(This gracEmail summarizes remarks I gave on March 26, 2002 at Mason {Ohio} Christian Village Chapel at the memorial service for my stepfather, Joseph Dewhirst of Morrow, Ohio. These thoughts come from the story in John 11 of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead.)
1. Death is inevitable. Mary and Martha both tell Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died” (v. 21, 32). The truth is that Lazarus might not have died then, but he would have died sometime. Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time to be born and a time to die. From the moment we are born, we are moving toward our death. Unless Jesus returns first, everyone born will also die.
2. Death distresses God and is against his original purpose. When Jesus comes to the grieving sisters and friends, he is “deeply moved and troubled” (v. 33, 38). The Greek word used here describes a gut-wrenching outrage and anger. Death is not God’s original purpose. It is part of the brokenness introduced by human sin. Death is not our friend but our enemy. God is the God of life. Jesus is the source of life, the prince of life, the lord of life. Death will not have the final word.
3. The raising of Lazarus was a “sign,” signifying that God through Jesus would soon conquer death. Jesus encountered Satan one-on-one and was truly tempted. Unlike the rest of us, Jesus did not sin and Satan gained no power over him (1 Cor. 15:56-57). Not long after Lazarus’ resuscitation, Jesus died and Satan celebrated, but that rejoicing was premature. In his death Jesus entered Satan’s “house,” tied up the Evil One, took his keys and rose again (Rev. 1:17-18). In this way, Jesus destroyed the devil, who had the power over death, and liberated us from the fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15).
4. One day God will destroy death forever. The prophet Isaiah looked forward to a day when God would “swallow up death for all time” and “wipe away tears from all faces” (Isa. 25:7-8). When Jesus returns, he will raise his people in bodies that are powerful, spiritual, eternal and that will never die (1 Cor. 15:42-54). Like Lazarus’ sister Martha, we anticipate “the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24).
5. To believe in Jesus is to begin experiencing eternal life now. Jesus says to us, as he did to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life.” Those who believe in Jesus will live, even though they die (v. 25). This is our strong hope as we approach Easter Sunday, but also every day of the year.
