DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?

 

April 3, 2024

John 11:17, 21-22, 25-26



17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. . . .

21“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” . . .

25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”

What is important to remember about these words is the place where they were spoken. Jesus said this at the side of his close friend’s tomb. He said it after death invaded a family he loved. He spoke these words to his friend’s sister, Martha. Jesus said this to her in her time of grief while she was wondering why he didn’t come sooner and why God didn’t do something to stop her brother’s death. I sure identify with Martha, do you?

You can read the full story of what happened in John 11. I want us to focus in on something that I believe is key. Jesus doesn’t just promise Martha a future resurrection. Jesus is God’s future resurrection. He is God’s future resurrection breaking in—here—today! Martha gets to witness this.

One of truths that this passage holds for us is that with God, we don’t have to pretend or hide. We don’t have to stifle our worries and grief. It’s the Easter season, but maybe you’re not in a good place. You feel old, worn, discarded. You’re sad, grieving, or struggling. You can come to him openly—honestly, freely, with every bit of loss and hurt. Remember, Jesus doesn’t tell us to look inside ourselves for the answers to life’s deepest hurts. He tells us to look outside ourselves, to him. He says, “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.” Because no matter what we face, we face it knowing that Jesus lives, that our Risen Lord, “walks with us and talks with us and tells us we are his own.”

Whatever we face doesn’t change that one bit. We can hold on to the future hope of what God will do, but we can also cling to Jesus today. Jesus is alive! This confession means everything, and changes everything! And it’s just the beginning. “Do you believe this?” Jesus asked this question to Martha, who was grieving. He asks us too.



LET US PRAY

I want to invite you in your prayer today to pray with great openness and transparency. Don’t stifle your grief, or your worries, or your feelings but bring them before your loving God.

Here is a little sample to get you started

God, I bring my hurt, sorrow, grief, pain, worries (add your own words) to You, knowing that You understand the depths of my suffering. I ask for Your healing presence in my life so that I may know your comfort. Fill my heart with Your peace, that surpasses all understanding, as I trust in Your purpose and plan. Draw me closer to You, deepen my faith and dependence on Your unfailing love. Amen.

"he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities; 

the punishment that brought us peace was on him, 

and by his wounds we are healed."

Isaiah 53:5