John 11:25-27
25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
To date, I have gone to more funerals than I can count. I know dozens of people personally that have died within my short life span. I have had classmates die of disease, friends die who were murdered, and family members die from numerous causes.
In 1996 death knocked on my family’s door and took up slow and painful residence in our home. I had experienced extended family deaths before, but my father was the first in my home to pass away. I don’t know statistics and facts about family death rates but I was not expecting death to return for a very long time.
It was in 2005 on June 6th that death came again for a very brief visit. Upon departure death walked into eternity with my mother at his side. I’m reminded of that day now 5 years later on this Sunday June 6th 2010. To have this type of experience twice while still so young , many times destroys all emotional stability, and understandably so. But as I read the words of Jesus to a grieving family member, my confidence is renewed and my faith is increased.
For years I allowed the anniversaries of a loved one’s death to cause depression and doubt on the meaning of my faith. My family can no longer celebrate Mother’s Day the same. Sick days are not as comfortable. Hugs are not as tender as the hugs from your own mother. The death of my mother has changed my family. To lose her was tragic and deeply wounding.
I need to be reminded often that stability and security does not lie in the frailty of my mother’s life. Stability and security are only found in Jesus. Jesus made that clear by stating, “I am the resurrection and the life.” So many cling to Jesus for the hope of their resurrection all the while neglecting him in their life. I am guilty of that sin. I only want Jesus for the life to come not the life today. The lie of that type of thinking is to believe that there is a resurrection apart from life lived with Jesus.
My mother answered the question posed to Martha when I was very young. And I had the joy of watching the fruit of a life lived with Jesus in her life. Jesus was my mother’s life and her resurrection. Now all who live must answer that question for themselves…Do you believe?