Comedian Woody Allen once remarked, “I’m not afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” It’s hard to think about dying, but death is a reality we all must face. What we need is a guide who can tell us what lies on the other side. We need someone qualified to lead us from death to life. In John 11 we meet that Guide, for Jesus Christ is “the resurrection and the life” (v 25). Though the process of dying is usually not pleasant, and we mourn when death separates us from a family member or friend, in Christ we have both a mighty Savior and a sympathizing high priest. He not only has power over the grave, He cares about those who are struggling with great loss. Trust Him wholeheartedly, because JESUS ENTERS THE SORROW HE COULD HAVE PREVENTED. Sometimes we forget that the Son of God is also fully man. When visiting His grieving friends, three times He is confronted about a lack of responsiveness (v 21, 32, 37). If only He had been there, this would have never happened! Since He healed others, why did He not prevent the death of Lazarus? Of course, He could have intervened, but Jesus had a different plan. We never know what God will do when we pray, but we do know that He’s in charge, and He loves us. Jesus is “deeply moved” by our grief—sharing not only our sorrow, but our anger. Death is not natural; it is our enemy, a terrible consequence of human sin. At the cross Jesus will confront this foe head on. At His return, death shall be no more. But in the meantime, we have a Savior who weeps with us, shedding tears of compassion in all our losses (v 28-37). Another reason to trust Him is that JESUS RAISES THE DEAD BY HIS LIFE-GIVING POWER. When He calls for the stone to be removed, Martha is concerned that an opened tomb would release a foul stench. In her mind, it’s too late. Like the rest of us, she struggled to believe Jesus’ promise that He will do nothing other than that which displays the glory of God. So as the stone is taken away, Jesus prays aloud, drawing His listeners into the intimacy He enjoys with the Father. Then at the command of Jesus, a dead heart begins to beat again. Rotting flesh is restored to health. And Lazarus gets up, walking out of the tomb with grave clothes hanging from his body (v 38-44). As many have pointed out, it’s a good thing Jesus called Lazarus by name. Otherwise, He would have cleared out all the cemeteries! Of course, one day in the future that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Whether dead four days or four thousand years, those who are righteous through faith in Christ will hear His voice and rise to eternal life in the presence of the Lord forever. For further meditation: