September 22, 2015
Death is a fact of life, much as we would like it to be otherwise. We always live with the knowledge of our own mortality, and this truth is punctuated regularly by the death of those near and dear to us. Some clear and plain truth on the subject, however, gives us peace amidst the pain of this reality.
A good friend of Jesus, Lazarus, became ill and died. What Jesus said to his disciples concerning this is helpful and comforting: “ 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep. The disciples then said to Him, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.’ Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. So Jesus then said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead’ ” (John 11.11-14)
I remember the comment of a friend a few years ago, regarding being under anesthesia for surgery. She was totally unaware of the passage of time, and stated that this is what death must be like. The fifteenth century reformer, Martin Luther, would have agreed; he is credited with stating: “After death the soul goes to its bedchamber and its peace and while it is sleeping it does not realize it is asleep … we shall all sleep until he comes and knocks on the little grave and says, ‘Dr Martin get up’—then I shall rise in a moment and be with him forever."
Comforting as the truth of the nature of death is, even more comforting and encouraging is the truth of resurrection and the proof supplied by Jesus. “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” (John 11.25-26). In itself, this could be an empty claim, except for two important facts: (1) He proceeded to raise Lazarus from the dead, and; (2) He Himself has been raised from His own death. There is abundant and powerful evidence to support His claim!
The reality of our own mortality ought not to be basis for pessimistic living, because the realty of the Resurrection and the Life vastly overshadows this fact. And, praise God, this resurrection life is ours to experience and live in, in part, today! May that power and hope permeate our lives today, and always.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2015
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
A good friend of Jesus, Lazarus, became ill and died. What Jesus said to his disciples concerning this is helpful and comforting: “ 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep. The disciples then said to Him, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.’ Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. So Jesus then said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead’ ” (John 11.11-14)
I remember the comment of a friend a few years ago, regarding being under anesthesia for surgery. She was totally unaware of the passage of time, and stated that this is what death must be like. The fifteenth century reformer, Martin Luther, would have agreed; he is credited with stating: “After death the soul goes to its bedchamber and its peace and while it is sleeping it does not realize it is asleep … we shall all sleep until he comes and knocks on the little grave and says, ‘Dr Martin get up’—then I shall rise in a moment and be with him forever."
Comforting as the truth of the nature of death is, even more comforting and encouraging is the truth of resurrection and the proof supplied by Jesus. “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” (John 11.25-26). In itself, this could be an empty claim, except for two important facts: (1) He proceeded to raise Lazarus from the dead, and; (2) He Himself has been raised from His own death. There is abundant and powerful evidence to support His claim!
The reality of our own mortality ought not to be basis for pessimistic living, because the realty of the Resurrection and the Life vastly overshadows this fact. And, praise God, this resurrection life is ours to experience and live in, in part, today! May that power and hope permeate our lives today, and always.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2015
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
posted by steve @ 9:11 AM
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