"Truly, truly, Isay to you, the one who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life; and is not coming into Judgment, but has (already)1 passed over from Death to Life." - John 5:24

Jesus is telling us in John 5:24 what he wants us to know and believe about Eternal Life. For that is why he came, to give all who believe in him life abundantly. This short verse from John 5 also comforts us whenever we are confronted by the hard reality of death. For no matter how we try to soften it, death for us is still a horrible monster, an overwhelming catastrophe.

Death is never pleasant to contemplate. Yet the Scriptures themselves never ignore this great tyrant. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul calls Death our last great enemy, along with Sin and the Law’s condemnation. The only reason …