Jesus said to the Jews:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever keeps my word will never see death.”
So the Jews said to him,
“Now we are sure that you are possessed.
Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say,
‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?
Or the prophets, who died?
Who do you make yourself out to be?”
Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing;
but it is my Father who glorifies me,
of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’
You do not know him, but I know him.
And if I should say that I do not know him,
I would be like you a liar.
But I do know him and I keep his word.
Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day;
he saw it and was glad.”
So the Jews said to him,
“You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
before Abraham came to be, I AM.”
So they picked up stones to throw at him;
but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
Lectio (Reading)
Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.Meditatio (Reflecting)
Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.
Oratio (Responding)
Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.Death is one of those words that has completely lost its meaning in the modern world. Today death is viewed as entertainment in movies, it is used as a relief from chronic pain, and it is even considered a convenience with regard to the unborn. But none of that is what the jews thought it to be, or what Jesus teaches it to be.
In God’s divine will, death was not part of His plan for us, Bodily death was a mercy that He gave to us sinners after the fall of Adam and Eve. There were two special trees in the garden. We all know about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but many never notice that there was also the tree of life. The tree of life gave eternal life to any that ate of its fruit. They were allowed to eat of the tree of life but were forbidden from eating of the tree of knowledge.
When they sinned and ate of the tree of knowledge, the whole dynamic and plan for mankind had to change. In His wisdom God knew that we could not live in the garden for all eternity with the tree of life, while at the same time living with ongoing attachment to sin. That would be a hell worse than death. And so He gave us bodily death in order to give us time to contemplate our lives and our relationship with Him, and to reconcile our sinful nature with Him.
This is what we call bodily death, but there is also spiritual death. Spiritual death is the hell and torment of eternal separation from God. This death happens if you die in a state of hatred and separation from God. Once the judgement of your soul is confirmed by God, and you will be cast out of heaven. This is the death that the devil and his fellow demons currently finds themselves in. It is a hell of their own making, and one that they chose for themselves, rather than be with God.
Lord despite my sin, and despite my weakness, I fear this death, and I long to be with you in eternity. Help me to have the knowledge and wisdom to do right, and resist evil, so the I can have the true desire of my soul, You! As Paul wrote: “One thing I ask for, for this I seek, to dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life.” I want this! But I would settle for being the servant that washes your feet. Help me Lord to find my way to you, and to seek you above all things, in this life, and the next.
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.Resolutio (Resolving)
Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.Lord Jesus. I want the happiness of eternal relationship with you. And Friendship with you, in whatever form that takes. Please give me the grace to be worthy of that request, Amen.