Resurrection and New Life

John 11 - 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 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.”

Jesus loved Mary and Martha.  They were two of his most devoted followers and he stayed at their house. When their brother Lazarus died, they sent word to Jesus that the "one he loved" had died.  Jesus waits for two days to go to Bethany to see his friend Lazarus.  His disciples try to dissuade him not to go to Jerusalem, but he says, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep we must wake him up."  They did not yet understand what Jesus was going to do.  

When Jesus arrives, Martha runs to Jesus and says, "If you had been here my brother would not have died."  Jesus tells her he will rise again, and because of her belief in the resurrection taught by the Pharisees, she thinks this is what He is talking about.  But Jesus isn't talking about a future resurrection, but one that will happen right now.  And then Jesus says the famous words, "I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me will live even though they die.  And whoever believes in me will never die." 

This is quite a statement by Jesus.  And Martha gets it.  She says, "You are the Messiah, the Son of God who has come into the world."  Jesus then goes and calls Lazarus forth from the grave, though he had been in the tomb for four days.  After four days it would be impossible to argue that Lazarus was not really dead. It would be impossible to say it was not Jesus who raised his friend from the dead. What does Jesus mean when he says, "I am the resurrection and the life."

He is claiming that He is the life and by knowing and believing in Him we can have eternal life.  Though we will die, because Christ is in us, death is not the end of the story.  When we die it will be Christ's power in us that will raise us to eternal life.  

You don't need to fear death because Jesus conquered it once and for all.  Though Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus would die again. But because of what happened on Easter morning he will rise again.  Martha believed that Jesus was the resurrection and the life and then saw her brother rise from the dead because it was true. Do you believe this?  If not, why not?