What Do You Fear Most??
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Someone described a panic or anxiety attack as a fear that one is actually going to die. Having had one I concur. Here is a description of one, "It's same way you would feel if you were holding onto a ledge above a 10 story building. Your body is telling you that you need to be very afraid because your life is in danger."
And next to public speaking, the fear of death is always one of the top fears we face as humans. And the fact is 1 out of 1 of us will die. Jesus speaks to this fear today. In this case he is speaking to Mary, Lazarus' sister, who is grieving her brother's death. As Jesus comforts her he uses the words above.
Many people outside the Christian faith acknowledge Jesus as a good teacher or moral person, and yet the Christian faith makes the claim that He is truly human and truly God. Jesus makes this clear today when He says, "I am the resurrection and the life". Either Jesus is delusional or very confused, or a terrible liar. Instead of comforting Mary by saying her brother will be raised from the dead by God some day in the future, he says, "I am the resurrection and the life". If this isn't a direct claim to be God, I don't know what is. Then, if this isn't clear enough, he also tells her, "Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die."
Although fear of death is normal, as a Christian you don't have to fear death. If you believe in Jesus, even though you will die, yet will you live. Now someone might say that is a "nice pipe dream" prove it to me. The greatest proof of what we believe about life after death is Jesus' own life, death and resurrection. Because he lived he proved he was a human being just like you and me. But when He rose from the dead, He proved He was God. How much more evidence do you need to believe in Jesus, other than his literal and bodily resurrection from the dead, just as He had promised to his followers.
Although the fear of death is normal, if you believe in Jesus, the fear can be replaced by hope. Hope that even though we die yet shall we live. If you don't have this hope, think about His words to you today. As the bible says, "Perfect love casts out all fear!"
Someone described a panic or anxiety attack as a fear that one is actually going to die. Having had one I concur. Here is a description of one, "It's same way you would feel if you were holding onto a ledge above a 10 story building. Your body is telling you that you need to be very afraid because your life is in danger."
And next to public speaking, the fear of death is always one of the top fears we face as humans. And the fact is 1 out of 1 of us will die. Jesus speaks to this fear today. In this case he is speaking to Mary, Lazarus' sister, who is grieving her brother's death. As Jesus comforts her he uses the words above.
Many people outside the Christian faith acknowledge Jesus as a good teacher or moral person, and yet the Christian faith makes the claim that He is truly human and truly God. Jesus makes this clear today when He says, "I am the resurrection and the life". Either Jesus is delusional or very confused, or a terrible liar. Instead of comforting Mary by saying her brother will be raised from the dead by God some day in the future, he says, "I am the resurrection and the life". If this isn't a direct claim to be God, I don't know what is. Then, if this isn't clear enough, he also tells her, "Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die."
Although fear of death is normal, as a Christian you don't have to fear death. If you believe in Jesus, even though you will die, yet will you live. Now someone might say that is a "nice pipe dream" prove it to me. The greatest proof of what we believe about life after death is Jesus' own life, death and resurrection. Because he lived he proved he was a human being just like you and me. But when He rose from the dead, He proved He was God. How much more evidence do you need to believe in Jesus, other than his literal and bodily resurrection from the dead, just as He had promised to his followers.
Although the fear of death is normal, if you believe in Jesus, the fear can be replaced by hope. Hope that even though we die yet shall we live. If you don't have this hope, think about His words to you today. As the bible says, "Perfect love casts out all fear!"
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