By:Sandy Fantz
Jesus has lost his friend Lazarus to death, and weeps. We all have lost friends and family in death and miss them for all time. We remember them with, if not weeping, sorrow. The memory of them dulls, but doesn't go away. Yet Jesus had the power through God to bring Lazarus to life. Mary and Martha believed Jesus could have prevented Jesus’ death, but they probably never thought he could raise him from the dead. Lazarus was raised and returned to the living. This was the precursor of Jesus’ own resurrection. Short story, but amazing ramifications for us. “ I am the resurrection and I am life. If a man has faith in me, even though he die, he shall come to life; and no one who is alive and has faith shall ever die.”
What about our own death? Death holds dread for a lot of people but for Christians I think it is not death itself but the process of dying. Fear is a common reaction, but if we have loved and lived according to the gospels our faith can make it easier.
How we die is by and large out of our control. Yes, we have living wills, etc., but getting to that place may mean a lot of suffering and pain. None of us get out of this life alive. Jesus’ death on the cross when he died for our sins is an example of agony. However, the risen Lord is our assurance of eternal life.