A few years ago, a young man who grew up going to church with his family, attended the youth group I led and gave his life to Christ as a ninth grader, ended his own life.
Sometimes the darkness can be so dark... we forget that Jesus said, "I AM the Light of the world."
Sometimes our situations seem so hopeless... we forget that Jesus brings hope to the hopeless.
As I wrestled with God over this tragic end, it was as if God himself spoke to me:
This is why I sent Jesus.
Jesus himself said "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."
Everything about Jesus, all He did, all He said…it all points to hope for the hopeless.
Not because of anything we do, but because of what He did.
He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, taught, traveled, healed and fed; He died a sinners death, was placed in a guarded tomb and after 3 days, He rose from the dead - in the flesh, appearing to hundreds of people.
He defeated sin, death and the devil. In all of this, He proved that sin, death and the devil do not have the final word over the life of one who believes…He does.
Jesus has the final word and that word is REDEEMED.
In John 11, we find out about a seemingly hopeless situation. Two women, Mary and Martha, have a brother that is dying. Jesus is their good friend, and they know that if He would just come and visit him, their brother Lazarus will not die. But he does die. And it seems hopeless.
In John 11:25-26, Jesus comforts Martha by saying, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
John boiled it all down to one word: a word he used 84 times in his gospel account.
Believe.
When Jesus made this I AM statement - it was big.
He's saying:
Because of me, there is hope for your brother, Lazarus.
Because of me, there is hope for the one whose life seems so dark, they can't see a way out.
Because of me, you will not be stuck here forever.
Because of me, you are not alone.
Because of me, death, disease and pain do not have the last word on your life.
I have made a way.
And then Jesus asks Martha the most important question she will ever answer.
The most important question you and I will ever answer.
Do you believe this?
Your answer to this one question changes everything!
It changes how you live.
It changes how you die.
Jesus himself says that we will not escape death. But in the living, life will be more full and even death, leads to life…eternal life.
Do you believe this?
I'd love to dialogue with you about your answer to this question. If you have questions, want someone to pray with you or need some encouragement - please email me.
Sometimes the darkness can be so dark... we forget that Jesus said, "I AM the Light of the world."
Sometimes our situations seem so hopeless... we forget that Jesus brings hope to the hopeless.
As I wrestled with God over this tragic end, it was as if God himself spoke to me:
This is why I sent Jesus.
Jesus himself said "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."
Everything about Jesus, all He did, all He said…it all points to hope for the hopeless.
Not because of anything we do, but because of what He did.
He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, taught, traveled, healed and fed; He died a sinners death, was placed in a guarded tomb and after 3 days, He rose from the dead - in the flesh, appearing to hundreds of people.
He defeated sin, death and the devil. In all of this, He proved that sin, death and the devil do not have the final word over the life of one who believes…He does.
Jesus has the final word and that word is REDEEMED.
In John 11, we find out about a seemingly hopeless situation. Two women, Mary and Martha, have a brother that is dying. Jesus is their good friend, and they know that if He would just come and visit him, their brother Lazarus will not die. But he does die. And it seems hopeless.
In John 11:25-26, Jesus comforts Martha by saying, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
John boiled it all down to one word: a word he used 84 times in his gospel account.
Believe.
When Jesus made this I AM statement - it was big.
He's saying:
Because of me, there is hope for your brother, Lazarus.
Because of me, there is hope for the one whose life seems so dark, they can't see a way out.
Because of me, you will not be stuck here forever.
Because of me, you are not alone.
Because of me, death, disease and pain do not have the last word on your life.
I have made a way.
And then Jesus asks Martha the most important question she will ever answer.
The most important question you and I will ever answer.
Do you believe this?
Your answer to this one question changes everything!
It changes how you live.
It changes how you die.
Jesus himself says that we will not escape death. But in the living, life will be more full and even death, leads to life…eternal life.
Do you believe this?
I'd love to dialogue with you about your answer to this question. If you have questions, want someone to pray with you or need some encouragement - please email me.
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