Read John 11:25-44

“Jesus said… “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?”” (John 11:25–26)

As the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is at the forefront of our minds, naturally we’re curious to the idea: What is resurrection? Why is Christ’s resurrection significant, both historically and theologically? And how does His resurrection affect me?

Funerals are a day of mourning. A day which all of us have to actually process, at least just a little, that we too will die one day. When that day comes people will gather around our grave — our dead body — and wonder: Where did they go? Their body is here, but they are not.

And so we cannot miss the significance of when Jesus decides to tell Martha and those listening that He is the embodiment of resurrection and life. Keep in mind, Jesus says this in the middle of a funeral when everyone's minds are fixated on the reality of death. Lazarus has been dead for 4 days now. His body already rotting in the tomb. The stench of death already exuding off of his body. Death doesn't get more real than this!

And here in the depths of death Jesus cries out the greatest hope mankind could ever have: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live…”

And to back His claim He cries out to the dead man: Lazarus, come forth! Jesus by the command of His word quickens the dead body of Lazarus back to life, and Lazarus walks out of the tomb.

No wonder verse 45 says:

“Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.” (John 11:45)

Where death would seem to have the ultimate victory, Christ showed that He had the power to interrupt that — even overcome it! Cancel the funeral!

This was a foreshadow of what He was about to do by His own resurrection. Jesus came to rewrite our story and turn death on its head, so that no longer would human life have to submit to inevitable death, but now death would have to submit to inevitable life under the authority of the resurrection of Christ.

Most think that our ultimate enemy is Satan. But it’s not. It’s death. It’s the last enemy as the Apostle Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 15.

“The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:26)

But death isn’t the last chapter of your life anymore because of who Jesus is. He is the Resurrection and the Life. Don’t be mistaken — Christ is not using an analogy about Himself. He is making a declaration that He is Himself the promise to mankind that they can rise again if they find their new life in Him — a life which death no long has authority over. That is Christ’s declaration to the world! And that is the declaration which we, His church, preach in His name.

Would you walk away from such an incredible declaration? Would you walk away from the Man Jesus who could back His claim? — who was proclaimed alive from the grave by many infallible proofs and has for 2,000 years been transforming lives in every tribe, tongue and nation, by His declaration?

Dear friend, I pray to God that you will seriously consider Christ’s words. If you have been putting Him off, delay no more! Because His declaration is your very salvation.

“[Jesus said], 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?” (John 11:25–26)

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