result, I've been thinking alot about death and resurrection. Seeing death makes it so abundantly clear that this world is in "bondage to decay" as Paul states it in Romans. It is tempting to see someone you love die and wonder whether there is hope.
Then I read a statement like the one above from Jesus and I realize that indeed there is great hope! Jesus has risen from the dead and death no longer has mastery over those who believe!
Martin Luther said, "Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime." Yes, He has written resurrection all over the place for us to see and rejoice in as we look forward to the glorious day when He will call His own home for good.
It may be that we wonder when death draws near where God is at. Then we read the story of Lazarus (the quote above from Jesus is from that story) and realize He's right here with us. Our God is not far away in the clouds, but in the person of His Son came to this world and suffered on our behalf. As one man said, "Jesus crawls into the grave with us." When He sees His friend die, even though He will raise him from the dead, He weeps over him. Yes, Jesus is with those who mourn. "Blessed are those who mourn" Jesus said, "for they shall be comforted."
1 comment:
Hey brother, the Lord be your strength at this time. Here's a Holy Sonnet by John Donne:
Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell;
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well,
And better than thy stroke, why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
Jeff
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