Sermons & Studies

On the first Maundy Thursday (Good Friday eve), Christ disciples were deeply troubled and disconsolate at their Master's impending departure from their midst and unto the fulfillment of his divine purpose. To allay their troubled hearts, Christ gave them assurance, comfort and promises which are recorded in the fourteenth chapter of the gospel of Saint John. In this meditation, we will consider one of the promises: "Because I live, you also will live." (John 14:19)

This promise contains two parts:

I. "I Live"

Christ statement that he is the "Living Lord" refers to his being the Lord of Life. He confirms and amplifies this statement in the vision of Saint John the Divine, when he says: "Do not be afraid, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I was dead, and see I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades."
(Revelation 1: 17-18)

A. He is the Living One.

Christ existed and lived before the creation of the world. As apart of the triune Godhead, Christ, unlike mortals, has no need for the worldly elements of life, such as sunlight, air, water and food. (Proverbs 8:22-26) The longest living man in history , Methuselah, lived for 969 years. As such he had a beginning and end to his life. The Lord in contrast has existed and continues to exist for eternity , having no beginning and no end. He is the mystery of life. "But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting king. ..." (Jeremiah 10: 10) As such we should kneel down and worship him, because he is the "Living One".

B. He was dead and he is alive.

The four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and contemporary witnesses bare witness to his death; his resurrection on the third day; and the empty tomb. Furthermore, he is living among us, speaking, protecting, caring, comforting and sustaining us. He lives in our hearts and gives us abundant peace and joy. Although skeptics have sought to disprove the biblical account of the resurrection, none has succeeded in doing so.

In 1899, two well-known Americans died. One, Robert G. Ingersoll, spent his entire adult life seeking to debunk Christianity .His death was marked by bitterness, frustration and failure. Upon his death his family mourned the tragedy and fruitlessness of his life. The other, Dwight L. Moody, the great evangelist, as he lay dying, had the great joy of seeing the door of heaven open and the Lord calling him. His whole family witnessed his passing with joy and praised the Lord, for death had been swallowed up in victory . (see I Corinthians 15:55-57).

On his eightieth birthday, Winston Churchill, in responding to the celebration of his birthday, gave witness to his Savior in his speech on television when he said: "Today, I am 80 years old, I have an everlasting Father, an eternal God, in Him I have eternal life. I will make a request to the Lord in eternity for a vacation of four million years to do oil painting (because he enjoyed oil painting)." His speech gave great joy to his audience, and he enjoyed a happy birthday.

There are many similar testimonies of others regarding our risen and living Lord and Savior.

II. You Also Will Live

The Lord lived, was dead, rose from the dead and lives forever. He has promised all believers that they will live and be with him in eternity (1 John 2:25) in his wonderful and mysterious life and salvation we are alive, and if we die, we will be physically resurrected at his second coming; thus we can proclaim victory over death. "0 Death, where are your plagues? 0 Sheol where is your destruction?" (Hosea 13: 14) When Christ was crucified his disciples were defeated, timid and disconsolate, but upon his resurrection, power from on high emboldened them and empowered them to become faithful and true witnesses to his saving grace to all the world. Today we are the products of these and other faithful servants of Christ and must go forth likewise to bear witness to his saving grace and the promise of eternal to a lost humanity.

Thank the Lord and praise the Lord, for his words and promises are so precious and rewarding. "I LIVE, YOu ALSO WILL LIVE." (Scripture texts are from New Revised Standard Version of the Bible)