The truth of Jesus’ proclamation that He is the resurrection and the life would become even more apparent on Easter Sunday morning with His own resurrection, the final victory over evil and death. A short time later, all were able to see the truth of Jesus’ words when, at His command, Lazarus (who had already been in the tomb for four days) came forth alive. We can only imagine the surprise, maybe even consternation, of those who heard Jesus say those words. It is good when we commend our deceased brothers and sisters to the Lord that we hear the words of Jesus to Lazarus’ sister Martha, words that give us comfort and hope: I am the resurrection and the life whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. This story from the 11 th chapter of John’s Gospel is frequently chosen for funeral Masses. We are all familiar with the miracle of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead. They have meaning for all of us as we strive, with the help of God’s grace, to live our baptismal promises. These Gospels continue to be proclaimed and have particular meaning for our catechumens preparing for Baptism at the Easter Vigil. These Sundays of Lent form a stimulating baptismal journey since the first centuries of Christianity. The raising of Lazarus from the dead points to our rising in faith to a new and eternal life through Baptism. This Sunday’s Gospel, again from Saint John, also has a baptismal significance. These profound passages from Saint John’s Gospel have a baptismal perspective: Jesus promising living water to the Samaritan woman and Jesus, the Light of the world, giving sight to the man born blind. When we experience life in Jesus, as well as liberty, love, and loyalty to Him, we begin to live the abundant life He promised us.ĭo you have the abundant life Jesus promised those who live in Him? Consider your spiritual condition today, and step into a life of liberty, love, and loyalty to Christ.In my last two columns, I reflected on the Sunday Gospels of the woman at the well and of the man born blind. Finally, abundant life means expressing loyalty to Jesus.Īfter all he’d experienced, Lazarus was no longer afraid of death He was loyal to Jesus, even when there was a threat made against him by the Pharisees.Īdrian Rogers says, “No man is ready to live until he is no longer afraid to die.” Lazarus dined with Jesus after he was resurrected, reminding us that fellowship with Jesus Christ is a reward in itself. Abundant life also means enjoying our love for Jesus. As the Church, we minister to each other by calling forth the spiritually dead and unwrapping the saints. We can be saved, and still not live in victory, caught up somewhere between the powers of Calvary and Pentecost.Īs Lazarus was taken out of his grave clothes, we must also discard our old lives and step into new lives of liberty.
Second, living abundantly means exercising liberty through Jesus. Those who know Jesus Christ never truly die instead, they have everlasting life. He is resurrected the same way Jesus resurrected Lazarus: by His Word. No amount of examples, encouragement, environment or education can bring a spiritually dead man back to life. In this passage, Lazarus had been physically dead for days spiritually, he represents many of us who are dead in our sins. Therefore, the only way to live abundantly is to first experience life in Jesus. Many of us are alive but simply exist, fighting to live, while living to fight but Jesus came, so that we may have life abundantly. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die’” (John 11:25-26).
He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. In John 11, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, revealing that He is God’s answer to Man’s death. The Book of John shares Jesus’ glorious miracles with great messages and spiritual truths.
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