Seven times, Jesus used the Greek form of the words I AM, the same name God gave to Moses when He called Himself I AM that I AM (Exodus 3:14). In John chapter eleven, Christ stated that He is the I AM, declaring Himself the Resurrection and the Life, the One who conquers Death itself. After hearing that His friend Lazarus was very sick, Jesus told His disciples that they were going up to Jerusalem to wake him:
11After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” 12His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe (John 11:11-15; emphasis added).
Jesus used the term "fallen asleep" (v. 11) to describe the death of a believer. It signifies the separation of the soul and spirit from the body. The body lies in the grave while the spirit- the invisible part of us that represents our true selves- goes to be with the Lord. When the Jews were stoning Stephen for preaching Christ, this first martyr, as he was dying, saw the Lord Jesus standing at the right hand of God the Father (Acts 7:56). The Scripture states that Stephen fell asleep (Acts 7:60). That was not the end of Stephen for we read that the Lord Jesus rose from His usual seated position at the right side of the Father to receive Stephen's spirit. Additionally, when Jesus visited Jairus' home to raise his daughter from death, He addressed the mourners: “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep” (Luke 8:52). When the Lord called her back from the dead, the Scripture indicates that “her spirit returned” (Luke 8:55). If her spirit returned, where had she been? She had been with the Father, even while her body remained in the physical realm before Jesus. This idea of physical death for a believer as merely the sleep of the body was noted by the apostle Paul:
He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him (1 Thessalonians 5:10; emphasis added).
Even when a believer's body is dead (asleep), we will be very much alive and living with Christ. Paul writes in another place about this topic:
22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body (Philippians 1:22-24).
Paul said that he desired to depart and be with Christ. If he believed he would be unconscious, it would not be "better by far." No, Paul believed that he would be with Christ the instant he died.
Let’s now carry on the conversation that went on when Jesus arrived at Martha’s home:
21“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” (John 11:21-27).
Jesus said, “Whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:26). Death is but the sleep of the body. This attitude of faith in Christ will prepare us to be ready for anything. Jesus, the Son of the Living God, has conquered death for us and as us. There should be no fear of death for the believer in Christ. Keith Thomas
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To explore the topic of death for a believer, visit the home page and click on the All Studies box, followed by the series. “Insights into Eternity,” and click on the first study, Do You Know What Happens When You Die?
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