Death Won’t Win Here

In the story of Lazarus, Jesus makes a strange statement. When Lazarus' sisters report his illness, Jesus responds: "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." (John 11:4). Yet he intentionally delays a few days. By the time Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead four days. He tells the grieving sister, "Your brother will rise again." (John 11:23). While she understands this as a future promise, Jesus demonstrates God's power right then: "Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!' The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.'" (John 11:43-44). Everything happened to prove what Jesus declared from the start – death would not have the final victory. We all suffer the deadly sickness of sin, and death is inevitable. Yet Jesus holds out a promise: this sickness will not end in death. Like Lazarus, death is just temporary – just a sleep. "We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed…then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'…But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:51-57). What a promise! (Craig B). Open Bible – bit.ly/Joh11v4, bit.ly/Joh11v23, bit.ly/Joh11v43-44, bit.ly/1Co15v51-57