Stephan Hoffman

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?’

John 11:25-26

Lazarus was sick, but Jesus waited two days in the town before he left to go to him. By the time he arrived, Lazarus was already dead and buried for four days. Martha and Mary both believed that Jesus could have saved Lazarus when he was alive, but Jesus wanted to show everyone that He had power over life and death. Jesus cried together with his friends because he experienced and understood their heartache, however he said: "I am the resurrection and the life." Jesus himself is the source of life. However, he also changed the definition of true 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?”

To believe in Jesus is true life, to have a relationship with him is to truly exist. Without him you might be physically alive but spiritually dead. Through him you can die physically, but live eternally!

Do you believe it? Are you really living?

Like Lazarus we are also called from the death of sin. We are raised to a new life in Christ. We have received real, eternal life. We will also one day be raised and live with God in his kingdom.

This knowledge allows us to live differently here on earth. We are not hopeless, discouraged and at our wits’ end. We have a larger perspective which stretches beyond death and the grave. We have a living hope because we know the living God.

May we once again fully live to the glory of God.  Every day so many people who are really “living corpses” cross our path.  People who exist physically, but are spiritually dead. May we also share the message of hope and real life with them!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me from the dark grave of sin. Thank you that I am a new person who can lead a full life with hope, strength and peace, because you love me so. Thank you that I will one day rise and share in your kingdom. Help me to share this message of true life with others who are still trapped in sin and death. Amen