“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.” (John 11:25-26a)
Again our lectionary reading provides us with great comfort from the Lord Jesus that assures us that faith in Christ grants us eternal life. I have heard these very words spoken at almost every funeral I have ever attended for they are meant to provide comfort to those who mourn. Jesus spoke them to Martha, the sister of the dead man Lazarus. Yet the Lord demonstrated His words as fact when He worked the great miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. So powerful is God’s word that it has been said that if Jesus had not called Lazarus’s name, everyone in that cemetery would have arisen. That will happen at the end of time when the Lord will raise up all, but for then it was only one man, enough to demonstrate the power of Jesus over death.
Lazarus was raised from the dead, but he was not immortal; he would die again. We are not told what he said or what he felt. Imagine his consternation and his joy. Imagine the ecstasy of his grieving sisters, one minute weeping tears of sadness, the next weeping tears of joy. That is how we will feel when we ourselves are united with Christ in heaven. No more sorrow or sadness. No more sickness, cancer, pains or death, no more pandemic diseases. Only joy for all eternity in the company of all the angels and saints before God’s throne.
Therefore, as we contemplate this miracle we can rejoice to know that we need not fear death. Yes it is an enemy, to be fought, as is all sickness. But Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Because of Him, death becomes a doorway into eternal life. We need not be afraid of what is on the other side for if we are in Christ, we will always be in Him.That is cause for comfort and rejoicing. Yet it is also cause for sobriety and concern for those who lack faith in Christ. They will suffer eternal death without Him. Therefore it is our calling to present them the gospel of faith in Jesus so that they too might be delivered from the fear of death. Thanks be to God for His wonderful victory in Jesus our Lord and Savior.