Context No. 3250 of 4322 · 2 Maccabees

2 Maccabees 7:7-12: in context

7And when the first had died like this, they brought the second to the mocking; and they pulled off the skin of his head with the hair and asked him, “Will you eat, before your body is punished in every limb?” 8But he answered in the language of his ancestors and said to them, “No.” Therefore he also underwent the next torture in succession, as the first had done. 9When he was at the last gasp, he said, “You, miscreant, release us out of this present life, but the King of the world will raise us who have died for his laws up to an everlasting renewal of life.” 10After him, the third was made a victim of their mocking. When he was required, he quickly put out his tongue, and stretched out his hands courageously, 11and nobly said, “I got these from heaven. For his laws’ sake I treat these with contempt. From him, I hope to receive these back again.” 12As a result, the king himself and those who were with him were astonished at the young man’s soul, for he regarded the pains as nothing.

This is a scene of terrible torture: seven brothers put to death, one after another, for refusing to break God's law. And through the horror shines their hope. The second, at his last breath, says the King of the world will raise us up who have died for his laws, to an everlasting renewal of life. The third stretches out his hands and says he received his limbs from heaven and hopes to receive them back again.

What holds these brothers is not stoic endurance but confident hope. Each, facing death for refusing to abandon God's law, speaks of resurrection: they can give up their bodies because they trust God to raise them. This is one of the clear witnesses in the Old Testament to resurrection faith, faith that made even martyrdom bearable. What frees a person to face death without flinching is the confidence that God will raise the dead and restore all that was surrendered for his sake.

Is my hope in the resurrection real enough to hold me faithful when obedience is costly, trusting God to restore what I surrender to him?

Sources

2 Maccabees 7:9: "The King of the world will raise us up, who have died for his laws, up to an everlasting renewal of life."
2 Maccabees 7:11: "I got these from heaven... From him, I hope to receive these back again."
John 11:25: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies."