Resurrection and Life
"The Raising of Lazarus" (v. 1630–1632), Rembrandt (1606-1669), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, CA, USA.
What do you believe about life after death? What does resurrection mean? What does it mean that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?
Jesus gives us his resurrected life in place of our sin generated death.
When Jesus’ friend Lazarus was not well, he went to visit Lazarus and his sisters in Bethany, after waiting a few days. When Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already died and had been in the tomb four days.
When Lazarus’ sister Martha heard that Jesus was coming, “she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘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 11:20-22, ESV).
Martha was desperate and broken in her grief and had assumed Jesus had failed her brother and her family by not being present for Lazarus. Even in her grief and confusion, Martha trusted Jesus’ intimacy with God, and his power to help her in her time of great need.
“Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ 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 11:23-26, ESV).
Jesus proclaimed that he is the resurrection and the life. Jesus promised Martha that her brother would rise again—from death to life. Jesus assured Martha that whoever believes in him will everlasting life, even if they die, yet shall they live.
When we believe in Jesus, we will live forever. When we place our belief in Jesus, we have resurrection life.
“Do you believe this?” (John 11:26, ESV).
May we believe Jesus is the resurrection and the life and receive resurrection and life in him.
A Collect for the Fifth Sunday in Lent: Passion Sunday: “Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
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"The Raising of Lazarus" (v. 1630–1632), Rembrandt (1606-1669), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, CA, USA.
