life-to-overcome-death

The power of words

Nowadays we often hear news of death due to corona infection, but we can hear news of life through the Bible. Let’s take a look at the Bible’s description of Lazarus’s resurrection.

The Death of Lazarus

11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ²(This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) ³So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” ⁴When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” ⁵Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, ⁷and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” ⁸“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” ⁹Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. ¹⁰It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” ¹¹After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” ¹²His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” ¹³Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. ¹⁴So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, ¹⁵and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”¹⁶Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus

¹⁷On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. ¹⁸Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁹and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. ²⁰When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. ²¹“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” ²³Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” ²⁴Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” ²⁵Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. (John 11: 1-25)

Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, died and was buried in the tomb. Everyone was in despair. Death drives us into deep sorrow. Especially for families. Lazarus died and Martha and Mary’s sisters were in despair. Jesus proclaimed to Malta. ” I am resurrected and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. ” (Verse 25)

What was required of Malta at this time was the faith to believe in Jesus as “resurrection” and “life.” What Jesus wanted the disciples was that they would believe in him as a conqueror of death. We who live in the present age are also required to have such faith.

” Lazarus, come out ” (John 11:43), Jesus commanded in an authoritative voice. Then Lazarus came back to life and came out of the tomb (John 11:44). Jesus also died on the cross for our sins, but three days later he rose up and overcame his death. Through the resurrection, he proved himself to be the Son of God. Jesus promises to give those who believe in Jesus Christ a life to overcome death.

I would like to tell you three points.

① Human powerlessness

It is also true that human beings have power, as seen in modern science and technology. With the development of the Internet, we can quickly get to know the news that is happening in the world, and we can easily contact people living overseas. The world is getting smaller and smaller. We can even go to space. However, human beings are powerless in the face of natural forces such as large earthquakes, debris flows, typhoons, and tsunamis. Man-built levees are torn, homes and cars are washed away and destroyed. What people have built up over their lifetime will be destroyed in an instant. People seem to have power, and I think the reality is that they have no power.

What we can see in John 11 is that a man named Lazarus lived in peace. However, he became ill and was helpless against death. He died of illness. The same is true of the present world. Due to the violent and explosive infection of the coronavirus, more and more people are infected, become severely ill, and die. We are trying to solve it by vaccination, but we have not yet seen a convergence. Delta strains do not seem to be able to prevent that much with current vaccines, and new mutated viruses are emerging. The fight against viruses may continue. Both the world and Japan need God’s help. Especially in developing countries. There are many people who cannot go to the hospital and who cannot get the vaccine. Let’s pray that we will converge as soon as possible and protect our lives.

② The reality of death

What is reminded by the daily coronavirus news is that people will die. It’s okay now, but someday death will surely come. We can’t escape. Death came to Lazarus. And he was buried in the grave. Death will surely come to us someday. We can never escape.

③ life to overcome-death

By reviving Lazarus, Jesus proved that he could conquer death. The purpose of Jesus’ coming to this world is to destroy death, the greatest enemy of mankind, through the resurrection and to give us eternal life. The life that Jesus gives us is the one that overcomes death.