Raised to life
When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
Matthew 17:22-23 (NIV)
This was not the first time that Jesus told his followers that he was headed for his own death. It is a subject that we all try to avoid. Yet, Jesus refused to avoid it. Even though I have tried to resist this subject in my studies this week, the verse kept coming before me. Jesus had been healing the sick, casting out demons, displaying his own power and that of the Father by raising others from the dead, and now he is telling them he will fall into the power of the wickedness of mankind. Though in reality, he will allow this offence for the salvation of the world: “No one takes it [my life v.17] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:18).
Grief is a natural reaction to tragedy and loss. Whether it is the bad news of a friend or our own diagnosis, we begin with shock and grief. But, if we continue past the bad news of the death of Jesus, we will find the gift of the message, life. Jesus will go through such hardship for us all, but the result will be that he, and us as well, will be raised to life again. After what seemed like an eternity to those he loved and who loved him, just three long days, came the gift; life eternal, life with God and those who choose life with him. The sting of death is hopelessness; Jesus removes this as he rises to eternal life, and in doing so, brings us along with him. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
Even Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus (John 11:35). but he did not stay there grieving, he moved forward and called him back to life (vv. 43-45). We can mourn the loss and be sad for the suffering, but we must celebrate the new life free from pain, free from sin, and the restraints of this world. This will be ours because of what Jesus has done for us. Winter enters every life, it is filled with its own peace and time of rest, but we must remember that after winter comes spring again, a time of new life and renewal of all things. This spring of our life is not just a repeat of the same old things of the past but will be filled with new glorious things as we walk along with Jesus, and we enter the blessings he has prepared for us.
How glorious our Saviour
How righteous our King
Who lay down his life
To take it up again
On our behalf
He took our shame
And in the dying
Brought us to life again
Prayer
God of all things good, we look forward to the time we will have to be with you in your glorious presence, You have been preparing us in tiny steps, to receive your plans for us, to understand your working for us. You are a God of all things good, and we thank you for your patience with us. We praise your great love for us, and we come humble before you in our respect and love for you. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
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Study by: Anne Gillam About the author: |
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