The Resurrection and the Life - Your Daily Forward Devotional

The Resurrection and the Life

June 1

Read John 11:25 (ESV)

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”

Reflect

Is there someone you wish you could raise from the dead?

Have you ever lost someone close to you? Have you ever wished that he or she would be resurrected so that you could have more time with them? Even if it was just one more day?

Deep down in our souls, we know that death isn’t right. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says “he has put eternity into man’s heart.” We feel like we should live forever and so should our loved ones.

Death is an enemy from the Enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26). To God’s glory, we’ve made advances in health and medicine. Many people are living longer than before. But still, in the end, death comes for all of us. “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). In ourselves, we are powerless over death. But we know the Good News!

Today, we read Jesus’ fifth “I am” statement. Jesus’ friend Lazarus had just died. When he was sick, Mary and Martha sent for Jesus and asked Him to come heal Lazarus. But Jesus didn’t go to him immediately. He waited for two days. By the time Jesus got to Lazarus, he’d been dead for four days! But this was all according to His plan, of course. Martha said to Him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you” (John 11:21-22).

Jesus responded “Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23). Martha knew that Lazarus would rise again in the final resurrection of the dead but she didn’t fully understand that the Lord was about to do so much more. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). Then Jesus went out to Lazarus’ tomb and called for him to come out. And he did! A man who had been dead for four days just walked right out of his grave! Jesus did all of this to display His power over everything, even death!

Here’s the good news. Jesus isn’t merely powerful enough to raise the dead, He said that He is the resurrection and life. Eternal life is found in Him.

The reality for us today is that Jesus is still capable of working miracles. But even if we got the miracle we asked for here and now, we will all still die someday. Mary and Martha were given more time with Lazarus, but one day, he died again. During His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated His power and proved that He is the Son of God through signs and wonders. But the results of these miracles were only temporary so we shouldn’t put our hope in the miracles themselves. Our hope is in Him and in His resurrection!

The apostle Paul explained: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:17-22).

Friend, if you believe in Christ, even though your physical body dies, you will live forever! “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). If you haven’t placed your faith in Him, I urge you to do so today! Life is found in no one else.

Respond

Lord, I believe in Your Word. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah and that in You, I can live forever. I thank and praise You for being the resurrection and the life. My hope is in You. Amen.

Reveal: Do you know someone who needs to know that there is a way to overcome death? Share the hope that You have in Christ with that person today.

~ Pastor Nat Crawford