Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– John 11:26
Resurrection Power
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, there was resurrection power in His Word. He said, “Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:43), and Lazarus could not help but come to life. He rose from the dead. What would have happened if Jesus had not mentioned Lazarus by name when He said, “Lazarus come forth?” Would all who were in their graves come forth? Jesus does have resurrection power sufficient to raise the dead, but He also has the power to make those dead in their sins (Eph 2:1-2) have eternal life through believing in Him (John 3:16-17).
The Wages are Paid
You can’t pay for my sins by giving your life for mine, and neither can I pay for your sins by giving my life for yours. Giving my own life to save myself wouldn’t work either. That’s because we have “death wages” that are coming to us. These wages come from our sins (Rom 6:23a), but thank God that “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23b). So even if we die, we will live again, if we have received the free gift of “eternal life in Christ Jesus.”
Death will Die
Someday we won’t even have to worry about death. Not because we have the danger of dying anymore because Jesus promised “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25), but what I mean is that death itself is on death row. Someday (soon?), it will come to pass that God “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4).
Conclusion
The promise of eternal life and eternal wrath both come from Jesus Christ; “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). My plea to you who are not yet saved is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved, because He has resurrection power to raise you from the dead; He has paid the wages you could never pay in eternity; and He will finally bring to an end the enemy of death as it will be swallowed up in victory brought by Jesus Christ. At that time, it will be asked, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting” (1st Cor 15:55)?
