To the young child, his first experience in gardening may seem to be like a funeral! The small dried up seed of some dead plant is taken and buried in the ground! There is nothing in his garden to show to his friends or to give him pleasure. But the child is told that soon there will be a new, more beautiful living plant in the place of what he buried.
Keeping that in mind let us listen to a conversation that took place at someone's home not long after a funeral. The funeral of a loved one is one of life's most difficult experiences, but at this one we will learn a wonderful lesson!
Martha and Mary had sent for Jesus some days before when their brother Lazarus had been ill - but Jesus hadn't come in time! (John 11:3-6.) By the time Jesus arrived Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days... "'Lord,' Martha said to Jesus, 'if you had been here, My brother would not have died.'
"Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.'
Martha answered, 'I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.'" (verses 17-24.)
Jesus had already said, "A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out," but He had added that some "will rise to live" and others "will rise to be condemned". (John 5:28-29.)
Jesus has warned us that many will hear Him say to them on that day, "Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels"! (Matthew 25:41. 7:13-14.)
So, the resurrection will either bring you to eternal Life - sure of Heaven with God (1st Thessalonians 4:15-18. Matthew 25:34.), or bring you to eternal death - meaning the eternal punishment in Hell, away from God. (Revelation 20:10-15. 21:8.) But can we know in advance which it will be?
Jesus said to Martha "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. Do you believe this?"
"Yes, Lord," she told Him, "I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world." (verses 25-27.) Martha's brother Lazarus had also believed that Jesus was the One God had sent to be the Saviour of the world. (1st John 4:14.)
Jesus' words gave Martha great comfort. Not only would her brother rise again, but he would NEVER DIE the eternal death of being sent to Hell - and neither would she - because they each trusted Jesus as their Saviour from sin. (John 5:24.) They were sure of Heaven.
Remember, it is only those who put their whole trust in JESUS, "the Resurrection and the Life" who will be sure of Heaven. (John 3:16-18.) Is JESUS your Life, your Sweetness and your Hope? or are you dishonouring God's Son who died for your sins by giving such glory and honour to another? (Isaiah 42:8. Acts 4:12.)
Only by faith in Jesus, "the Resurrection and the Life", can you look forward to the resurrection - to that new life He has promised, and to being sure of Heaven. (verse 25. Romans 8:1 & 14-17.)
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
For the next
reading from John's Gospel go to NEXT
In order to browse
further "Good News Compage" prompts and commentaries for John's
Gospel go to
---------------oOo---------------
