A Life Worthy

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”(John 11:26)

Wait a minute.

Didn’t Jesus just say we live even if we die?

But now, in the next line, he says we won’t die.

This is why I get confused.

The Wife of my Youth points out that Hebrew poetry often involved repeating the same idea, but with different words.  Perhaps that’s what Jesus is doing here…

or

maybe this is a veiled reference to his second coming.  You know, those who are alive when he returns will never taste death…

or

could be that Jesus is doubling down on his first statement.  Kind of, “You’ll live even after you die.  No, wait–even better.  You’ll never die in the first place!”

or

did he mean that, “He who lives (in me) and believes in me will never die”?  In other words, those who make their life and hope in Jesus will be with him forever?

or

Was this another way of pointing out he was about to defeat death by his resurrection?

Hmm…yeah, I don’t know.

‘Cause remember, I’m not a Bible scholar.  I’m just a guy who wonders about stuff and–to quote my grandpa– “goes off at the mouth a lot.”

As you can certainly tell on a morning like this.

But this I can tell you, Beloved of Christ:  Whatever the exact meaning of his words, it’s all really, really good for you and me.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life…”(John 11:25).

We lost a member of our family yesterday.  Suddenly, unexpectedly, he was gone, and there was only confusion and pain and emptiness for those who loved him. As is so often the case when someone dies, I find myself at this passage.  Trying to figure out the “why” and the “how,” just as Mary and Martha tried to understand why their brother Lazarus was gone.

And, as always, something strikes me.

Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Not, “I bring you resurrection and life.”

Not, “I know where you can get resurrection and life.”

I am.

Jesus is more than the source of of life.

He is life.

In him we live, and move, and have our being.

He is not bound by the grave,

and so

neither are we.

I can’t understand it, Beloved.

But I can embrace it.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you (Psalm 91: 5-7).

These verses used to give me fits, because they seemed…well…untrue.  I mean, believers get sick, get robbed, get hurt, and die just like unbelievers, don’t they?

No, they don’t.

Hear me out—yes, believers get sick, get robbed, get hurt, and die, but not like unbelievers.

Psalm 73 gives us some clarification here.  The Psalmist expresses his frustration and anger at the fact that the godly suffer while the ungodly seem to have it made.  He continues in this attitude until, “I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny” (Ps 73:17).  He suddenly catches a glimpse of life from God’s perspective, and he realizes that the ups and downs of this life are not God’s first concern.  God’s first concern is our relationship with him; his first concern is our spiritual eternity.

So, back to Psalm 91.  Notice that the verse doesn’t say that arrows won’t fly at you, or pestilence or plague.  It says that you don’t need to fear these things.

And you don’t.  Because whatever may happen to you in this physical world, you can know that you are eternally his, eternally secure.  And the real dangers—the arrows of the evil one, the plague of sin—from those you are protected.  A thousand may fall to the wickedness of this world, ten thousand to the deceiver of men, but it will not come near you.

You are his.

Under his wings, remember?

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:2)

My refuge.

My fortress.

My place of safety and strength, with strong walls to protect me from the world.

Face it, Beloved.  We all need a place to which we can retreat.  When our armor is dented and our sword arm is weary, we need to pull back and regroup, recharge, refresh.  God gives us that place; better yet, God is that place.  His love surrounds us like an unassailable wall, keeping us protected.

Keeping us safe.

You are safe, Beloved.  

Yes, you are.

Rest in that today.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1).

Any questions?

 

Happy Friday, Beloved