3/30/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
John chapter 11 is often cited simply for containing the shortest verse in an English translation of the Bible. Jesus’ weeping at the tomb of Lazarus is certainly of great importance. However, I’d like to focus on something which gets a little less press. Jesus makes it very plain to Lazarus and his family, not to mention the entire community, that he is indeed the resurrection and the life. Death doesn’t have any power over Jesus. It doesn’t have eternal power over his people.
Christianity is, in the final analysis, all about Jesus’ victory over death. While death reigns from Adam to Christ, in Christ, life reigns. Jesus’ resurrection is powerful enough to bring all who have died in faith to life again. This is incomparable. There is no other claim in all the religions of the whole world that can surpass resurrection which is provided freely to all who believe. None whatsoever. It is an eternal promise.
What evidence is there of the resurrection? Many have done extensive studies of the forensic evidence. It really isn’t in doubt. Yes, it’s miraculous. That’s just what is so great. As the resurrection can’t be disproven, though there were plenty of hostile witnesses around and still are plenty of people who are hostile to the claims of the resurrection, Jesus’ claim to be greater than death needs to be taken seriously. If he is able to work one miracle pertaining to life and death, his claim to be able to do other miracles would seem less like the ravings of a madman and more like the clear statement of the expert in the field.
Jesus boldly proclaims that he is the resurrection and the life. He then raises Lazarus from the dead. Why do we doubt?
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
John chapter 11 is often cited simply for containing the shortest verse in an English translation of the Bible. Jesus’ weeping at the tomb of Lazarus is certainly of great importance. However, I’d like to focus on something which gets a little less press. Jesus makes it very plain to Lazarus and his family, not to mention the entire community, that he is indeed the resurrection and the life. Death doesn’t have any power over Jesus. It doesn’t have eternal power over his people.
Christianity is, in the final analysis, all about Jesus’ victory over death. While death reigns from Adam to Christ, in Christ, life reigns. Jesus’ resurrection is powerful enough to bring all who have died in faith to life again. This is incomparable. There is no other claim in all the religions of the whole world that can surpass resurrection which is provided freely to all who believe. None whatsoever. It is an eternal promise.
What evidence is there of the resurrection? Many have done extensive studies of the forensic evidence. It really isn’t in doubt. Yes, it’s miraculous. That’s just what is so great. As the resurrection can’t be disproven, though there were plenty of hostile witnesses around and still are plenty of people who are hostile to the claims of the resurrection, Jesus’ claim to be greater than death needs to be taken seriously. If he is able to work one miracle pertaining to life and death, his claim to be able to do other miracles would seem less like the ravings of a madman and more like the clear statement of the expert in the field.
Jesus boldly proclaims that he is the resurrection and the life. He then raises Lazarus from the dead. Why do we doubt?
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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