Life that can defeat Death

Have you experienced unexpected pain recently?

Few days ago I was in pain with shingles... Yes, that disease known for its painful inflammation!! I never thought that I would get it while I was still in my 30s, and that made me think and pray about lot of things that I otherwise would not have.

For some of us, that unexpected pain might not be physical but emotional or mental.

Disappointment, loss of a loved one, changes in relationships, and transitions at work—though the size and situation might differ, the list can go on. The more severe the situation, the more it might limit who we can ask for help. But Jesus is available 24/7 for anyone who calls upon His name.

Artwork inspired by John 11:25, 26

This artwork is inspired by what Jesus said to Martha, whose heart was in devastating pain over the recent loss of her beloved brother.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.

The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live.

Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.

Do you believe this?”

John 11:25, 26.

If Jesus says who He says He is, that means He totally redefined death. He completely eradicated the power of death, symbolized by the dark and gloomy colors at the bottom of this canvas.

There is nothing other than the resurrection and the life that can defeat death. No death is too dark for Jesus to bring life, but we must believe in Him.

If you are a Christian, perhaps we all know this to be true, but it’s still hard and painful when God does not seem to "show up" in the timing we expected or when the result is not what we hoped for.

Martha and Mary went through that too.

When God didn't "show up" as we expected:

Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.

Yet even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 

“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her. Martha said to him,

“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

John 11:21-24 (emphasis mine)

Sometimes, we just don't know what Jesus really meant, even if we think we do. Sometimes, I'm surprised to find out that I was understanding a famous verse the wrong way for a long time.

"Jesus, I know it.....!"

But in reality what Martha knew was not "wrong", but it was a narrower understanding of what Jesus intended.

Perhaps that's how we try to protect ourselves from feeling pain and confusion sometimes. Instead of letting Jesus speak to us, we take what we think we know to be true and try to use it as a bandage when we are bleeding with pain.

It is also worth noting that later in this chapter (John 11), persecution towards Jesus heightens because He resurrected Lazarus. Now people were more serious about killing Jesus for good. Later, He does die on the cross on behalf of our sins, actually descends to hell, and rises again on the third day. I hope this artwork will be a powerful reminder of His descent (to us, death, and even hell) and ascent (to life, resurrection) so that we no longer have to be stuck in death.

reflection for today:

1. Do we have a Lazarus inside of us (a part of us that died due to failed expectations, disappointment, or loss)? Instead of trying to make sense of the situation using familiar verses, have you actually brought that to Him (the very person Scripture points to) and interacted with Him personally?
   

2. If He has resurrected your Lazarus, what are the ways that it can be shared so that more people can know that He is alive today? (John 11:45)

3. Its amazing how many times Jesus use the word "believe" in John 11 alone (verse 15, 25, 26, 27, 40, 42, 45, 48). What are some things that we perhaps 'know' already but do not 'believe'?

My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection

and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,

assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

Philippians 3:10-12 (Emphasis mine)