17 – Hope After Death

Many times we watch as smoke rises into the sky. We see the guests at the funeral
turn towards the cars and motorcycles on their way back home. Life will go on,
but never as it was before. It might be a beloved grandmother who died after a
full life. It might be a teenager struck down before his future unfolded.
Regardless of who it was, the smoke that rises cast a cloud of grief and sadness,
leaving a gaping hole where someone precious once was. Today many wonder if
there is any hope for people after the grave. Let’s explore together what
happened after Jesus’ death and see what wisdom this story unveils. See if you
can find that it’s true, “There is hope after death.”

The Grief at Jesus’ Death

The horror of Friday’s events hung over the city. As Saturday morning dawned,
Jesus’ disciples mourned deeply, hiding behind barred doors. They were terribly
confused as to why their Master had been crucified. Jesus’ words had been so
powerful, His miracles so amazing. So many people had been extremely confident
that Jesus was the Savior and the new king of Israel. Now their hopes and dreams
were dashed. The disciples wondered if the jealous religious leaders would come
for them next. What would tomorrow bring?

Thousands of pilgrims had come to Jerusalem on the weekend that Jesus died. It
was their feast of Passover, in which the people of Israel celebrated their country’s
history and their freedom from slavery. Many had come hoping to listen to the
great Teacher. Others carried the lame and led the blind, asking, “Where is the
Healer? We have traveled so far. Where can we find Him?” Grief and anger filled
them as they learned He had been murdered.

The religious leaders had not slept well. Over and over in their minds they saw
Jesus’ face radiating purity while they tried to condemn Him to death. They could
still feel His compassion for the soldiers and even for them as the nails had pierced
His hands. They had thought that once Jesus was destroyed they would relish the
satisfaction of victory. Instead shame and a dark fear hung over them like the
blackness of the previous day.

Jesus’ words echoed over and over in their minds, “After three days I will rise.”
What could He have meant? Was it really possible for someone to come back to
life after dying? Was Jesus really dead? Yes. There was no doubt of that. A
soldier had thrust a sword into Jesus’ side to make sure.
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 Still the religious leaders could not rest. It was Sabbath, the day on which they
were to lead the people in worship. Instead they went to the Roman governor and
said, “Sir, we remember while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After
three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the
third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the
people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the
first.”

Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know
how” (Matthew 27:63-65). The tomb was sealed with the governor’s official seal
and a large group of soldiers stood guarding the tomb. Still the religious leaders
wondered what the next day would bring.

Jesus Came Out of the Tomb

All day Saturday and all night long the soldiers kept a careful watch. Just as the
sun was about to rise on Sunday morning, a great earthquake shook the ground.
The Bible says that light pierced the sky as an angel came down and rolled the
stone away from the tomb. The guards scattered and fell like dead men, terrified
by what they’d seen. Jesus walked out of the grave, shining with the glory of new
life. He had truly risen from the dead, just like He’d promised.

While this was happening, some ladies who greatly respected Jesus were walking
to the tomb. In their grief they wanted to do something, so they carried spices to
put on His body. They wondered who would roll the huge stone away so they could
get inside. The Bible says that when they arrived, “They found the stone rolled
away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord
Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that
gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down
with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the
living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember what He said’ ”
(Luke 24:2-6a).

The ladies ran from the tomb, thrilled to tell this most amazing news to the
discouraged and frightened disciples. At the same time the soldiers were running
into the city to tell what had just happened. The first to hear were the religious
leaders. Imagine their terror as they realized they truly had been fighting against
the Son of God. Yet they still did not turn from their scheming, hateful ways. They
bribed the soldiers saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him

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 away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease
him and make you secure’ ” (Matthew 28:13-14).

It was a ridiculous lie. How would a whole band of soldiers dare sleep through
their guard? How would they know who had stolen the body if they were asleep?
Yet in their fear and greed the soldiers sold the wonderful truth of Jesus’
resurrection for a bit of money.

Meanwhile the disciples were trying to calm the ladies who had said Jesus was no
longer dead. The men couldn’t believe it. The ladies kept claiming that it was
true. Finally, Peter and John both ran to the tomb and found it was truly empty.
Still they hardly dared to think that their wise and kind Master could be alive
again. Could there really be hope after death?

Jesus Appeared Before the Disciples

Back in the room, the disciples barred the doors again. A loud knocking startled
them. No one inside answered. The two men knocking called out their names.
The disciples recognized them as followers of Jesus and let them in. Eagerly the
two men told how Jesus had appeared to them while they were walking to their
home over ten kilometers from Jerusalem. They had not recognized Him at first,
but had dejectedly talked about their sorrow at their Master’s death. The Stranger
walking with them carefully explained all the ancient prophecies that had
predicted the Savior must be mistreated, die, and rise again. Still they had not
recognized that this man was Jesus. Only when they sat down with Him to eat
bread did they suddenly realize who it was. He then had immediately disappeared.

Still the other disciples questioned. Could it be true? Jesus had done great things.
But could He have power over death? The Bible says, “Now as they said these
things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you.’
But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And
He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?
Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit
does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.’ When He had said this, He
showed them His hands and His feet” (Luke 24:36-40).

What a mixture of fear, doubt, and excitement passed through the disciples! Was it
really Him? It was! He talked with them and ate with them, and their hopes were
completely revived. Jesus reminded them of the prophecies, and said “Thus it was
necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that

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 repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:46-48).

One of Jesus’ close disciples named Thomas was not there. The disciples eagerly
told him that Jesus was alive, but he said, “Unless I see in His hands the print of
the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His
side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). For eight long days Thomas struggled with
questions and doubts.

While Thomas sat with the other disciples behind barred doors, Jesus suddenly
appeared to them. The Bible says, His resurrected body, though recognizable, was
different from a normal human body. He could come and go similar to an angel.
Jesus said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach
your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:27-29). How
gentle Jesus was with Thomas’ unbelief. The testimony of those who had seen
Jesus should have been enough for him. But Jesus invited Thomas to touch and
experience His reality firsthand. Thomas must have been ashamed of his doubts,
yet so very thankful to see Jesus alive.

Jesus’ words come down to us today, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have believed.” In what way are people blessed when they believe this story of
Jesus? What hope does the resurrection of Jesus bring to us who face the grim
reality of suffering and death?

Hope for the Brokenhearted

There was a young girl in high school named Julie. A popular and pretty girl, she
was also very athletic, winning foot races in school track meets. She and her
mother Wanda were best friends. Outside of school they went everywhere
together, shopping, working, and playing. Often they talked late into the night
about the important things in life. Julie was sure that nobody had a mother as
special as hers.

Then tragedy hit. Julie’s mother began to experience serious pains in her stomach.
An examination was made and tests were run. To the family’s great shock the
doctor reported that she had stomach cancer. The disease ravaged her body and
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 she quickly became weaker and weaker. They were Christians and began to plead
with God to heal Wanda. The entire church community began to pray. Would the
living God heal her?

Wanda became too weak to walk, too weak even to talk. Julie stayed at her
mother’s bedside in the hospital every minute possible. Her faith was strong. She
was sure God would answer her prayer. Meanwhile her mother wrote letters of
love to her children and relatives. In particular she wrote to those who were not
following God. She urged them to turn to God and surrender to His ways. She
told them she wanted them to be in heaven someday with her.

Finally, on the saddest day of Julie’s life, her mother died. The tears flowed and
flowed and wouldn’t stop. Hundreds attended the funeral. The preacher
encouraged the listeners by talking about Jesus’ power over death. He quoted the
Bible text that says, “Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits
of those who have fallen asleep….For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall
be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:20, 22). He spoke of a place called heaven
where there is no more suffering, sickness, or death.

But Julie could not hear the preacher’s words. Her grief was too great and the
tears would not stop. “I don’t want to live without my mother,” she sobbed. Days
crept by. “There is no point to living,” she mused darkly. “Mommy was my best
friend. What do I have now?” Thoughts of suicide crept into her mind.

The truths her mother had taught her kept coming back to her. She remembered
her saying, “God is always near to comfort us. Look to Him and He will help you.”
Friends and family held Julie close. People were praying that God would sustain
her. Slowly, light broke through her darkness.

Jesus had promised, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me
will live, even though he dies.” Those words rang through her mind. She knew
that Jesus had promised to one day come again and raise those who have died
believing in Jesus’ power over death. She determined that she would be ready to
join her mother in heaven by continuing to believe in Jesus.

Julie pressed on through college, got married, and went as a missionary. She
would tell many others the good news of God’s compassionate love, and that for
those who trust in the living God, “There is hope after death.”

Power to Raise the Dead

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The disciples also gained courage from Jesus’ resurrection. Once the disciples saw
that Jesus had power over death, they were not afraid to die anymore. Soon they
would go back among the very leaders who plotted Jesus’ death and tell them that
God could forgive even their sins and give them the hope of eternal life. Soon the
disciples would be persecuted, thrown in jail and threatened with death because
they were preaching that Jesus was the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
These were men who had been so afraid that they wouldn’t even stand by Jesus in
His hour of deepest pain. What had changed them? They had seen that the One
who had conquered death could help them too, even if they died.

The disciples had seen Jesus raise at least three people from the dead during the
three years of His ministry. Once while Jesus was teaching, a religious ruler
named Jairus interrupted Jesus, begging Him, “My daughter lies at the point of
death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live”
(Mark 5:23b). Jesus immediately got up to go with him.

The crowd was thick. People pressed in trying to be close to Jesus. Slowly Jesus
inched towards Jairus’ house. Someone came from the ruler’s house and said,
“Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” (Mark 5:35b).
Grief struck Jairus’ heart like a mighty blow. His precious twelve-year-old girl was
dead. If only Jesus had been able to get there sooner!

But the Bible says, “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to
the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe’” (Mark 5:36). Jairus
didn’t know what to think. What kind of person could face death and say, “Don’t
be afraid”?

As Jesus entered the ruler’s house He told the people who were wailing and
weeping, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but
sleeping” (Mark 5:39b). He then went inside the room where the girl was laying,
taking only the father, mother, and three of His disciples with Him.

The Bible says, “Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, ‘Talitha cumi,’
which is translated, ‘Little girl, I say to you arise.’ Immediately the girl arose and
walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great
amazement. But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said
that something should be given her to eat” (Mark 5:41-43). Surely they found it is
true, “There is hope after death.”

No wonder Jesus could say “Don’t be afraid” in the face of death. According to the
Bible, death was just like a sleep from which He could wake the little girl. The
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 parents and disciples were amazed. As we hear the story we are amazed, perhaps
a bit doubting like Thomas. But why should we be amazed? We know God created
the heavens and the earth, the towering trees and the tiny birds. We know that He
formed the first man and woman and gave them life. As surely as every house has
a builder, so surely our world does too.

If God can make all this, then He also has power to raise the dead to life. That is
exactly what Jesus promised His followers. “I am the resurrection and the life. He
who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).

Jesus also said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, 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….Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the
graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the
resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of
condemnation” (John 5:25-26, 28-29).

The little girl, along with her parents experienced the reality of Jesus’ resurrection
power. The disciples saw Jesus Himself alive from the dead. This hope helped
Julie escape the temptation of suicide. Many others have also faced death with
courage and comfort through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Reasons to Believe

But not all have believed. Some have doubted like Thomas. A man named Lee was
a journalist for the famous newspaper, Chicago Tribune. He did not believe that
Jesus was the Son of God or had risen from the dead. He assumed that Jesus was
a historical figure, but only a good teacher. He set out to research the evidence so
he could prove that Christians are wrong. As Lee looked at history and ancient
documents he became more and more convinced that the story of Jesus’ death and
resurrection was actually true. Instead of writing to criticize Christians, Lee wrote
an entire book to show the many reasons that led him to believe Jesus’ story is
accurate. Here are some of the things he wrote about:
 Jesus did not faint on the cross and then regain consciousness in the
tomb, appearing to have come back to life. The soldiers and governor
Pilate made sure that Jesus was dead. A spear was thrust into His
side.

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  The disciples didn’t steal Jesus’ body and claim He was alive. The
tomb was guarded carefully by many soldiers. The disciples were
hiding in fear.
 Nobody made up this story. Hundreds of people saw Jesus after He
rose from the dead. Many of them later suffered much persecution
and even died for this truth, confident that Jesus would one day
resurrect them too.
 No temple or church can be found today that is built around any body
part of Jesus. His followers are confident He is not with the dead, but
is alive and able to help them today.

Journalist Lee was so convinced by what he researched, and by the transformed

lives he saw in the followers of Jesus, that he also decided to follow God. He came
to believe that his sins had helped kill Jesus. He confessed his sins and asked God
to forgive him. He found lasting peace and was not afraid of death.

He found out that “There is hope after death.” How can we experience this
same hope and peace?

A Bridge Across the Chasm

Life is like two land masses separated by an impassably deep canyon. From this
side we can hear about the peace and beauty of heaven. We hope and long for a
place with no more suffering, sickness, or death. We hear of a place where the
eternal Father of Life dwells in perfect holiness and beauty. Our home on earth
seems so dark and dismal in comparison.

So we try to find a way to reach that beautiful land. Through doing good deeds
and performing ceremonies we hope to build a bridge across the chasm. The
beginnings of our bridge can feel so secure when we have just done something
good. Then, in almost the next moment, we can be staring over the edge of our
crumbling work, horrified at the ugliness of our thoughts, motives, and actions.
When we stop to think, we are aware that we are still so far from being fit to dwell
with God in a place of perfect peace.

In the moment when we feel that there is no hope for us, we see further along the
canyon a magnificent bridge that has been built. It stretches from our failing and
instable world to God’s eternal kingdom. This bridge was built by Jesus Christ
through His death and resurrection.
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 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through Me” (John 14:6). Through His death on the cross, and with the
power of His resurrection, Jesus has made the way for our sins to be forgiven and
our hearts to be filled with kindness instead of selfishness. He has found a way to
give us the amazing gift of eternal life.

A Step Forward

All of God’s promises are for us. Here is a beautiful promise from the Bible into
which you can place your own name. “If you __________ (your name) confess with
your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from
the dead, you __________ (your name) will be saved. For with the heart one believes
unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the
Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is
no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who
call upon Him. For ‘whoever (including you) __________ calls on the name of the
Lord shall be saved’ ” (Romans 10:9-13).

Meditation Moment

These great truths have great meaning for our lives. Take a few minutes to think
about what we’ve discovered.

 “There is hope after death.”

 Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he
may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).

 “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
Me” (John 14:6).

 “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame….whoever calls on the name
of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:11, 13).

The Choice Regarding Hope is Yours

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 God’s word has showed us that the resurrection of Jesus truly happened. Why not
choose right now to believe the testimony of those who saw with their own eyes
that Jesus was alive from the dead. Then you will receive what Jesus promised,
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.”

Take Action: Check the things below that you want to choose today:

_____ I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive to help me today.

_____ I ask God for forgiveness and I choose to receive a new heart from Him.

_____ I will tell others about this wonderful truth that there is hope after death.

Pray this prayer if it is your desire today:

Prayer Power

“Father of Life, thank You for Your amazing patience with me. Thank You that
Jesus rose from the dead and has power over death. I want a new life filled with
Your goodness, holiness, and strength. I confess that I have tried to make it to
heaven through my own ways. I have sometimes doubted Your mercy and refused
Your help. But now I know that Jesus has died for my sins and is alive to help me
today. Please forgive me. Please change my heart and make it clean. Please give
me eternal life. Thank You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

If you prayed this with true sincerity, you can know that you are pardoned and that
God has given you a new heart. Eternal life and peace are His gifts to you today.

Be glad, for it is true, “There is hope after death.”

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