John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
Oh Friends, it’s Holy Thursday, and coincidentally All Fool’s Day too. But this is no time to be playing jokes, for we’re on the eve of that most awful but fateful day in the Christian calendar; Good Friday. It was an exceedingly rough day for Jesus, but a blessing in disguise for us, when He bore the sins of the whole world on His human shoulders. For that we should be everlastingly grateful. Today though, we’ll continue looking at the claim Jesus made to Martha when He came to Bethany after Lazarus’ death. ‘I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.’ Ah Friends, those certainly are confident, powerful, moving, thought provoking words! Did Jesus prove them, was He able to live up to them? Oh yes! For sure! That’s why we’re still talking about Him two thousand years later. And what I like about Jesus is that He said the same things over and over, without any contradiction, meaning He was very sure of Himself and of His words. We’ve dealt with the first part of the Bit already, so let’s check out the other half: ‘he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.’ A major claim that mih people. But He’d said it before in talking to Nicodemus, one of the Jewish rulers. ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3:16-17) Not only did Jesus say it, but John the Baptist also testified to it. ‘The Father LOVETH the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth (remains) on him.’ (John 3:35-36) Oh mih people, that’s crystal clear! You believe in the Son, you have everlasting life. You don’t believe in Him, then you don’t have everlasting life, but God’s anger is still focused on your sinful soul, for only if you believe, are your sins washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. So if you don’t believe, then you will suffer the price of sin, which is eternal death and damnation in the company of the evil Lucifer. I don’t know about you Friends, but I certainly don’t want to spend eternity with Lucifer. His promises might seem bright and beautiful in the light of day, but they’re basically false and empty, full of guile to entrap you. Meanwhile, Jesus promises; ‘though he were dead (may die), yet shall he live.’ Friends, the enemy has never, and can never promise anything so wonderful because He simply does not have the parts to do it. But Jesus can and did, because He’s the Son of Almighty God, Creator and Controller of the universe. Yes, the Father put all things in His hand, so He can say that though we die, as we all must do, yet if we believe in Him, we shall live on, spiritually that is. Now that’s a big deal Friends, for the flesh is only an outer casing for our earthly life, but remember man is first and foremost a spiritual being. So what happens to that spirit after the physical body dies eh? It must go somewhere. Now if you believe in Jesus, then you know it’ll go to heaven, by means of salvation and spend eternal life with Him. But if you don’t believe, then it will just hang with Lucifer, wandering aimlessly through eternity, suffering whatever misfortune he suffers. Bruh Paul testifies to this. ‘For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.’ (1 Cor.15:21-22) And all God’s people joyously shouted: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Praise the Holy Name of the Sacrificial Lamb that died to cleanse our sinful souls!’ Oh people, I’ve been holding back a part of Jesus’ speech to Martha purposely, because it is of the utmost importance. ‘And whosever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?’ (John 11:26) Friends, if Jesus came to each one of us right now and asked that question, what would our answer be? Contemplate it for a moment. Would we hesitate or simply refuse to answer, or say I don’t know? Or like Martha, we’d immediately pipe up: ‘Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.’ (John 11:27) Oh what powerful, potent, effective, dynamic faith mih breddren! It’s to that level of faith all believers should aspire, though, as we’ve said before, it’s not easy, and can only be attained through experience. That means through trials and tribulations with the Lord walking beside us, and carrying us when necessary. I know we sort of forgot Mary, who was at home grieving and moping, but there was absolutely nothing wrong with her faith either, for after Martha assured Jesus of her belief in Him, she went back to their house and secretly called Mary out, saying: ‘The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.’ (John 11:28-29) Jesus had remained outside of town where Martha met Him. ‘Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.’ (John 11:32) Oh Friends, isn’t it amazing how the sisters said the same thing to Jesus on encountering Him? That’s because they truly believed that He was the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of Almighty God, who could do all things through His association with the Father. Friends, do we sincerely believe that? We had better, else our faith is untrue. But since it’s the Easter season, the very basis, the foundation on which our belief and faith is built, it’s an excellent time for all of us to sit and ponder what we truthfully believe in our hearts, souls and minds. Hopefully, by doing this, we’ll work out any kinks or problems, and our faith will be strengthened, renewed, and energized. Tomorrow is Good Friday, so let’s keep watch, like Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His cruel crucifixion. Let’s think on the agony, both emotional and physical, He endured that night, all because He LOVED us. Much LOVE!…let’s say like Jesus…not my will…but thine O Lord…
Oh Friends, it’s Holy Thursday, and coincidentally All Fool’s Day too. But this is no time to be playing jokes, for we’re on the eve of that most awful but fateful day in the Christian calendar; Good Friday. It was an exceedingly rough day for Jesus, but a blessing in disguise for us, when He bore the sins of the whole world on His human shoulders. For that we should be everlastingly grateful. Today though, we’ll continue looking at the claim Jesus made to Martha when He came to Bethany after Lazarus’ death. ‘I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.’ Ah Friends, those certainly are confident, powerful, moving, thought provoking words! Did Jesus prove them, was He able to live up to them? Oh yes! For sure! That’s why we’re still talking about Him two thousand years later. And what I like about Jesus is that He said the same things over and over, without any contradiction, meaning He was very sure of Himself and of His words. We’ve dealt with the first part of the Bit already, so let’s check out the other half: ‘he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.’ A major claim that mih people. But He’d said it before in talking to Nicodemus, one of the Jewish rulers. ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3:16-17) Not only did Jesus say it, but John the Baptist also testified to it. ‘The Father LOVETH the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth (remains) on him.’ (John 3:35-36) Oh mih people, that’s crystal clear! You believe in the Son, you have everlasting life. You don’t believe in Him, then you don’t have everlasting life, but God’s anger is still focused on your sinful soul, for only if you believe, are your sins washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. So if you don’t believe, then you will suffer the price of sin, which is eternal death and damnation in the company of the evil Lucifer. I don’t know about you Friends, but I certainly don’t want to spend eternity with Lucifer. His promises might seem bright and beautiful in the light of day, but they’re basically false and empty, full of guile to entrap you. Meanwhile, Jesus promises; ‘though he were dead (may die), yet shall he live.’ Friends, the enemy has never, and can never promise anything so wonderful because He simply does not have the parts to do it. But Jesus can and did, because He’s the Son of Almighty God, Creator and Controller of the universe. Yes, the Father put all things in His hand, so He can say that though we die, as we all must do, yet if we believe in Him, we shall live on, spiritually that is. Now that’s a big deal Friends, for the flesh is only an outer casing for our earthly life, but remember man is first and foremost a spiritual being. So what happens to that spirit after the physical body dies eh? It must go somewhere. Now if you believe in Jesus, then you know it’ll go to heaven, by means of salvation and spend eternal life with Him. But if you don’t believe, then it will just hang with Lucifer, wandering aimlessly through eternity, suffering whatever misfortune he suffers. Bruh Paul testifies to this. ‘For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.’ (1 Cor.15:21-22) And all God’s people joyously shouted: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Praise the Holy Name of the Sacrificial Lamb that died to cleanse our sinful souls!’ Oh people, I’ve been holding back a part of Jesus’ speech to Martha purposely, because it is of the utmost importance. ‘And whosever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?’ (John 11:26) Friends, if Jesus came to each one of us right now and asked that question, what would our answer be? Contemplate it for a moment. Would we hesitate or simply refuse to answer, or say I don’t know? Or like Martha, we’d immediately pipe up: ‘Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.’ (John 11:27) Oh what powerful, potent, effective, dynamic faith mih breddren! It’s to that level of faith all believers should aspire, though, as we’ve said before, it’s not easy, and can only be attained through experience. That means through trials and tribulations with the Lord walking beside us, and carrying us when necessary. I know we sort of forgot Mary, who was at home grieving and moping, but there was absolutely nothing wrong with her faith either, for after Martha assured Jesus of her belief in Him, she went back to their house and secretly called Mary out, saying: ‘The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.’ (John 11:28-29) Jesus had remained outside of town where Martha met Him. ‘Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.’ (John 11:32) Oh Friends, isn’t it amazing how the sisters said the same thing to Jesus on encountering Him? That’s because they truly believed that He was the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of Almighty God, who could do all things through His association with the Father. Friends, do we sincerely believe that? We had better, else our faith is untrue. But since it’s the Easter season, the very basis, the foundation on which our belief and faith is built, it’s an excellent time for all of us to sit and ponder what we truthfully believe in our hearts, souls and minds. Hopefully, by doing this, we’ll work out any kinks or problems, and our faith will be strengthened, renewed, and energized. Tomorrow is Good Friday, so let’s keep watch, like Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His cruel crucifixion. Let’s think on the agony, both emotional and physical, He endured that night, all because He LOVED us. Much LOVE!…let’s say like Jesus…not my will…but thine O Lord…
SCRIP-BITS 