Never Die (John 11:25-26)
There are things in life that scare us, but nothing hangs over us more than the reality of death. If not our own death, the death of those we love. Today, I would like for us to look at the promise of God that those who love him will never die.
Our focus this year has been to consider all the promises of God and resolve in ourselves to believe. God will accomplish all that he promises. He has a perfect track record, and it will stay that way. We have looked at his promise for us to have mercy, peace, joy, healing, new hearts, and fellowship. I pray that each of us realizes the value of these promises. We need to focus on these promises often because God wants to do this for us. The fantastic thing about all of the promises we will look at this year is that we didn't ask God for these things. He knew we needed them and decided to give them. He saw our needs and made a way.
Death
Let's talk about death. It seems as though death has always been with us. We might say, "It's just a part of life." But it's not natural for us to die. Death is intended to be a reminder of the curse we are under.
Back in Genesis, we read about God creating a place where man and woman could live forever. The garden of Eden was a place where God could meet every need of mankind. The first time death is mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis 2.
Genesis 2:15--17 (ESV) --- 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
God created man in his image, but he did not give a few things to man initially. He was not given an immortal body, and he was not given the ability to understand the difference between good and evil. Both of these were made available to man in the garden. But God's only rule was to stay away from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They had to remain innocent of evil to stay in God's presence. If they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they would die.
Can you imagine how hard that would become for them? The longer they spent in the garden, the more drawn to the forbidden fruit they would be. It's the only thing they can't touch. We know how the story goes. They eat of the tree, but they don't die immediately. Instead, God removes them from the garden so that their death would be imminent. Adam and Eve experienced some level of death by losing a relationship with God, but ultimately physical death resulted from their disobedience.
This story is about the human experience. We all follow the path of Adam, and we all have death to look forward to.
Crooked
In Ecclesiastes, we read that Solomon tries to fix this problem. The whole book is written with a focus on finding eternity again. Solomon has everything in the world at his disposal. But his conclusion remains the same, "What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted." This man has created more wealth than the world has ever known. He has accomplished great success and enjoyed countless pleasures. All of his efforts have been futile. They are meaningless, worthless, and vain. The hole inside of him has not been filled. The problem with this world remains unsolved. Listen to what he notices in Chapter 3.
Ecclesiastes 3:9--15 (ESV) --- 9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil---this is God’s gift to man. 14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.
Solomon says that God has put eternity in man's heart, but all our work is just keeping us busy and distracted from what our hearts truly desire. I think verse 14 is critical. He says, "Whatever God has done endures forever, nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it so that people fear before him." God has made us susceptible to death, but we have eternity in our hearts. Do you see the problem? He puts it like this in Chapter 7.
Ecclesiastes 7:13 (ESV) --- 13 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?
God made life crooked like this to curse mankind for sin and rebellion. Why would God do something like this? Again, consider Ecc 3:14, "God has done it, so that people fear before him." He wants us to learn a lesson about ourselves concerning God. The lesson is, "We are not God."
In Chapter 11, Solomon tells the young to enjoy life but remember God and fear him. Why? Because death is coming, and who knows what will happen when we die. He concludes the book with this statement.
Ecclesiastes 12:13--14 (ESV) --- 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
We will all die, but Solomon believes that there will be something after death. There will be a judgment of "every secret thing" we have ever done.
Promises
Thinking about the curse gives us a gloomy perspective of death in the Old Testament. It seems that they don't know what will happen after death, but they believe that there will be a judgment. However, multiple passages in the Old Testament should have given them hope. Back in Genesis, we read about a man named Enoch who walked with God, and he "was not, for God took him." What is that about? There is not enough detail given. Then, we read multiple Psalms where David boldly states that God will not abandon him in death (Psalm 71:20-21). This all could be figurative, but eventually, we see God raise people from death. During the time of Elijah and Elisha, God resurrects children and men to show his power over death.
Finally, throughout the prophets, we have promises that are made to Israel for resurrection.
Isaiah 26:19--21 (ESV) --- 19 Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead. 20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. 21 For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.
Daniel 12:1--4 (ESV) --- 1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
These are both promises that God will raise the dead. In Isaiah, God tells the faithful who die during God's punishment of Israel that they will be raised from death and blessed. In Daniel, God says that there will be a time of great trouble and suffering, but God is also keeping a book of people who will wake to everlasting life. Others will wake to shame and everlasting contempt, but God's people will rise and shine like the sky.
These are amazing promises for God's people. They have hope that God will resurrect them and solve the problem of suffering and death. There is more to life than what we see here. There is everlasting life.
In Ezekiel, God shows everyone his power over death like never before. In Chapter 37, he takes Ezekiel out into a dry valley full of dead bones. He has Ezekiel prophesy to the bones, and they start to come back to life. Then, God puts breath into the fully formed bodies and makes the point that he can bring what seems dead back to life. These prophecies give hope to those who are under the curse of death. We may die spiritually and physically, but God has the power to bring us back to life. And he promises to do that. One day he will straighten what is crooked.
Words Of Life
When Jesus comes onto the scene, he speaks about this promise repeatedly. The gospel of John records many of those teachings.
John 5:24--29 (ESV) --- 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
These words from Jesus are what mankind has been longing to hear for so long. Finally, a new Adam has come. Jesus will take away the curse and give eternal life to all who believe in him. He has the authority to execute judgment and to save those who believe in him. A day and hour will come when he will raise the dead for a resurrection of life or judgment.
People knew that he taught this. In John 11, when Lazarus has died, Jesus comes to Martha and Mary.
John 11:21--27 (ESV) --- 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
This text tells us that she knew that Jesus taught her everlasting life and a day of the final resurrection. But Jesus tells her that "everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die."
Hear these words, and believe them. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. All who come to God through Jesus will find salvation from the curse.
He goes on to show that this is true by raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus has total power and authority over death. He can raise us like God rose the bones for Ezekiel. There is a promise for life after this. We can all enjoy this hope.
How?
John 17:1--5 (ESV) --- 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
Near the end of his life, Jesus prays to God before his disciples and says, "The hour has come." He says that he will accomplish the work that provides eternal life for mankind. Would you please pay careful attention to what he says in verse 3? Don't miss this.
John 17:3 (ESV) --- 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
These words explain what gives us eternal life. We need to know God. We need to know Jesus. We need to walk with God like Enoch. We need to see and understand the goodness of God through the action of Jesus. This one action of Jesus should teach us once and for all who God is, and it should motivate us to accept his love. If we let it do that, we will submit to God and find eternal life.
Application
The promise of resurrection should have an enormous impact on our lives. If we are resurrected, death with all of its pain and suffering is just a brief transitional period. This should completely transform the way we look at life. Listen to how Paul talks about life and death in 2 Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 4:7--12 (ESV) --- 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Paul says that we carry the death of Jesus in our bodies. What does that mean? We walk around knowing how gruesome the death of Jesus was. Every affliction and suffering we go through does not conquer us because it did not conquer him. The hope that Jesus has given us makes us see ourselves and this life as vessels through which the light of Jesus shines. I love the words he uses in verse 12. He says, "Death is at work in us, but life in you." We are going to study this whole letter tonight, but the reason Paul says this is because he wants them to see the value of suffering for brethren. He dies every day so that others can grow spiritually. He speaks the truth, knowing that many will not receive it, and he will suffer for it.
2 Corinthians 4:13--18 (ESV) --- 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
To end our study, consider Paul's application of this promise and connect it to yourself. Paul quotes Psalm 116 to say that he can't help but speak what he believes in the face of suffering. He speaks the gospel without fear because he knows that God will raise those who believe from the dead.
If we genuinely believe that the gospel has the power to save men from death, will we speak it? Paul says, "Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." Paul finds encouragement to press on with his mission. Despite the pain, he finds renewed hope to press on. He is not gun shy. He does not back down, knowing that something worse may be lying ahead. Instead, he presses on with the mentality over verse 17. These sufferings are temporary and light compared to the eternal glory that they bring. He has found the purpose and meaning of life. He has found the one thing worth putting all of his time and money into. He is putting all of his eggs in that basket. This is an excellent perspective on life. One that we need to adopt.
Paul talks about this more, but we don't have time to look at all that he wants to tell us. However, I do want us to look at one verse.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) --- 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Consider yourselves a new creation. We have already submitted to death in baptism. The future is not about death. The future is about life eternal with God. We live with him now, and this will continue forever. Jesus is our new tree of life.
Conclusion
God wants us to be with him for all eternity. He doesn't want us to experience death. Jesus has shown us that life goes on after death. For some, it is a life full of joy and contentment with God. I could devote another series to the joys of eternity that are revealed to us. But today, we have seen that death is not something we have to be afraid of if we believe in Christ. For those who do not believe in Christ, what hope do they really have? What assurance do they have of eternity? Have they known anyone who has gone through death and come out the other side? How believable is that person? Jesus tells us that those who refuse to believe in him will rise from death to judgment and contempt. I hope that's not you. I hope that you see the eternal weight of glory that is waiting for those who love and serve the Lord. If you aren't living for that, what's the point of life? Eternity is in your heart. Embrace the promise of God to provide what you need. Come to know him and his Son. Trust him and submit to him today.