The Chosen and Friends: God With UsNäide

The Last Word
From Jennie Allen

The first time I saw a dead body I was seven years old. It was my great-grandmother in an open casket. That night, on the drive home from her funeral, I quietly cried because I didn’t want anybody to hear me. We weren't close, so I didn't think I should be crying. But even as a kid, I knew something was wrong. I knew we weren’t supposed to be okay with death.

Death is the enemy.

And Jesus came to defeat it.

In John 11, when Lazarus died, Jesus didn’t stand back and preach a sermon about how “everything will be fine one day.” He stepped straight into the ache. When Mary ran to Him, broken and undone, Jesus looked at her and—get this—He cried, too.

Jesus isn’t distant from our pain. He’s not rolling His eyes at our tears, thinking we need to get perspective. He meets us in our pain. He cries with us. His compassion has no end.

But then—Jesus doesn’t just cry in John 11. He walked to Lazarus’s tomb, stood in front of Death itself, and shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man walked out.

Jesus hates death. He feels the weight of it with us. And then He shows us His power over it. His tears prove His compassion; His resurrection proves His authority.

So, if you’re facing death right now—the loss of someone you love or the fear of your own passing—know this: Jesus is with you.

He’s not rushing you past your grief; he’s sitting in it with you. And He’s also the only One who can say to Death, “You don’t win here.”

Death is real. But because of Jesus, it isn’t final. God has the last word. And His word brings life.

About The Author
Jennie Allen, Bible teacher, author, and the visionary behind IF:Gathering, leads a new chapter as the Founder & Visionary of Gather25, a 25-hour global prayer gathering. Driven by a deep love for God and an unyielding belief in the potential of this generation, Jennie's mission is to disciple a generation of Jesus followers to live what they believe. Find more at jennieallen.com