“I Am the Resurrection and the Life”

http://harvestpeoria.org/watch/i-am-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life/

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 (ESV)

                Jesus returned to Bethany because Lazarus had died. When Jesus arrived, Martha heard He was nearby and went to meet Him. She believed that had Jesus been present, her brother would have recovered. In her grief, she voiced her thoughts.

           

            Jesus told her Lazarus would rise again. She responded that she knew her brother would rise again ‘in the resurrection on the last day.’

Jesus then identifies Himself as “the resurrection and the life.” He continues, explaining what that means. Simply stated, it means that, although a believer dies, that believer will live with Jesus. He goes on to state that once a person believes in Him, he or she ‘will never die.’ (He is speaking of the soul of the believer.)

            The Master asked Martha a very pointed question, “Do you believe this?” Martha

Answers with the affirmation that she does believe that this man standing before her is “The Christ, the Son of God.”

            I have heard this passage preached at many funerals. When I hear the question Jesus asks, it sets me to thinking.   Our time on earth is getting short. We need to focus on this question that Christ asked Martha on a regular basis. 

           Things come into our lives that distract us from the journey that God has planned for us. We have the responsibility to live for Jesus and share His love with those around us. Part of that responsibility is that we search our hearts for hidden sin and ask Him to take care of it.