Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Psalms 73-77
     New Testament Reading: John 11

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world” (John 11:25-27).

This passage contains some of the most comforting words spoken by our Savior and is the focal point of the chapter. Death is not the final word for those in Christ. If Jesus Christ can do nothing about death, then whatever else He can do amounts to nothing. The Apostle Paul said, if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith (1 Cor 15:14).

By His teaching, His miracles, and His own resurrection, Jesus clearly taught the resurrection of the human body. He has declared once and for all that death is real, that there is life after death, and that the body will one day be raised by the power of God. (See also 1 Thes. 4:14&16)

At the funeral of Lazarus, Jesus didn’t merely claim to be the resurrection and the life, he proved it. He walked to the tomb where his friend’s body laid and asked them to remove the stone covering the entrance to the burial cave. Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” and the dead man came out, alive and walking.

The one who would himself in a short time go to the cross, buried, and then resurrected, performs here the greatest miracle in his ministry until this point. Jesus had raised others from the dead, but Lazarus had been dead for four days. It was a miracle that could not be denied or avoided. It aroused the greatest response from both His friends and enemies. The Jewish leaders plotted to kill Him. However, many of the Jews saw what he did and believed in him. They followed Martha’s great confession proclaiming, “I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God”