you are invincible


When I heard my pastor mention the other Sunday, that John was the last of the disciples to die, and was the only one to die naturally, I of course, thought of the back story.  John lived out his last years on the island of Patmos, sent there by the Roman government because they could not kill him.  They tried several ways including placing him in huge vat of boiling oil, but God had plans for him.  It was John that was going to write the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.  He could not die.  He had work yet to do. 
 
   At our church we are currently walking through the Book of John, and I thought it might be a good time to provide some additional encouragement to the body.  Not that our pastor isn’t already the most encouraging person on earth, but this is too good to miss.  In John chapter 11 we read the account of the raising of Lazarus and often overlooked in this event (probably because there is so much other good stuff there) is verse 8  His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? That brings up an interesting concept in Scripture, one you don’t usually see in the table of contents of the standard systematic theology text book. It is the idea of invincibility.  Jesus was not concerned about dying at the hands of the Jews that day, or at anyone else’s hands, or on that or any other day.  Not only was He not concerned about His life, He was apparently not concerned about the lives of the disciples with Him either as He was willing to drag them along, and that is confirmed in the comments made by Thomas as recorded in verse 16 … let us also go, that we may die with him.  Jesus was apparently OK with that. It was not that he didn’t care about His friends, but He already knew no harm would come to them that day.
  
 We have seen Him “slip though the hands of the Leaders” on many occasions.  While this is something of a supernatural event, because He lives in a higher dimension than we do, He can come and go as needed. He can pass through locked doors or send an angel to pass through prison walls to unlock chains and gates for His people.  Jesus can step into a boat and Shazam! it will suddenly appear on the other side of the lake with all the disciples in it.  Phillip can be taken into the desert to meet a eunuch and be transported back in the blink of an eye.  Pillars of Fire and clouds, giant targeted hailstones, walls collapsing, the sea parting, bushes burning without  being consumed, the sun stopping; the Bible is rife with all manner of supernatural and very cool events, but this idea of being indestructible is different.
  
 Jesus was, in effect, telling the disciples that nothing could or would happen to Him, or them, while they were walking in the light. In other words, walking with God and being used for His service they need not fear death.  Indeed, that was exactly the case with John.  He could not be killed no matter what the Romans did, because he had not yet completed what God had for him to do.  Death, or more accurately, sleep, as one never really dies only moves to a new ‘hood, is not an available option to one to whom God’s given ministry is not complete.  Think of Noah and the family, the children in the fire, Daniel in the lion’s den, Paul died and was resurrected, Jonah in the belly of the great fish – resurrected also, certainly Lazarus in chapter 11, and John himself. These and many others known and unknown, found themselves in this spot.  They were unable to die until their work was done.  
   
 To be sure there were others, far more by head count, whose ministry was to die. It was their death that would bring the lesson, or set the event in motion to glorify God. But there are a few whose job, something God wants them to do, cannot be completed if they die.  This is good news in two ways, the first is that we, as followers of Christ, can be certain that neither Satan, nor accident, nor the messenger themselves, can prevent the ministry or mission from being completed. Secondly, if we have been given a message or job from God to share or do, no harm can come to the messenger until that message is fully shared at the time and place, and to the people it was intended.  
   
 Wow... God is sovereign!  Imagine that.  His power is complete, even over death.  It is worth noting that He did not prevent the Romans from boiling John in oil, or the Greeks from stoning Paul to death, or the children from being tossed in the fire, or Jonah from discovering what a giant fish looks like from within.  God does not usually directly intervene in the affairs or actions of those who do not know Him, but He will protect His message and provide for His messengers, and that should bring us all comfort. 

   CB 
  
 3.7.2014