Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life
Scripture Reading — John 11:1-44
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die …”
John 11:25
As the author of life and the Lord of history, Jesus came down to earth, entered history, and became flesh to dwell among humankind.
He who was born in a stable and worked in a carpentry shop came to die on a cross, for our sins, to give us eternal life.
But death could not stop him.
By laying down his own life, only to take it up again (John 10:18), he triumphed over death when he rose from the dead.
Jesus took away the sting of death and opened the tomb from the inside out, presenting us the only path to eternal life.
He rose from the dead as “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). He was first in line, and we will follow in his footsteps.
Now death no longer has the last word for us. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will never die, because he is the resurrection and the life.
When Jesus returns in glory and majesty, the dead in Christ will rise with glorified bodies, and those who are alive will be transformed and caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:17). Though we may not fully understand, we can trust that our Lord will fulfill all these promises in his time.
Holy God, we know that death is not the end of our existence. In Jesus there are eternal delights prepared for all who love you. May you always be praised. In Christ, Amen.
About the author — Hernandes Lopes
Hernandes became the Portuguese ministry leader for Today's sister Portuguese ministry in 2010. He also serves as the director of the organization Luz Para o Caminho (Light for the Way), an organization formed in partnership between ReFrame and the Presbyterian
Church of Brazil. Hernandes has authored more than 160 books and is a popular and respected conference speaker in Brazil. Hernandes graduated from Seminário Presbiteriano do Sul in Brazil and earned a Doctorate of Ministry from Reformed Theological Seminary in
Jackson, MS.
Hernandes and his wife, Tinha, have two adult children.
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