John_11
2014 Bible Reading,  John

John 11

John_11

Bible Passage:  John 11

If we were to ask ourselves or other people what are their goals in life we probably will have many answers. Some may say that to achieve a high standing in society, to travel round the world, to have a comfortable life or to look after their family is their goal in life. These goals probably change when one grows older. When young, our goal in life is probably to study hard and to get a good career. When we have a career, the next goal in life is to get married. After marriage the next goal in life is to have children. After having children, the next goal in life is to ensure that they have a good education and so on and so forth.

What about Jesus when He was on earth? What was His goal and what goal He wants us to pursue?

Perhaps this verse is the most important verse in the Bible and the crux of our faith.

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

Although Jesus performed many miracles and preached the kingdom of Heaven, His main purpose of coming is to actually be the sacrifice for sins and to resurrect. In so doing, being the first fruit of resurrection, today we have victory over death.

How many of us actually truly believe in Jesus’s Words? How many of us truly aim and look forward this day of resurrection?

In our busy pursuit in life, it is very possible we lose sight of our truly main objective in life and that is ETERNAL LIFE. To lose eternal life, is to lose everything. Some of us may even think that the resurrection is far off. Some may feel that being a Christian, the hope of resurrection is just insurance in the future if something ‘bad’ befall us.

There is one character in the Bible that clearly pursues this resurrection from the dead.

This is what he said.

“And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”

“If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

The name of this character is Paul. He is truly unlike most Christians. His main aim in life is to do the will of Jesus, to suffer in the ministry for Christ and to attain the crown of righteousness. To him, the resurrection of the dead is the key aim in life and despite all the sufferings he received, he held his faith and completed this arduous journey.

The evangelistic service is round the corner. It is a good time to re-think our faith and commitment to Jesus and also a good time to bring our friends and relatives to believe in Jesus. Even though I am a Christian, I do like to listen to evangelistic services as they do remind me the reason why I became a Christian.

Do we truly believe Jesus’s Words? Are we on the path to resurrection or the path to destruction? Let us re-calibrate our lives to Christ and testify to our friends and relatives the resurrection of Jesus.

One Comment

  • Camelinaneedle

    (This might be another long comment)

    I always feel so upset when I meet people who sometimes seem like mere figments of my imagination just because I refuse to believe that such people actually exist anymore.
    These people are what I’d like to call “The Too Good To Be True”.

    There is frustration knowing that these people would very likely be better Christians that I ever will be if they were to believe and be baptized.

    But alas, they do not believe and sometimes are the least interested in religion or salvation or matters concerning life and life after death.

    So I am crushed.

    Unlike the many goals we are able to achieve within a relatively short or limited period of time, Christianity and Evangelism truly test our will and patience.

    For the people who already are Christians in the true church, we wait for the day we are able to see God face-to-face again, and hopefully be taken up to heaven.
    And while we tell others about Jesus and His love, we pray and wait some more for them to open their hearts and minds to receive and believe.

    It takes a lot of strength from a person, for that person to be willing to accept everything the Bible has to say. Up until today, a lot of people still see the Bible as a story book.
    But once you have believed, it takes even more strength to let go of what you’ve held on to so hard for so long, doesn’t it?

    Paul is a reminder of the reality of this road to salvation, how it is still possible to remain so human and down-to-earth, carrying a heart full of godliness.

    Let us do more of what the Bible tells us to do, doubt less, and gather whatever strength we have left in us to work while we still can, even if all odds are against us.
    Because there is One that will always be with us.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *