John the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent you may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was near unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off. And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever you will ask of God, God will give it to you. Jesus said unto her, Your brother shall rise again. Martha said unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-five of his book John shared how Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection, and the life” where we read:
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:
he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
The verse reads, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:” John began with the words, “Jesus said unto her” which means “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation uttered, declared and proclaimed to Martha”, “I am the resurrection” or “I, Jesus, exist as the raising up, rising and recovering from the dead”, “and the life” which means “and the one who possesses vitality and life which is real and genuine, active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions”. John shared how Jesus told Martha that He was the “rising from the dead” and the “life” that is real and genuine.
The verse goes on to say, “he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” John continued with the words, “he that believes in me” which means “the person whether male or female who trusts in, relies upon, clings to and has confidence in me, Jesus”, “though he were dead” or “even if the person died”, “yet shall he live” which means “still that person will enjoy life, be among the living, be active, blessed and endless in the kingdom of God”. John shared how the person who “trusts in and relies upon” Him, even if that person dies, they shall be among the living.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn one of the most important principles in the Bible. Jesus is the “resurrection and the life”, and everyone who puts their faith in Him, though they “die” physically, they will live “spiritually” forever with God. Jesus came to the world to save people from the penalty for sin which is “death”, and because people would be “eternally dead”, Jesus provided a way to escape to avoid that everlasting judgment. God loves people, and His desire is to keep them from eternal death and separation from Him. This is accomplished through His Son Jesus' death on the cross and subsequent “resurrection” from the grave three days later. Those who are wise will understand that Jesus is the answer to the problem of “death”, and those who are wise will yield to Him as “Savior and Lord”.
Next time John shares how Jesus says to Martha, “whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believe you this?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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