Free life
insurance
through our Lord
Jesus Christ
Text: “I am
the resurrection
and the life. He
who believes in
me will live,
even though he
dies; and
whoever lives
and believes in
me will never
die.” John 11:25
Scripture:
John 11: 17-25
 The
desire to live
and prolong life
is the obsession
of our present
world. It is
rare to open our
television not
to see a
commercial in
which the
scientists of
our days are not
offering a new
pill to
alleviate or
cure our
ailments. Health
club, new
medicines, and
natural products
are promoting as
ways of
conquering
death. The
instinct for
survival makes
the fear and
prevention of
death a daily
preoccupation of
mankind. Man
tries to defend
himself
psychologically
in many ways
against this
increasing fear
of death and the
inability to
foresee and
protect himself
against it.
However, mankind
cannot remove
that curse
brought to us by
Adam and Eve.
Only Jesus
Christ can
conquer death
and provide
everlasting life
to a craving
world.
-
Man’s
appetite for
life.
Gen.2: 8-17
The Book of
Genesis presents
the origin of
man and the
eternal plan
that God has
made for us. In
God’s heart was
the eternal
bliss for his
most beautiful
creation. Man
was created to
live eternally,
with all his
needs met by our
Creator. We were
created in the
likeness of God
and possessed
the ability of
the eternal
youth in our
body. We were
born to live and
enjoy life to
its fullness,
forever and
ever. The
paradise lost
remains a dream
to be recaptured
by every man in
our planet.
However, since
the violation of
the Edenic
Covenant by our
forefathers Adam
and Eve, life
becomes a
shadow. When
people think
that they are
chasing the good
life, it
disappears right
before their
eyes. There are
a variety of
ways in which we
realize that
life is sudden.
For many of us
it takes an
earthquake, for
others a
tragedy. The
sentence
pronounced by
God on Adam and
Eve affects all
their
descendants.
“…For dust you
are and to dust
you will
return.”(Gen.3:19b)
Nevertheless,
the nostalgia
and the desire
to recapture the
‘pre-sin’ plan
of God remain
part of our
make-up and the
dream of our
society.
-
Abundant
life through
Jesus Christ.
John 11:
25
When reading
that passage, we
may jump to the
conclusion that
Jesus was
talking about
life after
death. However,
Christ was
presenting
Himself as
sustainer and
provider of life
in the present.
Jesus declares:
“I have come
that my sheep
may have life,
and that they
may have it more
abundantly.”
(John 10:10b)
Life has two
stages: present
and future. They
are part of the
package of the
‘Life Insurance’
provided by
Jesus Christ to
his followers.
a. Life
begins when we
are able to take
hold of what has
been given to us
at conversion,
and to run with
it.
b. Life
begins when fear
and joy, that
odd couple of
human existence,
enable us
despite the one
and because the
other to get on
with serious and
glorious
business of
living and
serving God.
c. Life
begins when we
realize that we
do not have to
die to live, we
can begin it
right now, right
here.
d. Life
begins when we
realize that by
removing the
fear of death,
Christ has given
us the full
possession of
eternal life.
When Jesus was
talking to
Martha and Mary
about life, they
were thinking
about the
future, while
Christ was in
the present. The
resurrection of
Lazarus was an
example of the
power of Christ
to give and
extend life here
on earth. Thus
to enjoy
abundant life,
we must defeat
the fear of
death. It is not
death that lurks
in the
background it is
the fear of
death. As
Christians, we
have to consider
death as a
toothless
bulldog.
3.
Everlasting
coverage through
the resurrection
of Christ.
John 11: 25-26
The declaration
of Jesus to
Martha was not
understood for
the simple fact
that she was
living in the
other side of
resurrection.
Christ was still
among them as a
friend of the
family. The
message of
everlasting
coverage did not
register with
Mary and Martha
yet. “I am the
resurrection and
the life. He who
believes in me
will live, even
though he dies;
and whoever
lives and
believes in me
will never die.”
(Jn.11: 25-26)
The message of
everlasting life
made sense to
the family of
Lazarus on
Sunday morning
in front of the
tomb of Jesus.
To make that
point, God did
not begin Easter
Sunday as a
gradual triumph
of dawn over
darkness; rather
God begins with
an earthquake.
“And behold,
there was a
great
earthquake; for
an angel of the
Lord descended
from heaven, and
came and rolled
back the stone
from the door,
and sat on it.”
(Matt.28:2) The
message of that
angel is
comforting to
Christ’s
followers. “You
have nothing to
fear.” What a
blessed
assurance!
Christians can
face tomorrow
with confidence
because of the
empowerment of
our raising
Savior. His
promises are
trustworthy.
Because Christ
lives, we can
also live in the
power and the
spirit of the
resurrection.
-
The
resurrection
assures full
coverage here
and beyond.
John 5:24
-
The
resurrection
provides
motivation for
Christian
service. I Co.
15: 58
-
The
resurrection
produces
confident in
our Savior.
John 5: 21
-
The
resurrection
gives strength
to face our
adversities.
John 14: 1-3
Conclusion.
Jesus has not
simply conquered
death, but Jesus
has redeemed
life so that you
and I can live
it here and now,
in all its
fullness.
Christians do
not need to wait
until we die in
order to enjoy
life. Because
Jesus lives, we
too may live,
with as much
time as God
gives us, free
from fear of the
past, free from
fear of the
future. Jesus
went to the
grave, we need
not fear the
grave; He has
gone into the
future; we need
not fear the
future. Our Lord
Jesus Christ
goes before us
blazing a path
for us to
follow; we can
walk with
confidence
regardless of
the present
circumstances.
We have ‘Life
Insurance’ in
Jesus Christ.
Amen! Amen! and
Amen!
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