”Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
John 11:25New International Version (NIV)
John 11:25 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life
In John 11:25, Jesus Christ declared to Martha that “He is the resurrection and the life”. He made this bold declaration just before raising Lazarus from the dead (mark you, Lazarus had been dead for four (4) days).
Jesus comforted Martha
Actually, when Jesus arrived at Bethany to comfort Martha and Mary on the loss of their brother Lazarus, Martha went out to meet Him, but Mary didn’t (John 11:17-20). And she told Jesus that his brother wouldn’t have died if He had been with them (John 11:21).
However, she acknowledged that God would give Him whatever He would have asked for (John 11:22). Therefore, Jesus told her that his brother would rise again (John 11:23).
But Martha thought that Jesus was referring to Lazarus’ rising up in the resurrection of the last day (John 11:24). Therefore, Jesus told her that He was the resurrection and the life, because whoever would have believed in Him would have lived, even if they died, and whoever would have lived by believing in Him, would never die (John 11:25-26a). And He asked her if she believed His statements, to which she answered in affirmative (John 11:26b-27).
Jesus’ fifth “I am” statement
Moreover, Bible Scholars state that the words of Jesus in John chapter 11 verse 25 are the fifth of His seven “I am” statements. And when Jesus spoke of the resurrection, Martha assumed He was speaking of “the resurrection at the last day.” Because she thought that it was too late to help Lazarus and they had to wait for “the resurrection day.”
Jesus’ delay
But remember, when Jesus heard that Lazarus (His good friend) was sick, He “stayed where he was for two more days” (John 11:6). He explained to His disciples that the sickness was “for God’s glory, that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (John 11:4).
Therefore, it was only after Lazarus had died that Jesus began His journey to Lazarus’ home in Bethany. He informed His disciples that Lazarus was “asleep, but He was going there to wake him up” (John 11:11).
Jesus comforted Martha
Nevertheless, Jesus got to Bethany, and Martha went out to meet Him and He comforted her. He even comforted her with His declaration that “He is the resurrection and the life”, which was in line with His mission as captured in John 10:10, which states that “Jesus came to give man life and life in abundance”.
Jesus rose from the dead
Jesus further backed His declaration to Martha by rising from His own death on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:13-14). He, therefore, assured you and me of life when we live by believing in Him and even when we die while we believe in Him.
Consequently, you need to endure this life as you live the first portion of it in a body that is subject to death. Later, after death, you will live the promised eternal life (John 14:19) in a glorified body.
Prayer/Blessing
Lord, I thank You for the promise and gift of eternal life in our Lord Jesus Christ. I look forward to the same.
My prayer is that You lead me to, and preserve me for eternal life in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Daniel 7-9 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
