Slideshow image

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26

In John 11, we see many weeping at the grave of Lazarus. Then we see Jesus weep for His friend as well. He understood the pain of those who had lost their friend and he felt grief as he saw the effects of death.

Then Jesus gives such hope in the midst of death as we read in verses 25 and 26. Here we see the good news of the gospel – life! Life for those who believe in Him. That’s the promise. And Martha believed this as we see her response to Jesus’ question in verse 27: “She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’”

Even in the midst of such pain and sorrow Jesus gives hope. Death is the hardest thing we can face in this life. Each day we are one day closer to the grave, but as we grip on to Jesus’ promise we are actually one day closer to paradise.

We do not like to think about death as it is painful and uncomfortable, but Jesus gives us the answer in Himself. Lazarus’ death and resurrection was a precursor to Jesus’ imminent death and resurrection. There would soon come a day where the weeping would be for Jesus as his friends saw his lifeless body being laid in the tomb. But there would be such joy as they encountered the risen Christ and saw death defeated as their Saviour promised!  

As believers we live in the “already and not yet.” We live with the benefits of the resurrection today. We are being healed and sanctified and conformed into the image of Jesus. We can live in the power of the resurrection even now as eternal life does not begin the day we die, but the day we meet Jesus. But one day it will all come into completion through the resurrection of our bodies. This is the hope we have.

And we all must answer the very same question Jesus posed to Martha, “Do you believe this?”