From Death to Life

I have always been struck by that passage where Jesus wept because as we keep reading, we see that Jesus knew not only that Lazarus would be raised on the last day but also that Jesus would raise Lazarus later that day!...

Martha said to Jesus, "Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:21-26 ESV)

...Jesus feels compassion and grief over the death of Lazarus. A few verses later, we read in John 11:33-35 that when Jesus saw the tomb of Lazarus and the people weeping, He was moved and wept himself. I have always been struck by that passage where Jesus wept because as we keep reading, we see that Jesus knew not only that Lazarus would be raised on the last day but also that Jesus would raise Lazarus later that day! The Lord of life, the one who proclaims Himself to be the “resurrection and the life” (Jn 11:25 ESV), weeps at the sight of Lazarus’ tomb as he grieves with those who mourn (Romans 12:15 ESV). Even Jesus wept! What do we learn from that?

Martha has come to Jesus to grieve the death of her brother Lazarus — whose name means the Lord is my helper. Martha proclaims that Jesus could have kept her brother from dying if Jesus had only been there.

First, we learn that death was not part of God’s initial creation. Death is the result of sin. Sin and death deeply grieve our Lord as He mourns with us.

Second, we learn that it is okay to mourn the death of loved ones. It is true that all who believe in Jesus will not die eternally (Jn 11:26 ESV). But in the meantime, we miss them because we love them. Jesus wept over death, so it is natural for us to grieve too.

Finally, we grieve with hope because, for Christians, death is not the final word. As Christians, we boldly declare, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57 ESV).

Jesus’ victory over death and the grave is what our churches and Messianic synagogues will celebrate on Easter Sunday. We will celebrate that those who have died are now with their Lord (Philippians 1:21-23 ESV) and will be raised bodily and without pain. And we celebrate that we, too, will be raised (if we die before Christ comes back) when Christ returns. Jesus has conquered death and opened the way to eternal life for all who believe in Him.

Let us pray: Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Yeshua, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant that we who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving spirit. For you have promised: “Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live” (Jn 11:25 ESV). We pray these things in the holy name of Yeshua HaMashiach Amen! (Adapted from the Treasury of Daily Prayer, 185).

Jordan Peiser

P.S. Pictures from the Purim celebration we recently held at our church!