The Jesus Who Saves and Raises (John 6:40)

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40, ESV) 

The preciousness of Jesus Christ to us who believe cannot be underestimated. In this small section in John’s Gospel, Jesus says that for those who believe in him, he will raise them up on the last day and repeats himself four times. Remarkable! Here Jesus is not speaking about raising us from sick beds so that we might recover, but raising us from the great sleep of death—the resurrection of the dead. 

The Old Testament is filled with glimmers of the afterlife, however, the images were shadowy until the dawning of the light of Christ. But what was certain was that the wicked would ultimately fall under God’s eternal displeasure and wrath (Ps 37:38, 68:2, 75:10, etc.), whereas the righteous would enjoy the blessings of God’s presence (Job 19:26; Ps 16:9-11; etc.). That is why the Psalmist can say “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.” (Ps 17:15). The OT saints knew that God alone had the ability to raise them from the dead (1 Sam 2:6). But no one imagined that the God who would raise their fleshly remains from the grave, would be the same God to offer his own flesh for their sins. And this he did in the person of Jesus Christ on the cross. What is outrageous about Jesus' statements is not that God can raise the dead, but that people would have to look to him, Jesus, for eternal life, and that he, Jesus, would raise them from the dead. And if Jesus Christ were not God, this would be sheer madness and utter blasphemy!  

Believer, do you think much of the fact that God in Jesus Christ gave his life so that you could have eternal life? Do you think about how he purchased every moment of the life that you are privileged to have under the sun? Do you stand in awe of him as your Master who made you and has employed you in His service? Do you think of his great compassion as he answers your daily prayers? Do you long to see his face when your eyes open from the sleep of death? Do you know that at his command, your body which may be but bones and dust will reassemble itself and new, undying flesh and muscles will be knit to your frame?  

Be encouraged, brothers and sisters, that the great Physician of our souls hears you even now when you call to him and he is the God who heals you. He who promised is faithful and will never fail us! And the Jesus who died for you, is the same Jesus who will never leave you as an orphan and will raise your body from the grave on that last day. 

Though Easter Sunday has come and gone, the hope of our resurrection has not. It remains, and daily we rejoice and live in unshakeable hope. There are no such thing as ordinary human beings in the kingdom of God—only blood-bought, immortal sons and daughters.  

Written by: Samuel Chua