What Jesus said about
Death and eternal life
I am the resurrection and the life.
John 11:25
The short answer
Christians believe death is real and is not the end. Jesus died, and on the third day he rose.
His promise to a dying man beside him was simple and immediate: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
In the Gospels
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John 11:21–27
“I am the resurrection”
Before raising Lazarus, Jesus tells Martha that whoever believes in him will live, even though they die.
Read John 11:21–27
21 Therefore Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world.”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
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Luke 23:39–43
The thief on the cross
One of the men crucified with Jesus asks only to be remembered. Jesus promises him paradise that day.
Read Luke 23:39–43
39 One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
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John 14:1–3
A place prepared
The night before he dies, Jesus tells his friends he is going to prepare a place for them, and will come back for them.
Read John 14:1–3
1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
How Lutherans read this
Lutherans hold that eternal life begins in baptism and is God’s gift, not a reward. At the end of life, the church prays with the dying and commends them to God; those prayers are gathered on this site for families and caregivers.
A question to take with you
What does it change that the promise to the thief was “today”?
Further reading from the Lutheran tradition: 8 works in the library.