Resurrection Covenant Promise

"and she didn't act surprised."

JESUS SPOKE to Mary of Resurrection, and she didn’t act surprised. He was talking about what He was about to do, raise her brother, Lazarus, from the grave. But she replied of the future Resurrection of the dead (John 11:24). We don’t see this scene fully. Mary, a Jew, spoke to Jesus, Jew, about the Resurrection of Jews. This is before Jesus proclaims Himself “the Resurrection” (John 11:25) and before He died and was Resurrected. There is a picture, too, in Lazarus emerging from the tomb. He was bound in graveclothes (John 11:24). Jesus, after being Resurrected, was not (John 20:6-7). Lazarus would die again. Jesus is alive forever. That is the picture. But see that the Torah speaks of the Resurrection as theirs.

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2)

“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:” (Job 19:25)

We’ve wrongly pictured Jesus’ return. We have people left behind who are good people. All of the Jews, for one. But also others who will suffer and die because we think that is God’s work. We’ve hugged suffering like it’s our calling, and this is wrong. I’m not talking about sickness here. Jesus is Healer. Period. God NEVER makes anyone suffer with sickness to prove His point. Nor to test us so we’ll grow and see Him clearer. That is a serious misinterpretation of Scripture. James 1:13 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” Evil is the absence of God and not the Presence of God. They are like oil and water. Suffering is what Jesus came to relieve us of. Acts 10:38.

Yet, because there is sin on the earth, there is suffering. I like what the Jews say. “Hashem made us, so we can endure this.” “G_d, as Creator, made us. We are here to show people who He is.” They inspire me. In this, they have a more accurate picture of God than we preach of the Second Coming. Jesus is returning for the church. But she will be a spotless bride. This is the words of Ephesians 5:27: “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Church united, Gentiles with Jews. And not necessarily all the Jews converted to Christianity. Their covenant promises them redemption, salvation, and Resurrection. If Mary knew this, then why don’t we?

Illustration by karem adem on Unsplash


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com