Defying Death

By Lyli Dunbar

“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?’”—John 11:25-26 (NKJV)

During one of the hardest years of my life, a friend came over and insisted that I watch the movie The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I had read the classic C.S. Lewis novel as a child, but watching the story come to life on film was exactly what I needed to remind me that I have an unfading hope in Christ. I cried as Aslan, the lion king of Narnia, sacrificially offered himself on the stone table to pay for the sins of the foolish Edmund. A quiet peace filled my heart as the resurrected hero returned and order was restored. His love defied death itself and saved the day.  

God created us to live forever, and so walking through the valley of the shadow of death seems most unnatural to our souls. Perhaps you have unexpectedly stood at the graveside of a loved one and echoed the sentiments expressed by Lazaurus’ sisters in this gospel story. We long to believe in the resurrection power of Jesus, but death has clouded our view and filled us with doubt. Like Martha, we can find comfort on our darkest days when we pour out our grief at the feet of Jesus.  

Because Jesus rose from the dead, His followers will never experience the finality of death and forever separation from God. Our Savior did not just defeat the grave in the pages of a story. He is very much alive and seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Our hero sovereignly reigns over every circumstance, and not one event in our lives escapes His notice. Time and space do not limit Jesus because He created everything we see, and He is speaking life over us at every moment. 

Today, we can resolve to cast doubt aside and choose to believe that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. He is still defying death and reaching into the grave to save lost souls. Whoever believes in Him will never die, and we are called to let our little lights shine brightly and share the good news everywhere we go. Jesus sacrificially laid down His life to save us from death, and His unconditional love always saves the day. 

DIG: Read Romans 8:11. How does the power of Christ’s resurrection impact the life of every believer today?  

DISCOVER: Read Romans 6:1-14. What do you learn about how we should live differently in light of Christ’s resurrection?  

DO: Because of the resurrection, we have a priceless inheritance reserved for us in heaven (I Peter 1:1-5). This week, prayerfully ask God to give you an opportunity to share about the living hope you have in Christ with someone who is lost and needs a Savior.