Dochogue’s Weblog

When first reading this passage , my first thoughts were that Jesus was being a little deceitful and was trying to get the noisy crowd out of the house and also trying to downplay what he was about to do so as not to make a huge public spectacle of the miracle of raising the little girl from the dead. But Jesus, who is the sinless Son of God, does not deceive or lie.  So I wonder if Jesus is giving  us a better and more accurate view of death by calling it sleep.  Jesus used this same language again when talking about the death of Lazarus in John 11:11,13-14,  

“Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep, ” “Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they (his disciples) thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead.'”   

Is Jesus just using an euphuism for death or is He implying that sleep is a better way to look at the physical death of the body?  In my subconscious, death usually conjures up feelings of finality, loss, fear, and the end despite my conscious belief that at death the spirit of the Christian is immediately in the presence of God  (1 Cor 5:8) and that our bodies will be resurrected at the second coming of Christ. 

If I think of physical death more like sleep, it definitely looses its finality.  Physical death is just a temporary length of time between life on this earth and when our bodies are awakened and arise at the last trumpet call of God to life forever and ever.  Wow!.  

 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”  1 Cor 15:51-53

Even for the unbeliever, death of the physical body is temporary. 

 “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” John 5:28-29. 

Sadly, those who have rejected Jesus as their Savior will enter the second death as mentioned in Revelations. 

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15

Viewing death as sleep gives me more of an eternal perspective. 

“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” I Cor 15:54-58

I know it has been some time since I have lasted blogged.  My brother Joe commented that my site should be called “the random blogger”.  I was very pleased that my fightin’ Tigers pulled out a  victory against Troy State scoring 30 points in the 4th quarter of the game, but at the same I was disappointed that we had gotten ourselves in such a hole at the beginning of the game.  It is amazing how a victory or loss can set the tone for the rest of my weekend.  I am reminded by what an older physician in Pontotoc, MS said concerning college football. “I have learned not to base my happiness on what an 19 year old might or might not do on a Saturday.” Very true…but I am still glad we won. GEAUX Tigers!

Last weekend, we went home for a visit. This was the first time home since Daddy’s funeral.  It was so good to see everyone.  Here are a few pictures from our visit.

Paul checking on the deer food plots

Cousins

Es & Granmere

Paul Jr & Granmere

Mere, Granmere, & Studdog

Jim up to something

Haybarn Field

Haybarn

Me trying to be artistic

Poem by Dad 

God by His Spirit takes us down to see,

  The deeper things He wants to show,

The truths that hidden, but existent be,

   That we, the Holy Trinity, may know.

For we possess the Holy Spirit within,

   Who teaches us to understand,

The mysteries of God to apprehend,

   That we become godly men.

To know and walk with God upon this earth,

   To serve Him in His kingdom here,

As those He birthed through the second birth,

   And wage a warfare that (is) void of fear.

And one day enter into heaven where,

   Christ Jesus rules as King,

And sits at His Father’s right hand there,

   Where saints and His angels sing.

At seventy seven, this is my steadfast hope.

                                John W. Hogue, Jr.

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