“Do you think you are better than Abraham?” That is quite a question, and it comes with plenty of baggage. After all, Jesus claims that whoever accepts his message will not taste death. On face value that is an extraordinary claim. Is Jesus meaning to say that neither Abraham nor any of the prophets that came after him would be dead if they had been born during Jesus’ life, provided they believe his message? Clearly this is not Jesus’ intent.
But given the application of “death” to mean the final death from which there is no return, it would certainly be clear to Jesus that he is greater than those giants of Jewish history, and that they would certainly not taste death, as in non-reversible death. Jesus makes mention of this dichotomy in his conversation with Lazurus’ sister Martha in chapter 11 of the Gospel of John. In one breath (verse 25) he says Lazarus will live even if he is dead. Then later in the same verse he says that whoever believes in him will never die. But Lazarus is dead, so he could be referring to the death he had already experienced, rather a future death of final judgment.
I can live in a state of grace and confidence even though life will someday cease to be a reality for me. I can face the worst life can give me with the assurance that I will not die. I will sleep until I am made new. Death is not to be feared—Jesus has defeated death through his resurrection. I share in that victory. No fear.
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