“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” John 11:25
Seven is a very significant number in the Bible. It is known as the number of completion and the theme of seven runs right through scripture. There are 7 days in a week, 7 Jewish feasts, 7×10 years of captivity, 7 churches in Revelation along with 7 seals, trumpets and bowls. In John’s gospel there are 7 signs or symbols that point to Jesus being the Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world –
Turning water into wine and Jesus’ power over shame.
Healing the official’s son and His power over distance.
Healing a cripple and His power over disease.
Feeding the five thousand and His power over insufficiency.
Walking on water and His power over the natural world.
Healing a man born blind and His power over sin.
And now, on day 7, the ultimate sign; raising Lazarus and Jesus’ power over death.
Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead is a well-known story. He was a friend of Jesus, who had died and been buried for 3 days before Jesus arrived on the scene. Jesus told the mourners to move the stone away from the tomb in which Lazarus had been laid and after audibly praying so that everyone knew that he was calling upon His Father, He commanded the dead man to come out. Lazarus, still bound in the embalming cloths, came out of the tomb and lived for many more years.
Jesus has power over death because he is God. God created man to live forever with Him in the Garden of Eden, but sin brought separation and death. In Ezekiel 33:11 we read “God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” He never intended for man to die. Death is the enemy. Jesus came to show that He alone has the power over death. He brought Lazarus back from the dead to demonstrate that He was the Messiah. But Jesus also wanted to demonstrate that He has the power over spiritual death too.
Jesus has promised that when we put our trust in Him, though we die naturally, we will be raised again to eternal life with Him. That is the Christian hope. This world is full of sin, suffering and grief, but those who recognise that Jesus is the Messiah and put their trust in Him will enter into eternal life where no sin, suffering or death will ever be seen.
Jesus has the power over death. He offers you eternal life today, if you will accept Him as Saviour and Lord.
Acknowledgement to Swindoll’s “Insights on John” as the main resource for these posts.