Lenten Devotion: Hope in the Face of Death (John 11:17-27)
Day 28 – 5 Apr 2025
Over the long weekend, my family and I went to Changi Beach for a picnic in remembrance of my late father. As I stood by the shore, my eyes fixed on the distant green buoy—the place where we laid his ashes into the sea—I felt the weight of his absence and the reality of his death.
What are the emotions or memories that surfaced when I was processing the reality of his death?
I felt a sense of loss, grief, separation, and closure. Death often reminds me of the fragility of life, how quickly time passes, and how everything we build on earth is ultimately temporary.
But from a faith perspective, death is not the end but a transition. Jesus’ words, “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25) offer a powerful reminder that for those who believe in him, death is not something to be feared. It is a doorway into eternity with God, where sorrow and pain no longer exist (Revelation 21:4). Instead of finality, death becomes the beginning of something far greater—eternal life.
So, even as a Christian and when I hear the word death, I think of both the reality of loss and the hope of resurrection. It is a reminder to cherish life with the people around you, live with purpose, and place my trust in the One who has conquered death.
Jesus spoke these words to Martha after the death of her brother Lazarus. When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Martha expressed faith that Jesus could have prevented Lazarus from dying, but she seemed uncertain about what he could do now. In response, Jesus made this powerful declaration:
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe in this?” John 11:25-26
May this truth remind us about the hope we have and encourage us to place our hope on him alone!
Paul Chua🙏✝️