Tuesday: “I Will Raise Him Up”
In one of His miracles, Jesus had fed five thousand people with just a small amount of bread and fish (John 6:1-14). Perceiving that the multitude then intended to proclaim Him king (John 6:15), Jesus sailed with His disciples to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. But the next day the multitude followed Him there, where He delivered His powerful sermon on the Bread of Life, with special emphasis on the gift of everlasting life (John 6:22-59).
Read John 6:26-51. How did Jesus associate the gift of everlasting life with the final resurrection of the righteous?
Image © Pacific Press at Goodsalt.com
In His sermon, Jesus highlighted three basic concepts in regard to eternal life. First, He identified Himself as “the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33, John 6:58, NIV). By declaring that “I am [Greek egō eimi] the bread of life” (John 6:35, John 6:48), Jesus presented Himself as the Great “I AM” of the Old Testament (Exodus 3:14). Secondly, Jesus explained that everlasting life can be secured in Him: “he who comes to Me” and “he who believes in Me” will have this blessing (John 6:35, NKJV). And finally, Jesus linked the gift of immortality with the final resurrection, assuring His audience three times, “and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40, John 6:44, John 6:54, NKJV).
Jesus also gave this amazing promise: “Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life” (John 6:47, NRSV). So, the gift of eternal life is already a present reality. But this does not mean that the believer will never die, for the very expression “raise him up” (John 6:40, NKJV) presupposes coming back to life after one has died.
The picture is clear. Without Christ, one does not have eternal life. But, even after accepting Christ and having the assurance of eternal life, we continue for now being mortal and, therefore, subject to natural death. At the Second Coming, Jesus will resurrect us and, then and there, He will give us the gift of immortality that was ours already. The gift is assured, not because of a supposed natural immortality of the soul, but, rather, because of the righteousness of Jesus that comes to us by faith in Him.
| Dwell on the words of Jesus that, if you believe in Him, you have (as in right now) eternal life! How can this wonderful promise help you deal with the painful reality of our present, though only temporary, mortality? |
(16)
John 6:47 is a promise of Jesus assuring us that we have eternal life today. How? When we place our faith in Him. This promise helps deal with the painful reality of our present mortality where the living know they will die one day on earth (Ecclesiastes 9:5). As we mature from childhood to adulthood we realize early on that death eventually comes to all of us from experiencing funerals to hearing reports of deaths on the news or word of mouth. Household pets have a shorter lifespan than humans, so children would witness the reality of death at a young age. Death is a painful devastating reality. And, this is the reason why Jesus guarantees us eternal life in this present life (as in right now) to give us hope. Jesus' words offer us the ultimate assurance that death is not the end of everything by granting eternal life to all today. Which brings us to the most important question to answer in our lives, “Will you choose, Jesus?”
Sadly, not everyone will follow Him. Jesus said He is the Vine and we are the branches (John 15:5). The key word in this verse is remain. When we accept Christ as Lord and Savior we are connected (remain). When we remain in Christ then we have eternal life today. If we continue to remain every day in Jesus then we are predestined to be saved (Acts 13:48). If we happen to die today then we die in Jesus (sleeping in the grave until He returns). If we happen to live when Jesus returns then we are translated to heaven because we are connected to Him (remain). Again, we still have to answer the question every day, “Will you choose, Jesus?” Just like our first parents Adam and Eve, we are given the power of choice. As long as we live in this sinful world we risk our salvation when we don’t remain in Christ. When we don’t remain in Christ then we are cut off to death (John 15:6). Why are we cut off? Simply, we remain in our sins (Romans 6:23, 1st part). But, if we remain in Christ then Jesus can resurrect or translate us at the last day (Romans 6:23, 2nd part). My plea to you brothers and sisters is to choose Christ. Meaning choose life (Christ) today, not death.
It reminds me of my mother’s reply to me. “Giving birth is painful but one looks forward with joy for a healthy baby.”( She raised 10 to adulthood)As believers the physical , social and mental pains we experience are endurable because we have accepted the assurance of eternal life given by our loving Saviour& Lord.
Romans 8:2 is clear to me that in Jesus and via His Holy Spirit, we have "A New Law" that works in us to live by and this "Law" gives us "Life" now and also life for an "Eternal Future."
"Dwelling on the words of Jesus" -- What happens when someone "comes to Jesus and believes in Him?" – John 6:35. Is this a casual encounter satisfied by knowing about Him, or is this a life-changing encounter leading to becoming a new creation? – 2 Cor. 5:17.
Being found in Jesus makes all the difference in our life. In Him means that by/though His Spirit we have a new identity – the one of Jesus Christ. When the Father looks at us, He sees Jesus Christ, His Son; He accepts us because we are in Him. There is no more separation between us because our "life" is of the same spirit as Christ Jesus. - Rom. 8:9-12; Eph. 2:13, 18.
Nothing old remains when being in Him; everything has become new because we believe. Having our identity and existence in Him, we live life differently. As we live, the honor and glory of the Father and Son foreshadow our resurrection. – 2 Cor. 3:17-18; Eph. 1:5; Col. 2:9-10.
Sustaining this born-again life, as we eat the bread of life and drink from the spiritual well which never runs dry, we are fully immersed in Him. His Spirit of life will raise us again – John 6:35.