VERY MUCH BETTER
It says in this verse, “If a man die, shall he live again?”. People have asked that question for centuries. There is only one Person who has said “I became dead, and behold, I am living to the ages of ages” (Rev.1:18) and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. How wonderful, how blessed it is that the Lord Jesus has been through death and is living. When the Lord Jesus was in Bethany at the time of the death of Lazarus, Martha said to Him, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died”, John 11:21. The Lord Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believes on me, though he have died, shall live” (v.25). What words of comfort these are to us. Jesus Christ has been into death, He has invaded the realm of death and conquered it. How blessed that is.
Mr Darby when he was dying said, ‘Jesus Christ has been my Object’ and also ‘I wonder how the Saviour will greet me?’. One of his hymns (Hymn 76) says:
‘There no stranger-God shall meet thee – …
He, who to His rest shall greet thee,
Greets thee with a well-known love’.
It is a well-known love. For the believer, we will meet Someone whom we know. Men fear death, the fear of the unknown. Scripture speaks of “all those who through fear of death through the whole of their life were subject to bondage”, Heb.2:15. That fear of death is upon all men, but what it is to have the assurance in our souls of the One who has set us free from that bondage. Our brother had that assurance.
The Lord Jesus in His infinite wisdom had decided that our brother’s responsible pathway was to come to an end. And it is not only better for him, it is very much better (Phil.1:23). How comforting that is for our sister and the family at this time and in the days ahead. For we have a hope in a Person. It is not just hoping to go to heaven when we die. It is a hope in a Person. Paul spoke of “awaiting the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ”, Titus 2:13. Peter could speak of it too, writing that He “has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead”, 1 Pet.1:3. How wonderful that hope is. It has a sanctifying effect; “every one that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he” – that is Christ – “is pure”, 1 John 3:3. We would take fresh assurance today from the home-going of our brother that there is a testimony which has been rendered to that hope.
So what is the answer to this verse, “If a man die, shall he live again?”. I believe it is in the rest of the verse. “All the days of my time of toil would I wait, till my change should come”. Ah, that speaks prophetically of someone waiting for the change which will happen when the Lord Jesus comes for the living who remain (1 Thess.4:15). He shall transform our body of humiliation into conformity to his body of glory (Phil.3:21). We are soon to bury our brother’s body, but his soul – that is the essence of the person – is now with the blessed Saviour. What blessedness and comfort there is in that.
I read in John 20 because Mary had gone to Jesus’ tomb with the disciples. It was an empty tomb; the angels could say in another gospel, “Why seek ye the living one among the dead? He is not here, but is risen”, Luke 24:5,6. It says that she was weeping, she was distraught. The Lord Jesus throughout His pathway had ministered comfort wherever He went. Isaiah said of Him prophetically that He would “bind up the broken-hearted” (chap.61:1). Then the Lord said, “Blessed they that mourn, for they shall be comforted”, Matt.5:4. The Lord Jesus at every turn, even when the disciples would have moved Him on, took time to speak to persons. He healed them, whether they were deaf, dumb, blind, even possessed by demons: whoever it was, He ministered comfort. It is a great matter to be able to minister comfort, and the Lord Jesus did that. Mary was bereft; she did not know what to do, and she mistook who He was – she thought that Jesus was the gardener. But then the moment came when He said one word; “Mary”. He could have said much more, for there was no one more able to do so than the Lord Jesus; He was the greatest teacher of all. But He did not do that; He spoke a single word – “Mary”. Isaiah speaks of God knowing how to succour by a word him that is weary (chap.50:4). Jesus was risen, and that changed everything for Mary, and it changes everything for you and me. That is why we have come here today, because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So He ministered comfort, and Mary was able to become His messenger to the disciples. That message now goes through the whole world and persons are believing that the Lord Jesus is risen from the dead. How wonderful that is.
We all sympathise at this time with our sister and the family. We are in the presence of death and the reality and finality of death is something that sobers us greatly. Death has come in but for our brother, it is very much better. That is a comfort. Isaiah says, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people” (chap.40:1). How good it is that comfort can be administered among us by the Lord Jesus.
May the Lord bless the word, for His name’s sake.
Adrian Buchan