90. Raise Up at Last Day
John 6:39, 40 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jesus follows up the promise that He will not lose me; He goes on to promise that He will raise me up on the last day. This is the resurrection of the body unto life, the eternal life of God that never ends. We have in the soul eternal life now, and also have the guarantee that the body will be raised up at the End. The body is not yet resurrected, but we do have Jesus who is resurrected in His body. We who believe in Him are joined in unity with Him; thus we have His Life now and forever, and we know that the body will be resurrected just like the body of Jesus.
Jesus is the first Resurrection and we, by faith, have part in it. Those who share in the first resurrection (believe in Jesus) are blessed; the Second Death has no power over us now or ever; and during this time on earth we are priests of God and we reign with Him. The knowledge and assurance that we will be raised in the body at the Last Day strengthens and encourages us during this life: we share in Christ’s resurrection now and the One Who Was Raised will raise us up.
The comfort we have comes from knowing that the Father drew us and for this reason we come to Jesus; we cannot come to Jesus, or decide to believe in Him, by our own power or strength; God Himself calls us by the Gospel. He does the drawing and the “coming:” since I did come to Jesus by my own choice I can be certain that He who drew me to Him will keep me with Him; and He will raise up my body.