Contemplative Bible Reading

John 11:25 (New Living Translation)

Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

Jesus is speaking to Martha. This is part of the (hi)story of the death of Lazarus and when Jesus raised him after being dead four days.

While consoling Martha and before raising Lazarus, Jesus says the above almost as an aside. It was something like, “The sun will come up tomorrow.” Yet, it was one of the more profound statements ever made.

Belief in Jesus as the Christ, sent from God to take away the sins of mankind forever, means life. And this means life even after our physical body dies in this physical world.

I grew up going to church. I grew up hearing of heaven and everlasting life in heaven. It was a fact of life just as the sun rising tomorrow. Of course I took it for granted without thinking. Stop that now. Think. Consider the miracle that Jesus tells in this statement. Dying in this physical world is rough. It is really rough on those left behind to carry on without the dead. Dying in this physical world, however, is not the end. For those who believe in Jesus, they will live even after death.

That is simple. That is too much for me to understand. Yet, Jesus says it here in simple language. Please God, help me in my unbelief.