Saturday, May 16, 2009
John 11:21-27 Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."
THE MEANING OF THE RESURRECTION:
NO FEAR IN DEATH
Lazarus had died. Jesus had finally come to Bethany, the home of Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, but Lazarus was already dead. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming she ran out to meet Him. She was sad that Jesus had not come earlier, but she still had confidence in Him.
In their conversation we find another wonderful promise of Jesus concerning Life. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." What peace this promise offers!
Because Jesus lives and promises life to those who believe in Him, we need not fear death. We will live again, with Him, for all eternity! No matter when death comes, no matter how death comes, life awaits those who know and believe in Jesus. For the Christian, death does not separate us from God -- it unites us with Him forever.
Jesus' searching question to Martha is an important one for us to consider as well: "Do you believe this?" The comfort and confidence in our eternal future rests in the answer to that simple question. May we answer with confidence as Martha did: "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world!"
The resurrection of Jesus is of immense importance to us as Christians because it reveals that Jesus can and does keep His promises, it also assures us that He will keep His promises to us. Because He lives, we will live also. This is most certainly true!
