JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

John 11:17-27 / Keywords 11:25

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;

 

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Footnotes

a. John 11:16 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.

b. John 11:18 Or about 3 kilometers

1. Four days after Lazarus was buried in the tomb, Jesus arrived in Bethany. Jesus found the people of Bethany full of sorrow and despair under the power of death. Martha believed that Jesus could have healed her brother if he had been there. She was disappointed at his late arrival. Though Jesus promised to bring him back to life, she interpreted it as the future resurrection on the last day. Her theological knowledge had no power to change her present life.

 

2. Jesus declared “I AM the resurrection and the life” at present as well as in the future. Where Jesus is, there is no death. Death has no power over him. Jesus is the Creator, the Author and Origin of life (Jn 1:3-4). Jesus came to give life to Lazarus who was dead in the tomb and to plant resurrection faith in Martha and Mary. Martha did not need to wait for the last day to experience the resurrection. Jesus wants us to have hope even in spite of death “right now” by having faith in him. He promises that anyone who believes in him will live, even though they die physically. Do you believe this?

 

3. Martha believed it and confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. Whoever believes in Christ experiences His resurrection power and will have the assurance of eternal life now.

 

Prayer Lord, you are the resurrection and the life. Help me live by faith in the resurrection today.

One Word Live by resurrection faith