The Lord of Life
Read John 11:17-27
Jesus said to [Martha], "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even though they die, will live, and who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
-John 11:25-26 (NRSV)
I had gone to my father's grave. Standing beside it, I glanced up the narrow road where an open grave was waiting for someone. The sight gave me a sense of dread. I realized that the grave was also waiting for me. However, the fear was replaced by God's peace when I saw the open grave as a picture of Jesus' open tomb. Christ has risen, and we are raised with him.
Rather than fearing death, we can look forward to resurrection and eternal life in Christ. Jesus defeated death; the proof is his empty tomb. Fear of a new, open grave is a normal human reaction. However, believers do not put our trust in flesh, which perishes. Our trust is in God, who has prepared an eternal place for us. As today's scripture tells us, the end of this life is the first step into the place God has waiting for us.
John C. Holman (Minnesota, USA)
Lord, help us to look to you and not to this world so that we do not fear death but trust in the work Jesus has completed on the cross. Let us look to the open tomb and his resurrection, knowing that because Jesus defeated the grave, we are safely in your care. Thank you, Lord, for taking away our fear and giving us peace. Amen.
For believers, an open grave can be a reminder of the open tomb - the door to resurrection.
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Those who are terminally ill
