Yet Shall He Live

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’

“She said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.’”

(John 11:25-27)

It is fascinating to me that the Creator of all things, the One who is the Life of all things living, the One who spoke all things into existence and gave them being, also built Death into the woof and warp of His creation. We often think of death as being introduced at the moment of the Fall of mankind into sin, and in one sense, of course, that is true. But in another sense there was death present in creation from the start, although not a death alone or final—rather a death, burial, and resurrection.

For example, every tree that bears fruit produces a fruit that must die—literally rot into the ground—and the seed it hides must be buried into the earth and die to itself before new life, a new fruit-bearing tree, can come forth. This was God’s design from the beginning, the gospel told in the fabric of creation.

Another example is the death of the sun each day in the west, its burial through the night, and its subsequent resurrection each morning. Each morning’s sunrise is a fresh proclamation of God’s love and mercy in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lamentations, God’s song of sorrow for the death of Jerusalem, sings it this way: The Lord’s mercies do not die, His compassions do not fail, but “they are new every morning—great is Thy faithfulness! The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore I hope in Him!” (3:22–24)

Death seems so final to us. But to those of us who, like Mary, believe in the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who has come into the world to give life, death is but a momentary step in the direction of life—resurrection life, life again, everlasting life. Life that believes in Life Himself, though it dies, yet shall it live again. Life that believes and trusts in Jesus the Lifegiver, Christ promises, “shall never die.”

Do you believe this? Then do not fear death, and do not mourn as those without hope. Christ the Resurrection and the Life speaks life and hope to us this day—as He does all days—“He who believes in Me, though he may die, yet shall he live.”

“For this life, Holy Father, compassionate Lord, we give thanks—we give thanks for our life through Jesus Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life Himself. Grant us grace in this day, that we might trust and hope and glory in You, who bring both life and death into life again through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is the forgiveness of sins, the defeat of all death, and the life everlasting. Amen.”