The Day Death Died
There are many different fears: fear of poverty, pain, and loneliness. But the greatest of all is the fear of death. No event is so sobering, so final. The thought of going behind that curtain by ourselves is enough to overwhelm us with fear and mystery.
Yet, Christ came to "Deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." The message of the Resurrection is a message of triumph.
In John 11 Christ gives us insight regarding death. The story of Lazarus introduces us to five characteristics of Christ that give us comfort when we think of our own mortality.
First, believers die within His loving care.
We read, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." No doubt Martha and Mary wondered how they would manage once Lazarus was dead. Perhaps their brother was their sole source of support. The sisters would be lonely and their source of support may well have been gone. Yet despite all this, Christ allowed Lazarus to die even though he was a member of one of Christ's favorite families.
Notice that Christ loved the one who died and those who stayed behind. Recently I attended a funeral and was reminded that God loves the one who died and also the widow and her children who are left behind. Christ's love does not mean that He prevents us from dying; indeed, eventually all of His beloved saints are taken into His presence through death.
Paul assured us that nothing - including death - can separate us from the love of Christ. Believers die secure in that love.
Second, we die within the context of God's providential plan.
When Christ discovered that Lazarus was sick, He stayed away two extra days to give Lazarus time to die. And when He came to Bethany several days later, Martha said to Him, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died." Later when Mary was told about Christ's coming, she came and repeated the same words, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died."
The sisters were puzzled regarding Christ's delay. Why didn't He respond the moment the news reached Him?
All funerals have their "if only-s." If only they would not have operated; if only they would have operated; if only they would have tried this new medicine; if only the highway would not have had ice the accident would not have occurred.
Often I have encouraged people to write all of the "if only-s" on a sheet of paper and then draw a circle around it under the banner, The Providence of God. Yes, even the "if only-s" are secure in Christ's loving hand.
Not only the time of Lazarus' death was a part of providence, but also the means of his death. We do not know what disease he had, but we can be assured that it also was under God's control. Last fall a 15-year-old boy from our youth groups was shamelessly gunned down in a drive-by shooting. Could his death have been also within the providential plan of God? Christ, Who was falsely accused and taken by evil men and hung on a cross, died according to God's providential will. Why might not a 15-year-old who is gunned down by evil men also die within the broad scope of God's providence?
Yes, from our standpoint things just "happen". But from God's standpoint, these things are under His sovereign control.
Third, we die within the loving purpose of God.
Why did Christ allow Lazarus to die? The sisters wanted a healed brother, Christ wanted a resurrected one. He said that this death was "For the glory of God." And how might God be glorified in our death? For one thing our faith honors Him. Standing at the tomb he said, "Did I not say to you if you believe you will see the glory of God?" We generally say seeing is believing but notice that the order here is reversed - if you believe you will see! You and I honor God when we die in faith, confident that the Shepherd will guide us through to the other side.
When the Huguenots were martyred in the 16th Century, they went to their deaths singing hymns so loudly that the authorities hired a band to drown out the beautiful music! The pagans said of the early believers, "They carried their dead as if in triumph."
God is also glorified through our death because death is the means that He uses to take His children safely home. Death represents a victory, one of the Lord's sheep has been brought to his permanent home. No more sin, no more backsliding, no more doubts. Yes, someday every one of us shall die for the glory of God.
Fourth, we die with God's loving power.
In verse 43 we read, "And when he had said these things he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus come forth.'" Someone has suggested that it is fortunate that Christ specifically mentioned the name of Lazarus. If He had simply shouted, "Come forth!" the whole cemetery would have come to life. After all, He is the Lord, the King.
Lazarus was resurrected physically, and as far as we know he had to die again. It would have been interesting to interview him as he approached death for the second time.
But we shall be raised with a resurrection body, "We shall be like him for we shall see him as he is." God has the power to recreate us to grant us resurrection life.
Finally, we die with the promises of God.
Christ said, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (11:25,26). Christ uses the word death in two different senses. Even if we die physically, if we believe in Christ we shall live spiritually. And if while living we believe in Christ, we shall never really die for our spiritual life will go on forever.
As a child, I put my hand on a bee and was stung by it. The pain was excruciating and the bee itself flew away. One thing, however, was certain: after the bee had stung me, he was incapable of stinging anyone else. My hand absorbed the stinger. Now the bee could only threaten and intimidate but its power to harm was gone. Paul said, "Oh death where is thy sting? Oh grave where is thy victory?"
Unfortunately, however, not everyone dies within the context of Christ's loving care. He Himself taught that there were two resurrections: one to everlasting life and one to everlasting damnation (John 5:29). Christ's victory belongs only to those who take advantage of it. Everyone shall be raised, but not everyone shall be raised to participate in Christ's glorious victory. That privilege is limited to men and women who humbly admit their own helplessness, those who refuse to trust rituals and religious trappings, and put their faith and trust in Christ alone. To such Christ says, "Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die."
Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer
There are many different fears: fear of poverty, pain, and loneliness. But the greatest of all is the fear of death. No event is so sobering, so final. The thought of going behind that curtain by ourselves is enough to overwhelm us with fear and mystery.
Yet, Christ came to "Deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." The message of the Resurrection is a message of triumph.
In John 11 Christ gives us insight regarding death. The story of Lazarus introduces us to five characteristics of Christ that give us comfort when we think of our own mortality.
First, believers die within His loving care.
We read, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." No doubt Martha and Mary wondered how they would manage once Lazarus was dead. Perhaps their brother was their sole source of support. The sisters would be lonely and their source of support may well have been gone. Yet despite all this, Christ allowed Lazarus to die even though he was a member of one of Christ's favorite families.
Notice that Christ loved the one who died and those who stayed behind. Recently I attended a funeral and was reminded that God loves the one who died and also the widow and her children who are left behind. Christ's love does not mean that He prevents us from dying; indeed, eventually all of His beloved saints are taken into His presence through death.
Paul assured us that nothing - including death - can separate us from the love of Christ. Believers die secure in that love.
Second, we die within the context of God's providential plan.
When Christ discovered that Lazarus was sick, He stayed away two extra days to give Lazarus time to die. And when He came to Bethany several days later, Martha said to Him, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died." Later when Mary was told about Christ's coming, she came and repeated the same words, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died."
The sisters were puzzled regarding Christ's delay. Why didn't He respond the moment the news reached Him?
All funerals have their "if only-s." If only they would not have operated; if only they would have operated; if only they would have tried this new medicine; if only the highway would not have had ice the accident would not have occurred.
Often I have encouraged people to write all of the "if only-s" on a sheet of paper and then draw a circle around it under the banner, The Providence of God. Yes, even the "if only-s" are secure in Christ's loving hand.
Not only the time of Lazarus' death was a part of providence, but also the means of his death. We do not know what disease he had, but we can be assured that it also was under God's control. Last fall a 15-year-old boy from our youth groups was shamelessly gunned down in a drive-by shooting. Could his death have been also within the providential plan of God? Christ, Who was falsely accused and taken by evil men and hung on a cross, died according to God's providential will. Why might not a 15-year-old who is gunned down by evil men also die within the broad scope of God's providence?
Yes, from our standpoint things just "happen". But from God's standpoint, these things are under His sovereign control.
Third, we die within the loving purpose of God.
Why did Christ allow Lazarus to die? The sisters wanted a healed brother, Christ wanted a resurrected one. He said that this death was "For the glory of God." And how might God be glorified in our death? For one thing our faith honors Him. Standing at the tomb he said, "Did I not say to you if you believe you will see the glory of God?" We generally say seeing is believing but notice that the order here is reversed - if you believe you will see! You and I honor God when we die in faith, confident that the Shepherd will guide us through to the other side.
When the Huguenots were martyred in the 16th Century, they went to their deaths singing hymns so loudly that the authorities hired a band to drown out the beautiful music! The pagans said of the early believers, "They carried their dead as if in triumph."
God is also glorified through our death because death is the means that He uses to take His children safely home. Death represents a victory, one of the Lord's sheep has been brought to his permanent home. No more sin, no more backsliding, no more doubts. Yes, someday every one of us shall die for the glory of God.
Fourth, we die with God's loving power.
In verse 43 we read, "And when he had said these things he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus come forth.'" Someone has suggested that it is fortunate that Christ specifically mentioned the name of Lazarus. If He had simply shouted, "Come forth!" the whole cemetery would have come to life. After all, He is the Lord, the King.
Lazarus was resurrected physically, and as far as we know he had to die again. It would have been interesting to interview him as he approached death for the second time.
But we shall be raised with a resurrection body, "We shall be like him for we shall see him as he is." God has the power to recreate us to grant us resurrection life.
Finally, we die with the promises of God.
Christ said, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (11:25,26). Christ uses the word death in two different senses. Even if we die physically, if we believe in Christ we shall live spiritually. And if while living we believe in Christ, we shall never really die for our spiritual life will go on forever.
As a child, I put my hand on a bee and was stung by it. The pain was excruciating and the bee itself flew away. One thing, however, was certain: after the bee had stung me, he was incapable of stinging anyone else. My hand absorbed the stinger. Now the bee could only threaten and intimidate but its power to harm was gone. Paul said, "Oh death where is thy sting? Oh grave where is thy victory?"
Unfortunately, however, not everyone dies within the context of Christ's loving care. He Himself taught that there were two resurrections: one to everlasting life and one to everlasting damnation (John 5:29). Christ's victory belongs only to those who take advantage of it. Everyone shall be raised, but not everyone shall be raised to participate in Christ's glorious victory. That privilege is limited to men and women who humbly admit their own helplessness, those who refuse to trust rituals and religious trappings, and put their faith and trust in Christ alone. To such Christ says, "Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die."
Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer
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