Jesus knows the way home

I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

Psalm 23

Let me start with words from a wonderful writer, Max Lucado and his book 'Travelling Light.'

'The twists and turns of life have a way of reminding us- we aren't home here. This is not our homeland. We aren't fluent in the languages of disease and death. The culture confuses the heart, the noise disrupts our sleep, and we feel far from home.'*

                                        
I have wanted to write a post about death for a while. But it's not easy. I worry about being insensitive, about intruding on people's grief. I even wonder if I am qualified, not having yet had to grieve for those closest family ties.

But of course I am qualified. We are all going to die, me included. And as a Christian I have a wonderful hope, wonderful news about death. How unloving am I if I keep it to myself.

Jesus faced death. 
He conquered death.
He is alive.
And he knows the way home. 
He can take you there. 

I love the story in the book of John where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Not just because of the hope it offers of death conquered, not just because of the immense power Jesus has that even death cannot withstand, but because once again Jesus meet us where we are in all our humanness.

There are two bereaved sisters in the story. One goes out to meet Jesus and the other stays home. I will start with the second sister, Mary. She doesn't go out to meet Jesus. He asks for her. Then she goes, falls at his feet and weeps.

'When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.' Where have you laid him?' he asked. 
'Come and see Lord', they replied.
Jesus wept. 
(John 11:34-35)

Now there may be a significance to this that I am completely missing, but my reaction to this is one of amazement and gratitude- that Jesus, the Son of God, who is about to raise Lazarus from the dead- still, when faced with death, he weeps. He joins us in our grief and distress at death.

We are not, I think, as Max Lucado puts it, 'fluent in the languages of disease and death' because we are not meant to be, we are not made that way. Disease and death are part of the world which is in rebellion to God, as are all our hearts if we are really honest with ourselves. One day death and disease will be no more.

Back to the first sister, Martha. She shows enormous faith even in her grief, acknowledging that even now Jesus can do anything he wants. (Which reminds me, one amazing thing about knowing Jesus is we never have to despair.) And Jesus speaks wonderful words to her:


Jesus said, 'Your brother will be raised up.'
Martha replied, 'I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time.
   'You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?'
    (John chapter 11: 23-26, The Message translation)

And Jesus goes on to call Lazarus out of the tomb.

As wonderful as that miracle is, it's not the best one.

I sometimes feel a bit sorry for Lazarus. He had to face death twice. The real miracle, the real treasure, is that in facing and enduring death himself, and in rising again, Jesus made it possible for us to live forever with him. He holds out the offer of eternal life.

The God of the bible not only joins us in our humanness and weeps with us in our grief. He actually walks through what we walk through. He faced death, he felt its terror, he died. Then he destroyed death.

I imagine that facing death is a very lonely thing. But we will not be alone. Jesus knows what it's like. He never leaves us. And he promises to take us home. So trust him.

'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' John 3:16

Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me... Psalm 23

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying  or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.   Revelation 21
 

*Max Lucado, Travelling Light, pg. 153