John 11:23-27, I Am the Resurrection and the Life

23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." 

Immediately Jesus reassures Martha of Lazarus’ future resurrection. He brings hope into a seemingly hopeless situation. Her response, unlike that of the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, matches that of the Pharisees who believe that a general resurrection of the dead awaits us at the dawning of the messianic kingdom. The believers in the resurrection based their belief on texts such as Isaiah 53:10 (Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand) and Daniel 12:2 (And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt).  Jesus stands in line with the Word of God, identifying with the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 and Michael in Daniel.   

Then Jesus delivers an astounding claim to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life.” This is the culmination of Jesus’ unfolding revelation of himself in John. Martha does believe in this future life. Yet Jesus is offering something even more amazing. The resurrection life that triumphs over death is available today to all who believe in him. Resurrection life does not start in the future when everything is perfectly worked out by God at the end of time. No, God has broken into human history and the offer is in the here and now. Jesus states that apart from and without him there is no life. The true life of the resurrection is located in him. One must be in him to receive these gifts. And this can happen now. Therefore he asks Martha if she believes him, and she does, even though she does not yet fully understand. 

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the resurrection and the life, that we may follow him into eternal life in the here and now, assured of our own resurrection from the dead. Amen.