Sunday Devotional: John 11:25-26

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even though he may die, he shall live, ²⁶ and all those living and believing in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

This passage is taken from Jesus’ conversation with Martha just before he raised Lazarus from the dead. This was the last “sign” Jesus performed in John’s Gospel. John refers to Jesus’ miracles as “signs” because he understood them to point to a greater truth than the miracle itself. In these few verses, Jesus directs Martha’s attention beyond the physical raising of her brother toward a much greater miracle.

Lazarus was lying in a tomb. He had been in there for four days, and no doubt a certain amount of decomposition had already set in (see 11:39). Lazarus was not unconscious. He wasn’t in a coma. He wasn’t brain dead. Blood was no longer pumping through his veins. Biological processes had ceased. He was beyond hope of recovery. When Jesus stood at the tomb and called, “Lazarus, come out!” (11:43), Lazarus was completely incapable of obeying of his own volition. It would take a work of God to restore life, give him ears to hear, and the ability to get up, push the stone away, and leave the tomb.

Just a short while later, as Martha, grieving over the crucifixion of her Lord, hears of the empty tomb, and reports that Jesus had risen from the grave, she must have reflected on these words. At the time they would have seemed incredible. How could Jesus, even as a great teacher, claim to be “the resurrection and the life?” How could even a prophet of God claim to give life to the dead? But then he raised Lazarus. And then he himself rose.

But more than that, if Jesus truly is who he claimed to be, then he can give life to all. Just as Jesus raised Lazarus both physically and spiritually, and Jesus himself rose physically from the grave, in Christ, we too are reborn. Though dead in sin, we are raised to life spiritually. And one day, when Christ returns, we will be raised to new bodies, joining with our spirits in eternity (1 Corinthians 15:50-56).

This is the heart of Christianity. It’s not about rituals and works, trying to earn God’s favor. It’s about God’s grace poured out upon a sinful, undeserving people. None of us could ever do enough to repay the debt of our sin. But Christ died for the ungodly, the dead in spirit, that we might be raised to spiritual life. And one day, we will be like him, no longer subject to the frailties of the flesh, assailed by sin and a sinful world. But made new in eternity.

Do you believe this?