by Tom Greenslade

Created on: October 24, 2008

Shall not die eternally

Notes on John

In English in the NIV version it is translated as "will never die." (John 11:26) In the Spanish RV60 version it is "No morir eternamente" or in English, "will not die eternally." Young's Literal version says, "shall not die - to the age," and Wycliffe's translation says, "shall not die without end." I think that "Shall not die eternally" perhaps may get across the idea in a better way that it is the condition of eternal death that is escaped. To me that is especially significant when physical death takes place. This death is a temporary one, which is part of the point Jesus is getting across. The wicked (the unsaved, unbelievers) also will have a temporary physical death, but they will be raised to suffer eternal death in Hell. The redeemed will be raised to eternal life with Jesus in the glory He is preparing now for them. The more you understand and really believe this, it changes your whole perspective on life and death. You begin to long, not for death, but for the incredible glory that is coming. They say that death and taxes cannot be avoided. You must be ready for death. Jesus has made the only way to be ready. Through Him you will not die eternally, only temporarily. Even then you are with Him in Heaven until He restores your body. This changes the character of death so that you actually see it as not so bad; it may be unpleasant, but wonderfully transforming.

If only you had been there.

Notes on John

"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (John 11:32)

Every family will at some point experience a tragedy. We found that to be true. Sometimes when tragedy comes we think God has neglected us and abandoned us. "He could have saved me from this, but He abandoned me." We can read the story of what was going on when Lazarus died, and we can read ahead and see what Jesus was planning to do and why. We know that she didn't understand, that she was wrong. We read His telling the disciples that He had a purpose for delaying, and we read about the resurrection of her brother. She didn't know. It looked to her that He had let down her brother, sister, and herself. Her brother would die physically again after a few more years went by, but this time I imagine her perspective was different. Just because it appears that God neglected you and did not prevent a tragedy, does not mean that He has abandoned you. The fact is, exactly the opposite has happened. He is in it all and has a wonderful purpose for it. The outcome will be amazing and will bring glory to God and from Him glory to you.

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