John 8:48-53: a reflection

48Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?” 49Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges. 51Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ 53Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?”

In the face of hostility and insult, with his opponents accusing him of having a demon, Jesus makes a striking promise: Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death. Amid the contention, he holds out this promise: that keeping his word brings a life over which death has no final power, so that the one who keeps it will never see death, in the deepest sense. The word of Christ, kept, brings a life that death cannot end; those who hold to it pass through death into life that does not die.

Notice the promise: if a person keeps my word, he will never see death. His opponents misunderstood, pointing out that Abraham and the prophets had died; but Jesus spoke of a deeper death, the death that truly ends, from which keeping his word delivers. The one who keeps Christ's word has a life that death cannot finally touch; though the body die, such a one will never see the death that is the final end, but passes into life. Christ's word, kept, brings a life stronger than death, a life death cannot end. The promise is life beyond the reach of death for those who keep his word.

That promise is worth resting in, for it means that keeping Christ's word brings a life death cannot end. We fear death as the end; but Jesus promises that the one who keeps his word will never see death in its final sense, but has a life that passes through death into life. Keeping Christ's word brings a life stronger than death. Do not fear death as the final end if you keep Christ's word; he promises that you will never see death in its deepest sense, but have a life death cannot end. Rest in Christ's promise that keeping his word brings a life death cannot end, so that though you die, you will never see the death that is the final end, as he said, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death; for Christ's word, kept, brings a life stronger than death, and those who hold to it pass through death into life that does not die.

Lord Jesus, in the face of hostility and insult, with your opponents accusing you of having a demon, you make a striking promise: most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death. Amid the contention, you hold out this promise: that keeping your word brings a life over which death has no final power, so that the one who keeps it will never see death, in the deepest sense. Your word, kept, brings a life that death cannot end. Show me the promise: if a person keeps my word, he will never see death. Your opponents misunderstood, pointing out that Abraham and the prophets had died; but you spoke of a deeper death, from which keeping your word delivers. The one who keeps your word has a life that death cannot finally touch; though the body die, such a one will never see the death that is the final end, but passes into life. Your word, kept, brings a life stronger than death. Let me rest in that promise, for it means that keeping your word brings a life death cannot end. I fear death as the end; but you promise that the one who keeps your word will never see death in its final sense. Keep me from fearing death as the final end if I keep your word; you promise that I will never see death in its deepest sense, but have a life death cannot end. Help me keep your word and rest in your promise, Lord, that though I die, I will never see the death that is the final end.