JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

Passage: John 11:17-27

Key verse: 25

NIV

Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Footnotes
  1. John 11:18 Or about 3 kilometers
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb (A)four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles[a] off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary (B)to console them concerning their brother. 20 (C)So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to (D)Jesus, “Lord, (E)if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, (F)God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 (G)Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in (H)the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, (I)“I am the resurrection and (J)the life.[b] Whoever believes in me, (K)though he die, (L)yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me (M)shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; (N)I believe that (O)you are the Christ, the Son of God, (P)who is coming into the world.”

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Footnotes
  1. John 11:18 Greek fifteen stadia; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters
  2. John 11:25 Some manuscripts omit and the life
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

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.

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?

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