The Resurrection and the Life ​

Read John 11: 1-44

The news came to Jesus and His disciples that Lazarus is sick. Lazarus is the brother of Mary and Martha. The Bible also described him as the one Jesus loves so very much. When Jesus heard the message, He said, “This sickness is not fatal. It will become an occasion to show God’s glory by glorifying God’s Son (v. 4).” Jesus already knew that this illness will lead to the death of Lazarus. Yet, instead of hurrying back to Judea to heal Lazarus, He stayed where He was for two more days. He will use the death of his friend as an opportunity to open the eyes of the people, and for them to believe that God sent him.

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died (v. 21 and 32).” These are the first words that Martha and Mary told Jesus when they saw Him at Bethany. The sisters have already witnessed the miraculous works of Jesus. They know that Jesus can also heal their brother. It seems like their point was, “Jesus, you were late.” But Jesus’ response was, “You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all.” Jesus went to the tomb where they lay the body of Lazarus and wept. Then He lifted His eyes and prayed to God and with a loud voice, cried out, “Lazarus, come out!” And we know what happened. Lazarus came out of the tomb, alive again.

What a very powerful testimony of God’s power! Neither time nor death bounds the power of Jesus to give eternal life. A lot of times we think about “if only” scenarios. If only there has been no COVID-19 virus at all, if only it is easy for all the people to believe Jesus, if only 2020 has been good to us, if only… Jesus is greater than any economic crisis, pandemic, political issues, and all other circumstances than seem so impossible and difficult to go through victoriously. Jesus is unlimited, and so His power. The timing of Jesus is always perfect. He is transcendence, He is unchanging, He is sovereign, He is just, and He is forever loving.

“Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God (v. 40)?”

Are you willing to believe?