Death and Resurrection by Mayada Naami
“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die..Do you believe this?”“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
(John 11:21-27 NIV)
This past weekend we celebrated resurrection Sunday, but what exactly does that mean? Are we celebrating the fact that Jesus bore our sins, died and came back to life and conquered the grave? Or are we celebrating the fact that because He sacrificed His life for us, we are offered the gift and promise of eternal life? In the above verse, Jesus says to Martha, “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” Every year, during the season of lent, I reflect on the significance of death and being reborn in the Spirit. When people hear the word death, they think of a physical death, but I believe Jesus is referring to spiritual death when He says, “whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” Jesus is describing eternal spiritual deliverance or eternal salvation because ultimately every human being will die a physical death, but those who believe in Jesus will never die.
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42–43).
When Jesus was hanging on the cross, the repentant thief acknowledges Jesus as King. At that moment, Jesus says to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” What a beautiful gift to receive as a condemned thief and sinner. He did not have to earn salvation; all he had to do was believe Jesus to be who He said He was, and immediately he was granted admission into paradise. It is the same for us sinners today. All we need to enter the Kingdom of God is to declare with our mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
(1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV)
What does death and resurrection mean to you? Is it physical or spiritual? Is it death of your old ways and a new life in Christ?
Reflect
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Prayer
Lord, thank you for shedding your blood on the cross for my sins. Thank you for the eternal gift of salvation.