Death is NOT the End – April 3, 2024

Read: Job 19:23-27

I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
Job 19:25-27

Death is NOT the End!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“I am scared of dying,” Rodney told his mother.

Have you said that or felt the same way? Most people do at some point. Death is scary. We don’t know when it will happen to us, or how. We just know it will happen. No one likes to talk about their death. It makes us uncomfortable. It can make us afraid of death.

The words of our Scripture reading were written by a man named Job. He had experienced the pain and the uncertainty of death in his life. Tragically, almost his entire family died on one day. His own health wasn’t great. Job knew at some point, he would die.

Yet, Job didn’t seem afraid. In fact, he seems really confident about something. He says, “After my skin has been destroyed (after he dies), yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another.” Job was sure that even with all the uncertainty about when he would die, he would see his loving God with his own eyes!

How could Job be so sure? Job knew and trusted in God’s promises of a Savior. He was certain a Savior was coming who would overcome death. Job was convinced the Savior would come and save him from his sin and his death. He was positive his Savior (Job calls him his “redeemer”) would live!

Because of that Savior, Job knew that while he would one day die, death would not the end. In fact, Job says that after he dies, he will see God with his own eyes! If Job sees his Savior, it must mean he’s alive!

The same Savior Job trusted in is the same Savior you and I know and trust in—Jesus! Job’s Savior and our Savior lives! We were able to proclaim it and sing it on Easter! Christ is risen. Jesus is alive. We know that our Redeemer, our Savior, lives! He has defeated and overcome death.

Which means death is not the end! With Job, we too can be certain we will see Jesus. Even though we know one day we will die, we can be as confident as Job that Jesus will take us to be with him forever! We will be alive! Then you will see him—with your own eyes!

Closing Prayer:

I know that my Redeemer lives!
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives who once was dead;
he lives, my ever-living head.

He lives to silence all my fears;
he lives to wipe away my tears,
he lives to calm my troubled heart,
he lives all blessings to impart. Amen.
(Christian Worship 441:1,5)

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Are you excited to see God? Why?
• Job was sure he was going to see his Savior when he died. What is one thing you know for sure about what Jesus has done for you?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why don’t you need to be scared of death?
• How did the promise of a Savior help Job when things in his life were really hard?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Job uses the word “redeemer” in verse 25. That is one of the titles for Jesus. What aspect of our Savior’s work does the word “redeemer” describe?
• How does Jesus’ resurrection help you when you are afraid of dying?