Only Jesus Gives Life
“Jesus said,
(The Gospel According to John 11: 39-40 NASB)
“Remove the stone.”
Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him,
“Lord, by this time there will be a stench,
for he has been dead four days.”
Jesus said to her,
“Did I not say to you that if you believe,
you will see the glory of God?”
Who am I?
Who are you?
Who are we—that you and I would ever violate that which God created?
Who are we—that you and I would ever destroy that which God designed?
The Bible says:
“God created man in His own image,
(Genesis 1: 27 NASB)
in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them.”
If you have attended church, then somewhere along the time you have heard the pastor preach about the narrative of Lazarus. Possibly you recall how Jesus was a good friend of this man Lazarus and how Lazarus was sick unto death. The sisters (Mary & Martha) knew their brother Lazarus could die, so they did what they knew they MUST DO—THEY SENT WORD TO JESUS THAT HE MUST COME TO THEIR HOUSE!
I have often thought about the complete faith of these two sisters, how they JUST KNEW that if JESUS CAME—LAZARUS WOULD LIVE!
The most amazing detail in this life-narrative—LAZARUS DID LIVE, but he lived ONLY AFTER HE WAS RAISED TO NEW LIFE THROUGH JESUS!
Today, is a day of sadness, for a dear one has lost her father in death. Even though her dad had lived a long time, fought in the Vietnam War, and worked the farm for many years—still 80-years-old remains too soon to die.
Nevertheless, today is her dad’s funeral, and while she must bury her dad, she walks in belief, the same belief Jesus spoke of with Martha when her brother Lazarus died.
“Jesus said to her,
“Did I not say to you that if you believe,
you will see the glory of God?” (The Gospel According to John 11: 40 NASB)
Martha did believe that she would see her brother Lazarus again—in paradise—but so that all those attending Lazarus’ burial, JESUS PERFORMED A MIRACLE THAT DAY—RAISING LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD—RAISING LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD—even when Lazarus had already been dead four days.
The Bible says:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith;
(The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians 2: 8-10 NASB)
and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God;
not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Only Jesus Gives Life—we cannot earn passage into paradise.
Only Jesus Gives Life—we cannot work our way into heaven.
Only Jesus Gives Life—we cannot receive passage because of who we are here on earth.
Only Jesus Gives Life—“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; . . .”
Only Jesus Gives Life—JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS!
Only Jesus Gives Life—HIS LIFE FOR OUR LIFE!
Only Jesus Gives Life—HIS RESURRECTION TO NEW LIFE—so we might receive life!
Eighty years ago, my dear friend’s dad was born to his parents, but he was born to die. A morbid thought, for sure, but true, nonetheless. ONLY THROUGH JESUS can her dad RECEIVE LIFE to LIVE TODAY IN HEAVEN WITH JESUS!
Once we give our heart to JESUS & believe in HIM, the death & the sin that held us from the time of our earthly birth—NO LONGER HAS ANY HOLD—over us.
The Bible says:
“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
(The Letter of Paul to the Colossians 2: 9-14 NASB)
and in Him you have been made complete,
and He is the head over all rule and authority;
and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands,
in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;
having been buried with Him in baptism,
in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God,
who raised Him from the dead.
When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
He made you alive together with Him,
having forgiven us all our transgressions,
having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us;
which was hostile to us,
and He has taken it out of the way,
having nailed it to the cross.”
TRULY, ONLY JESUS GIVES LIFE!
Our spirit, Our body, Our Mind, Our Strength—
Was created to have fellowship with Him & to give HIM all glory & all praise!