"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" -John 11:25-26
In a few moments I will be heading out to a funeral service. In attendance will be family and friends, some believers some not. Some will be grieving without hope, others will be grieving yet comforted in the hope of heaven. In John chapter 11 Jesus is also coming to somewhat of a funeral service. Lazarus His friend had been dead and in the grave for four days now. Mary and Martha were still grieving and mourning the loss of there brother. This is when Jesus comes. First Martha rushes out to meet Him, she attempts to subtly correct Jesus at first but then makes a statement of faith implying that she intellectually believed in the future collective resurrection of the saints (Jn 11:24). This is when Jesus let's her know who He really was and what it really meant to believe in Him, He said the most powerful, resounding, life saving words.. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.", These are words of hope, words that can change lives if believed. Martha responded by saying she believed in this and who Jesus was. When we really believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, no matter who we lose or what happens here on this earth we will always have an anchor of hope for the future. For you see our earthly tents (our bodies) will wear out and we will all eventually die, but from death we will rise again in glory, no longer in a tent but in a mansion of a body, no more pain wears or tears but a glorified body. This is what every believer can look forward to. This is our sure hope!
- DO YOU HAVE THE HOPE OF THE RESIRRECTION? HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOUR LIFE?
- "Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark." ~George Iles