The Resurrection and the Life

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Jesus lived on earth as a man. He walked on dusty roads. He got thirsty. He went to people’s houses for dinner. He went to weddings. He grieved with the grief-stricken.

In John 11, Jesus arrived at the home of His friends Mary and Martha. Like other friends of these sisters, Jesus grieved with them over the death of their brother Lazarus. When He saw Mary crying and the Jews who were with her crying, He was “deeply moved in spirit and was troubled.” Jesus wept, too (John 11:33).

Jesus loved this family. John 11:5 tells us plainly: “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” Mary and Martha trusted Jesus’ love for their brother. When they had sent word to Jesus a couple of days before, telling Him that Lazarus was sick, the message had been: “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick” (John 11:3). When Jesus talked to His disciples about Lazarus’ illness, He called Lazarus “our friend” (John 11:11).

Jesus provided an amazing, yet temporary, solution for Mary and Martha’s hurt. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. I call it a temporary solution because I assume that Lazarus died again later.

On this Good Friday, we remember the death of Jesus Himself. The One who comforted others in their grief was now the object of grief.

Three days later God gave the world a permanent solution for everyone’s pain of every kind. He raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection was different from Lazarus’. Jesus will never die again.

The truth of Jesus’ resurrection is a present reality in every moment of life — in both its ecstasies and its tragedies. Because He lives, our ecstasies are sweeter. Because He lives, we can see beyond tragedy.

Nothing more tragic than the death of Jesus has ever happened in the history of the world. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we know that the God who brought triumph out of that tragedy offers triumph in our tragedies, too.

On this Good Friday, a local family, our local elementary school, our community, and our church are grieving the death of a nine-year-old boy who, along with his sisters, had been part of our church’s outreach class on Wednesday evenings. Logan died in a tragic accident on Monday. His funeral is at 11:00 a.m. today. Logan brought joy to many people. He was a friend to many, including me. I miss him. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, I know I will see Logan again.

Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He gave Mary a glimpse into what would soon happen to Him and what those events would mean for the world.

Jesus said to her,
“I am the resurrection and the life;
he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.
Do you believe this?”
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ,
the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
John 11:25-27

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