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“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.”1
But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.2
I always laugh as I read the portion of Scripture which narrates the plots by religious leaders to kill Lazarus of Bethany after he had died and been resurrected and rescued from the grave by Jesus. Their utmost concern was to maintain their social and religious status and the sworn loyalty of their followers, so the notoriety and positive press this miracle had garnered was a grave threat to them (pardon the pun). They ardently sought to quell its growing and undermining influence.
My question has always been: How do you kill a person who has already died? How do you instill fear in someone who has already faced and conquered life’s ultimate fear? How do you threaten one who has tasted and overcome life’s ultimate threat?
Jesus blew Martha’s theology when he showed her that the resurrection is not an event; He is a person. Her hope for resurrection was in the distant future, but its reality was here and now. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”3
If you have received Jesus as Lord and Savior and have an active walk with Him, your destiny is secure; you are invincible from the threat of eternal death and separation from God and have access to an everlasting, naturally perpetuating God kind of life! This all-encompassing life does not begin after you physically die but starts immediately after receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. Jesus’ death catalyzed your death. His death liberated you from the old, limiting sin nature that separated you from the guarantee and benefits of life in God, and His resurrected life catalyzed your new life of access and success in God (Colossians 3:3-4; Romans 8:10-11)!
This new kind of life in Jesus is not just any kind of life, it is zoe life, the God kind (quality) of life! It means everything available to God is available to you! You have access to salvation, healing, deliverance, dominion, provision, influence, legacy, etc. – everything that makes for a meaningful, fulfilling, and impactful life both now on earth and later in eternity! He has given you all things that pertain to life and godliness through Jesus!4This means He has already provided for everything you will ever need for your life here on earth. You are complete in Him!5Nothing is or will remain missing; nothing is or will remain broken!6 This kind of life is the abundant life Jesus freely promised!7
By that singular experience of resurrection, Lazarus conquered death and all its trappings, demonstrating his indomitable nature in Christ! He was no longer limited to his mortal, finite life and circumstances but had come into the zoe kind of life that dominated every limiting situation!3
Why were the religious leaders foolish enough to think they could kill him or prevent the recurrence of his resurrection? I would be too awed and afraid of a person who had resurfaced with such a bang to think I could kill him or stop anything God was doing in him. I would have wisely and silently retreated to wait this one out; common sense would inform me that a man backed by the Author and Champion of life – the One superior to and dominant over death – is probably not one to mess around or contend with!
(1John 11:25-26, 2John 12:10-11, 3John 5:24, 42 Pet 1:3, 5Col 2:10, 61 Samuel 30:8,19, 7John 10:10)
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How do you kill a person who has already died?
Intimidate and coerce him to conceal and hide
From life’s greatest enemy – man’s final breath
How do you frighten one who has conquered death?
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How do you assassinate someone dead to sin?
Predestined from the start as one who’s born to win
How do you bring a charge against God’s elect?
Contending with the force of Jesus’ blood’s effect?
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How do you incarcerate a man who has already seen
The grimmest prison yet, and has already been
At eternity’s huge gate, having crossed death’s door
Rebounding back to life through might’s corridor?
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How do you apprehend one who has already defected?
Beyond this earthly realm, yet bounced back resurrected
How do you decimate one whose body vacated?
But came back on the scene after three days had waited?
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How do you murder One who has vanquished the grave?
The proof of authenticity to those He came to save
How do you subdue one who has relished the hour
Of eternal life secured through Christ’s glorious power?
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