Death is not natural

3-17-22

Today's devotion is based on John 11:43-44. "When He (Jesus) had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."
 
While we say that death is natural, it is unnatural. We know that because we fear death. At Lazarus' grave, Jesus shared our response to death. But then He did what only God can do; he raised Lazarus from the dead. And He promises to do the same for everyone who trusts in Him on the day He returns to bring us all into the kingdom of God. This is our great hope and comfort as we live in a dying world. 
 
Jesus came into this world to set us free from death, not an earthly death unless we are alive when he returns, but eternal death. Jesus did this by laying down His own life; God himself, the author of life, submitting to death on a cross and then rising to life again on the third day. In Jesus' death and resurrection, we know that we will live rise up from our graves to live with him forever. 

Please join me in praying the prayer for today:  Thank you, Jesus, for all you have done, for it is only through that act that we know even though we die an earthly death, we will rise again from our graves to live with you and all other believers for eternity.  In your name, we pray.  Amen.