Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
John 11:25-27
The home of Mary and Martha was a sanctuary for the Lord Jesus, a place where He knew He was always welcome. When their brother, Lazarus, fell ill his sisters immediately sent word to Jesus to let Him know His dear friend needed His help. But Jesus waited two more days, allowing Lazarus to die before He went (John 11:14).
Why did Jesus wait? Didn’t He care? His tears at the tomb of Lazarus (vv. 35-36) show that He cared deeply, but there was a lesson about death and His power over death that Jesus wanted to teach.
Upon His arrival at the home of Mary and Martha, the distraught women lament the fact that He had not been there to heal Lazarus, but Jesus assures them their brother will rise again. Martha assumes He is speaking of the resurrection at the end of the age, but Jesus boldly asserts that He Himself is the source of life (v. 25). “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” Such words spoken by you or me would be lunacy, but Jesus immediately proceeds to the grave and, although Lazarus has been dead four days, demonstrates the truth of His words by commanding him to return from the dead (v. 43). And Lazarus did.
Jesus’ question to Martha was, “Do you believe this?” While she believed that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” (v. 27), universal human experience had taught her the certainty and finality of death. Yet Jesus gently challenged her doubts by saying, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (v. 40).
Through His death, Jesus demonstrated His glory by destroying the one who had power over death, that is, the devil, and now releases those who believe from the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). This doesn’t mean we will never die but Jesus promises that if we put our faith in Him, we will rise again. Jesus promised, “Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19). Do you believe this?
DNW