INTRODUCTION
Many years ago, when Jonathan was just a little boy, he acquired a very special key. He bought this key at the gift shop at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was told that this was the key to the lock on the massive front door of Independence Hall. He only paid five dollars for the key, so he was sure it wasn’t the original. But Jonathan’s inquisitive mind was curious to discover whether it was indeed an exact replica of the original. So, when no one was looking, Jonathan and his daddy tiptoed over to the massive front door of Independence Hall, put the key into the old metal lock, and turned it. To their amazement, it worked! This key locked and unlocked the massive front door of Independence Hall. Well, you can only imagine how important Jonathan felt at that moment. He was holding the key to Independence Hall right there in his hand.1
The Bible talks about some keys that Jesus holds in His hand that are much more important than the key to Independence Hall. We are going to learn about the keys that Jesus holds in His hand as we consider together what Jesus taught about death.
I. A STRANGE FABLE ABOUT THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS
I’d like us to begin with a strange fable Jesus told. It’s a fable about two men, a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. This story is only recorded by Dr. Luke. (Read Luke 16:19–31.) During the time of Jesus, the Jews recounted numerous fables and legends about imaginary situations. Many scholars suggest that this story was a modification of one of those popular fables. But why did Jesus tell this strange parable? Was His intention to teach doctrine, to tell the truth about death, or to make some other point using a popular fable of His day? Well, let’s look at the story more closely. There are three main characters in the story: a rich man, a poor beggar named Lazarus, and Abraham. There is no evidence from the story that the rich man was an unrighteous or ungodly man. We are simply told that he was rich and lived in luxury. There is also no evidence in the story that the beggar Lazarus was a godly man, a man who placed his faith in God. But the story goes on to tell us that both men died. The beggar was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom, which was a popular concept among the Jews. The rich man ended up in Hades, a Greek word which simply means “the grave.” Hades is the equivalent of the Hebrew word Sheol. Here we meet our first problem with taking this story as a literal description of what happens when we die: nowhere in the Old or the New Testament is Sheol or Hades described as a place of torment. But this story describes Hades as a place of torment.
What’s even more troubling if we read this fable as a literal description of what happens when we die is the fact that the place of the saved, Abraham’s bosom, and the place of the lost, Hades, are so close to each other that it’s possible to see what’s happening from one place to the other. It’s even possible to talk to people across the gulf. Does that sound like heaven to you? A place where you could hear the screams of tormented loved ones forever and ever?
I believe that it is a mistake to base any doctrine on this or any other fable. Would it really bring any relief if Lazarus dipped his finger in water, reached across the gulf, and cooled the tongue of this rich man who is in fiery torment? The whole story just doesn’t make sense if it’s a literal description of what happens when we die. So what is the point that Jesus is trying to make? I believe that the answer is found in Luke 16:26. (Read Luke 16:26.)
Once death comes, we have no more opportunity to change. The rich man missed the opportunity to make wise choices before his life came to an end. Once life comes to an end, there is nothing that can be done to make any changes. That’s a lesson that we can learn from the fable of the rich man and Lazarus.
II. A TRUE STORY ABOUT ANOTHER MAN NAMED LAZARUS
Where else in the Gospels do we find what Jesus taught about death? I want to draw your attention to another story, also about a man named Lazarus, but this story is true. It’s recorded in John 11. (Read John 11:1–6.)
While they are on their way to Bethany, Jesus shares some important teachings about death. (Read John 11:11.) Did the disciples understand what Jesus was saying? No. Listen to their reaction. (Read John 11:12–14.)
Jesus spoke of death as a sleep and He also taught about a resurrection from the dead at the last day. (Read John 5:28–29.) Listen to Martha’s testimony. (Read John 11:23–24.) What Martha failed to comprehend was the fact that Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—Jesus, who is the Resurrection and the Life—can also bring about a special resurrection prior to the resurrection at the last day. Jesus can also wake up those who are in the sleep of death. Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25, NKJV). (Read John 11:38–43.)
Notice that after his special resurrection from the sleep of death, Lazarus doesn’t say anything about his experience during the previous four days. Why? Because he wasn’t up somewhere or down somewhere. He was in that rock tomb. That’s why Jesus said, “Lazarus, come forth!” Jesus was waking Lazarus up from the sleep of death.
“Ah,” you say, “if Lazarus was in the sleep of death, how did he hear Jesus call him?” Lazarus heard Jesus call him in the same way that all who are in the graves will hear the voice of Jesus at the resurrection on the last day. The word of Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, is so powerful that in the milliseconds it takes for the sound to leave His mouth and travel to the place where Lazarus lies in the sleep of death, a miracle of recreation occurs. Remember, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Martha told Jesus that her brother’s body was already decomposing. But the word of Jesus is so powerful, the word of Jesus is so full of life, that a miracle of recreation occurred as soon as He spoke, and by the time those words reached the ears of Lazarus, the resurrection had already taken place. Lazarus heard the words of His Savior, and just as he had obeyed Jesus during his life, so now Lazarus continued to obey Jesus, and he came forth from the tomb. Jesus, the Life Giver, woke Lazarus up from the sleep of death.
(Share the story of a loved one who now sleeps in Jesus, and your longing for the great resurrection day when Jesus returns in glory.)
The precious truth that Jesus taught about death is this: death is a sleep, but Jesus holds the keys of the grave and of death! (Read Rev 1:17–18.) A joyful resurrection day is coming when Jesus returns in glory. Listen to the inspired testimony of the apostle Paul, given to him by special revelation from Jesus. (Read 1 Thess 4:13–18.)
CONCLUSION
You do not need to fear death anymore. You do not need to fear the grave anymore. You believe in Jesus. You have received Jesus and He has the keys. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Even if you fall asleep in death before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ returns in glory, you won’t stay sleeping forever. You won’t be locked up in the tomb forever. Jesus has the keys.
Are you thankful today for the precious truth Jesus taught about death? Do you want to rest your life and your eternal destiny in the loving hands of Jesus? If so, I invite you to stand with me as we pray.
1 Replace this opening illustration with one of your own if you have a story about a special key.
Derek J. Morris, DMin, is the former president of Hope Channel International, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, USA.
