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Pain. Darkness. Death. Despair.
When Jesus died on the cross, His followers were absolutely distraught. They had thought that He was the Chosen One, the One who would redeem Israel (Luke 24:21), the Messiah. But when He died, their hopes and dreams died with Him.
Like us, they knew that death is final– when you’re dead, you’re dead. Mary and Martha, intimate friends of Jesus, sent word to Him when their brother Lazarus became ill, fully convinced that He could prevent their brother from dying. But when Lazarus died, they lost all hope (John 11:21,32).
By the time Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had been dead four days. So how would Martha respond to His words: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). She confidently affirmed, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God” (v. 27).
Then Jesus proceeded to the grave and, demonstrating His power over death, cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And death could no longer hold him (vv. 42-43)!
But when Jesus died, His disciples also thought that all hope was lost.
Jesus had tried to prepare His disciples by warning them on at least three occasions that He would be betrayed, put to death and rise again; but they simply couldn’t grasp what He meant (Mark 9:9-10, 31-32).
But just as He predicted, Jesus rose from the grave on the third day. And that changed everything!
If Jesus said that He was the resurrection and the life but still lies dead and buried, what hope do any of us have for life after death?
Indeed, the apostle Paul said that if the dead do not rise, then Jesus has not risen; and if Jesus has not risen, we are without hope and are of all men the most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:13-19). But Paul was absolutely convinced “by many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:1-3) that Jesus was alive and so he tirelessly and triumphantly travelled the Roman empire proclaiming, “But now Christ is risen from the dead!” (1 Corinthians 15:20). And His resurrection still stands as the ironclad guarantee behind His wonderful promise, “Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19).
Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live” (John 5:24-25).
Do you believe this? Because if you do, it changes everything!