PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: John 11:17-27
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)
Obviously everyone dies, even believers, so what does Jesus mean?
There is more to death than just the termination of physical life.
Death is the termination of me, body and soul, never to rise again.
This is what “surely die” (Genesis 2:27) is referring to, ultimate death.
We live each day in the shadow of this final consequence for sin.
Living in the shadow of ultimate death is not a nice way to live.
But Jesus speaks of living in the sunrise of Jesus, confident in him.
The sunrise scatters the shadows, and we enter into a new day.
We will fall asleep, but we will wake up, and death will not take us.
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54, Isaiah 25:8)
Jesus is offering Martha hope NOW, even in the shadow or sunset of death.
When we “live by believing in” Jesus, we no longer DIE (finality).
We pass through sunset of death only to wake up with the sunrise, ALIVE (finality).
Do I believe this, does the light of the final sunrise brighten my life now?
PRAYER
Lord, you are asking me if I believe this. I admit that the sunset still scares me, but not without the hope of sunrise!
Take Jesus at his word: “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” These are most comforting ‘words of Jesus’ – because I believe! Yes, I physically will die once – but I will rise again – like Jesus I will rise again! It is believing this that makes people nervous – do I believe enough? Like the reply of a person coming to Jesus for healing for his boy – ‘I believe help me overcome my unbelief!'(Mark 9:24) Help me to help others find you and believe your words. That they too might find their way to you?!
A Christian lives twice and dies once.
A non Christian lives once but dies twice.
Jesus is life and life eternal. I live in that light now and forevermore. That is my confidence to live with Him forever as He has promised. And in that confidence I go forward each day anew serving Him in word and deed. Alive forevermore in Him.
1. The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Refrain:
Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!
2. No darkness have we who in Jesus abide;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
We walk in the light when we follow our Guide!
The Light of the world is Jesus!
3. Ye dwellers in darkness with sin-blinded eyes,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Go, wash at His bidding, and light will arise;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
4. No need of the sunlight in Heaven we’re told;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
The Lamb is the Light in the city of gold,
The Light of the world is Jesus!