As we prepare for our observances of Holy Week this year, I challenge each of us to consider the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice for us and the power that sacrifice released for each of us. John 11:17-44 records the events surrounding the death of Lazarus and his miraculous resurrection through the power of God displayed through Jesus. When Jesus states in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life” (NIV), He provides us with the basis for our celebration of the resurrection and states one of the major truths of the Christian faith. 

But then Jesus goes on to promise us that, “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?”  

At first, we might be tempted to think that Jesus is simply telling us that if we believe in Him, we will have eternal life.  But if that is the case, then why does He add the phrase, “even though they die?” If we dig deeper, I believe that Jesus is telling us that if we believe in Him, then we can truly live right here on earth. We don’t have to wait until heaven to experience the difference that Christ can make in our lives. It can start with our simple act of believing in Him and accepting Him as Savior and Lord of our lives. We can experience God’s resurrection power in our lives every day.

Jesus goes on to explain that once we have learned to truly live by believing in Him, we will never die. This is the promise of eternal life which provides hope for a future beyond the limitations of this world. What will that future be like?

John describes this future in Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV): “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

It is the promise of this future heaven, which can give us hope and sustain us during the most difficult of times in our lives.

Horatio G. Spafford was a prominent American lawyer during the 1800’s. He was a Christian who provided financial support to the American evangelist, Dwight L. Moody. When Moody was scheduled to conduct meetings in Europe, Spafford decided to take his family on a holiday to Europe so that they could also attend some of Moody’s meetings while there. However, when delayed by business responsibilities, he sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him. His wife and four daughters were travelling to Europe from America when their ship sank after a collision on November 22, 1873, and all four of his daughters were lost at sea. Mrs. Spafford was rescued and made her way to Paris to await the arrival of her husband. She sent him a message which said simply, “Saved alone.” In her book, “Our Jerusalem,” Bertha Spafford Vester (the author’s daughter born in 1878 after this tragedy) said that when her father crossed the Atlantic immediately after the tragedy he wrote the hymn, which would become well known around the world, “on the high seas, near the place where his children perished” (Companion to the Song Book of the Salvation Army). The words of that song state:

When peace like a river

attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, thou hast 

taught me to know

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ hath regarded my 

helpless estate,

And hath shed his own blood

for my soul.

For me be it Christ, be it 

Christ hence to live;

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, 

for in death as in life,

Thou wilt whisper thy peace 

to my soul.

But Lord, ’tis for thee, 

for thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

O trump of the angel! O voice 

of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest 

of my soul!

What was it that allowed this man to pen words like these in spite of this tragedy?

I believe the answer is found in the promise of John 14:19 (NIV): “Because I live, you also will live.”  Spafford knew that because of their faith in the resurrection life of Christ, his sorrow was only temporary and there would come a day when he would be reunited with his family.

Finally, Jesus asks, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26) With this simple question, Jesus confronts us with a decision that each of us must make: Will we put our faith in Jesus and His resurrection power, or will we choose to ignore His great sacrifice of love for us?

Easter is meant to be a time of great celebration. However, we can only truly participate in the celebration if we have first accepted what it means to truly believe in Him. As we celebrate this Easter season, I challenge you to consider your response to Jesus’ question. Are you prepared to accept His gift of grace and truly believe in him?  My prayer for each of us is that we will accept His wonderful gift and experience the power of Jesus’ resurrection, both now and in eternity.