John 10:1-21 ; John 11:17-44

Scripture - Others among them said, "Well, if he loved him so much, why didn't he do something to keep him from dying? After all, he opened the eyes of a blind man."  John 11:37

Observation - This question was raised by mourners after Lazarus' death about Jesus.  I'm sure it is a question that many have asked since after a loss of a loved one.  It surely seems to be a legitimate question.  Jesus had done (still does) many miraculous things - opening the eyes of a blind man being just one.  He certainly was able to do something to keep him from dying, so why didn't he?  Does Jesus promise that no one will ever have to experience earthly death - especially those that he loves (and doesn't he love us all?)?  Jesus says in John 10:10 , "I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."  I have always seen the life that Jesus talks about as being as much about a quality of life as about a quantity of life.  It's not a promise to live forever in an earthly sense, but a promise to live life as God intended it.  Life with God - now and forever.  It is a promise of life that God keeps even after we experience earthly death - God is always true to that promise.

Application -  "And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don't want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14  

Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians, speaks to the application of today's scripture.  We may question God about the loss of a loved one, but to not despair.  For God's faithfulness to God's promise offers us hope even in the midst of that loss.  Hope that others who do not know of God's promises are without.  While it may seem as if God didn't do anything to keep them from dying, he did do something to offer them real and eternal life.

Prayer - Dear God, for your faithfulness to the promise of real and eternal life I give you thanks.  Help me to live as a person of hope in all circumstances.  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.