Turning the page…
Turning the page…
Glory · Grief & Loss
See. Job staked his hope on eyes: in my flesh shall I see God, whom I, even I, shall see. Jesus told Martha the resurrection is not merely an event at the end but a Person standing in front of her. And the dead rise first, bodily, imperishable, so that we are caught up together with them. Reunion in Christ is personal, physical, and promised.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/will-i-see-them-again · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
Job 19:23-27
As you read: What Job knows while sitting in ashes, and how many times he insists on seeing for himself.
23“Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24That with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
25But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.
26After my skin is destroyed, then in my flesh shall I see God,
27Whom I, even I, shall see on my side. My eyes shall see, and not as a stranger. “My heart is consumed within me.
John 11:17-27
As you read: What Martha believes about the last day, and what Jesus says He is before He proves it.
17So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already.
18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away.
19Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
20Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house.
21Therefore Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.
22Even now I know that, whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”
23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.
26Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world.”
1 Corinthians 15:42-58
As you read: Paul's seed image for burial and raising, the change that is required, and death's defeat cry.
42So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable.
43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.
45So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46However that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual.
47The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
48As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly.
50Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable.
51Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
53For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55“Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?”
56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
From the ash heap Job makes the most audacious claim in the Old Testament: 'I know that my Redeemer lives... After my skin is destroyed, then in my flesh shall I see God, Whom I, even I, shall see on my side. My eyes shall see, and not as a stranger.' He piles up sight on purpose: I shall see, my eyes shall see, not as a stranger sees. Scripture's hope is not knowing your loved one is fine somewhere; it is face to face.
“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth. After my skin is destroyed, then in my flesh shall I see God, Whom I, even I, shall see on my side. My eyes shall see, and not as a stranger. “My heart is consumed within me.”Job 19:25-27
Martha recites correct theology: she knows Lazarus 'will rise again in the resurrection at the last day'. Jesus moves her hope from a doctrine to Himself: 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.' Reunion is guaranteed not by a mechanism but by Someone who keeps His own.
“Therefore Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Even now I know that, whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world.””John 11:21-27
Paul answers how with a mystery: 'we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet', for 'this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.' Transformation, not replacement: the same mortal person made immortal, which is why recognition is expected rather than feared.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.”1 Corinthians 15:51-53
Paul's comfort builds to one word: 'then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds... So we will be with the Lord forever.' Together with them: the ones we buried, whom God brings back with Jesus. Only then does the command follow, comfort one another with these words.
“then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.”1 Thessalonians 4:17
“Therefore comfort one another with these words.”1 Thessalonians 4:18