269. Power to give life.

*'For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them Iife, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it."* (John 5:21) Jesus was exuding with life that wherever he went, death was reversed! Therefore, he never had to conduct a funeral service, instead turned them into a celebration of life! *'As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out ... He went up and touched the coffin ... The dead man sat up ... and Jesus gave him back to his mother... They all were filled with awe and praised God.'* ( Luke 7:12-16) Not only did Jesus raise the dead that he came across during his ministry on earth but his death and resurrection also caused the righteous dead who were in Paradise, to come out of their tombs as well. *'The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.'* ( Matthew 27:52-53) However, the day is coming when the rest of the *'dead in Christ'* will be raised to eternal life before the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and even those who will be *'beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the Word of God',* during the tribulation will be raised to eternal life - (Revelation 20:4). *"I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and THOSE WHO HEAR will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself."* - ( 5:25-26) All these verses indicate that Jesus has been glorified with the glory he had with God in the beginning and he has got the power to give life, just as the Father does. Afterall, *'He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. IN HIM WAS LIFE, and that life was the light of men.'* ( 1:2-4) Since all the dead are going to be raised; both the righteous and the wicked, what matters then is whether we will receive eternal life or be eternally separated from God! If being with God is eternal life, then being separated from God is eternal death. And to be with God, we ought to know him as our personal Saviour! *"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."* (John 17:3) Those who know him have crossed over from death to life. *"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."* ( 5:24) *"And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."* ( John 6:39-40) Amen.