The Resurrection and the Life

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. ¹⁸Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, ¹⁹and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. ²⁰When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. ²¹Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” ²³Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” ²⁴Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” ²⁵Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, ²⁶and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” ²⁷She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”  John 11:17-27

After Jesus heard the news of his friend Lazarus' illness, he stayed away for two days. By the time he arrives, Lazarus has already been dead for four days. When Martha hears of Jesus' arrival she went to him (Mary stays home) and confesses disappointment that he hadn't come sooner and the belief that even after death he could still do something. Martha continued to believe that through Christ all things were possible. When Jesus assures her that her brother will rise again, she professes faith in the resurrection "on the last day." She believes and trusts that death is not the final answer and Jesus is at the center of God's work. Jesus tells her "I AM the resurrection and the life" and offers the promise of eternal life for all who believe.

Even in the midst of her overwhelming grief, Martha believes and trusts this promise. She understands fully who Jesus is and the mission God is accomplishing through him. This faithful confidence after the loss of a loved one is inspiring. It would have been easy for Martha to become bitter toward Jesus. After all the people he had healed, the one person he doesn't take time for is his friend Lazarus? No wonder Mary stayed home. Her reaction is more understandable. But Martha persists in believing in Jesus, trusting that he could even overcome death. As Christians, we confess that through the death and resurrection of Christ, death has been defeated and we have the promise of eternal life. Martha believed this before it happened. Her faith was amazing.

Jesus said: I AM the resurrection and the life. Jesus is the resurrection and through Christ we have the promise of eternal life; full redemption and reconciliation with God and the promise of reunion with those who have gone before us. Jesus is also the life. In Christ, we have the full presence of God in our lives. Walking with Christ in our life allows us to cling to the eternal promise in the midst of suffering and loss and not lose hope.

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust in the promise of the resurrection and not fear death. Let me live the your presence each day and walk in newness of life, in Jesus' name, AMEN.