You Will Live Forever – The Best Is Yet To Come

You Will Live Forever – The Best Is Yet To Come – is our message for Saints Triumphant Sunday.  The topic is heaven, but also death.  This isn’t morbid.  It’s comforting to know that death is broken.  Jesus rose from the dead.  On the Last Day he will raise everyone from the dead too.

The Shortest Verse In The Bible

35Jesus wept.  36Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”  I want to take these as a pair.  Why is Jesus crying?  No – weeping.  Didn’t he rebuke mourners?  Yes, but those were the professionals.  One of the things people in that culture did who had status was to have paid mourners.  You know, if you don’t have any friends you just buy some who do a great job telling the world how wonderful you were.  Jesus is taking this personally – and he knows he’s about to raise Laz from the dead.

Verse 35 is important for another reason.  1st – it’s the shortest verse in the Bible as any confirmation student will tell you with joy.  Easy to remember.  2nd – because we need Jesus.  Consider – Laugh and the world… laughs with you.  Weep and… you weep alone.  For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, But has trouble enough of its own.

Compassion is suffering with someone.  Jesus wept because he knows the heart ache that you feel.  He suffers with you when there is injustice on the playground.  That preschooler is not alone.  We teach our children from a very young age that Jesus is with you.  Why does that matter?  That matters because Satan tries to convince you that you are alone.  That’s a lie.  Jesus isn’t just weeping in a corner – he’s weeping with you.

Loved by Jesus

36Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”  The messenger who informed Jesus that Lazarus was sick said, “the one you love is sick.”  Jesus let the one he loved die.  God gives you the same description.  For God so loved Pastor Fred, and the first person sitting in the pew, and God so loved each one of you.  And yet there’s a good chance that someday he will let you die.  I don’t believe Martha’s words came from unbelief, just the ache of a grieving heart.  She didn’t understand Jesus’ plan in all of this, but her faith still shows.

Want to hear more?  Watch this week’s message taken from John 11 – You Will Live Forever – The Best Is Yet To Come.