“I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me will live, even though he dies”
(John 11:25)
Reflection:
This is one of the key statements made by our Lord Jesus. Our hope of any resurrection and of eternal life with God is in Jesus and comes from Him. It rests in no one and in nothing else.
He revealed His authority over death in His resurrection of Lazerus and others. Their gift of life was, at that stage, only temporary for Jesus had not yet completed His mission. His great and life-giving expression of His power for the resurrection to eternal life came in His own resurrection from the dead. Here the power of death was defeated as He rose never to die again.
“I lay down my life–only to take it up again.” (John 10:17)
Those who are united with Him by faith in His death and resurrection have nothing to fear from the death that lies in front of everyone. It is merely a door through which we pass with Him into the new life that He has promised us. So Paul could say,
“I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Philippians 1:23)
The love and power of God – the eternal Father, the glorious Son and the wonderful Spirit – is such that nothing and no one can stand in the way of its expression. God is so Almighty that it is both unthinkable and impossible for His commitment and promises to fail. His will has been expressed and it will be done. He has committed Himself to it and to us. And He has founded it upon the great sacrifice and resurrection of His Son. Paul expresses it this way.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
We need to remember too that His promise of life is not only for some future date but for our present lives as well. So many people are living within their own darkness and exist where there appears to be no light or life. Jesus speaks into these situations as well. As He did when He walked amongst us He is able to bring a resurrection life into these areas as well. His ‘Come to Me’ means bring your life to Me now so that I may bring Mine to you.
Response:
Ask God to bring His life into yours wherever and however you are – and keep asking and believing.
Prayer:
Lord God, You are my strength and my song, and You have become my salvation. Please come with Your light and life into the dark and lost areas of my life so that I too may find new life in You. Amen.
———————————-
The Soaring Eagle 