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Hope of Eternity
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;………” John 11:25
What a week it has been for all of us as people of God. It’s been quite a Lenten journey culminating into the Holy Week. A week of mixed feelings eventually climaxing to the eternal victory, “the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior from the grave.” For those who witnessed these events firsthand it must have been quite astonishing and incredible to say the least. Where do we begin? The disciples or the women, the crowd or those who followed Jesus throughout his ministry. All of them had an experience which changed their lives forever.
Palm Sunday heralded the events of the holy week as Jesus’ earthly ministry coming to an end, but also looking into the future. This he was ready for by his obedience, humility, selflessness and sacrifice on our behalf. All this happened because of God’s love towards us while we were yet sinners letting Christ die for us as depicted in Romans 5:8.
Such is the price that Christ paid to give us the hope of eternity. The task at hand was enormous and beyond human imagination and costly. No wonder the disciples could not receive it kindly. Much as he tried to assure them of a future, the melancholy was so heavy to overcome. This was reflected by the reactions of Thomas and Phillip about not knowing the way. Jesus had to remind them that he was the way to the father, but even that even was not enough.
Thomas and Phillip are not alone in this as we in our own lives often encounter similar situations of losing a loved one. Our reactions to the loss often overshadow our response with the emotions of crying, anger etc. It is about the immediate, not about the future, as experienced by Mary and Martha at Lazarus' death as to what could have happened, not what will happen. Jesus, the name above all names, brought the same assurance and hope to them with these words from John 11:25-26. Jesus said to her, “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? “Easter is an affirmation of the blessed assurance and hope of eternity that we as Christians have inherited. Our celebration is a testament to the legacy of the hope of eternity that the Risen Christ has brought us.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah! He is Risen Indeed!