John: Believe I Amनमूना

I am the resurrection and the life | John 11:25

This is a tricky passage about a death and a resurrection. Jesus makes an important decision that is absolutely critical to understanding this “I am” statement, but honestly, it’s hard to swallow. Here’s what happens…Jesus has a dear friend, Lazarus. We know from elsewhere in Scripture that He loves Lazarus. And He is summoned to go heal Lazarus from sickness…but Jesus doesn’t go right away and Lazarus dies. And there is no mistake, this was an intentional decision because Jesus tells His disciples, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe” (John 11:15). It sounds so harsh. Could Jesus really mean that He is glad Lazarus died? But here’s the hard truth and the key to this “I am” statement. Jesus knew that the belief that would come after Lazarus’s death would be more important than saving his body and his family from temporary pain.

Then Jesus proclaims, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus makes this statement and asks the question, “Do you believe?” to Lazarus’s sister Martha before He does the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. So what He’s asking is…Do you trust in who I AM and who I say I AM even though I haven’t done the miracle yet? I will. But whatever it takes for you to believe is worth it because you will save your soul through me. There is more at stake here than just life on earth. Jesus is talking about eternal life!

This is a question we can’t skip over either. Do you believe God is who He says He is? Do you trust Him at His Word when He tells you that He comes to bring life in His name? And are you expecting that eternal life here on earth?

Martha’s response to Jesus’ question is beautiful and honest. Yes, Lord, I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God. But she still doesn’t know the extent of His power. She just lost her brother and she doesn’t see how the pain she is feeling could be touched or healed in this moment. I wonder if she is thinking…What does it even mean that those who believe will have life even if they die and those who live by their belief in Jesus will never die? Isn’t my brother dead? Martha is still focused on temporary life in this world instead of life eternal.

And like Martha, we too are sitting in the days between Lazarus’s death and resurrection. All things have not been made right yet. We live in a world Jesus came to save and God plans to restore, but it is still broken. We still experience loss and pain and sadness. But we know and hope in what is to come. Martha hadn’t seen the resurrection of Lazarus or Jesus yet but we know what is coming in the story. What would it look like for us to live like we knew the end of our story? To live into Jesus’ words that He is the resurrection life. There is life in His name alone and all who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life for forever and for now!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus’ life. For Jesus being the resurrection and the life. In You, we don’t just have hope of a future, a new heaven and new earth “one day,” but a personal and intimate relationship with You now. In our daily walk with You, God I know that You sanctify and transform us into Your image as we allow ourselves to experience abundant life and power in Your name. Will You give us the faith to believe before we see the answer to the prayer or the miracle or our future forever, that we might believe and, in doing so, experience Your life and resurrection power today. Amen.