Jesus is Essential
John 11:11–16: These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
The Greek word for resurrection is anastasis which means “a standing up.” C. S. Lewis, that brilliant Oxford don, ridiculing those who hold that resurrection is spiritual rather than physical, asked, “If it is the spirit that stands up, what position does it take?” There’s a question to work over! No, resurrection means a standing up, and it always refers to the body.
The soul never dies, nor does the soul ever sleep. Death is a reality, an awful reality of the body. But, remember, the resurrection is also reality. You see, man leaves off at death. Even in the hospital, there is a finality about death. Doctors will work and work over a patient. Then when he dies, they all stop working. When death comes, they are through. Science is helpless in the presence of death. Where man must leave off, Jesus begins. Resurrection is also reality. 1
Walking with Jesus
Since heaven is the declared destination of every believer, we should not fear death, but instead celebrate our long awaited homecoming with Him. We should also live this life with a daily anticipation of heaven and not with the depressed, stuck-feelings of earth.
Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:14
Eternal life begins when I die to self, repent, accept Christ as my Savior.
Praying
Lord, thank You for giving me a reason to live this life for You.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (John 11-21) (electronic ed., Vol. 39). Nashville.
