“I am the Resurrection and the Life”



With Lent over and Eastertide here, it’s been a joy to meditate on resurrection in Scripture. Recently, I was reading the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11. Martha approaches Jesus from an intellectual standpoint. She’s speaking from her head instead of her heart. And Jesus doesn’t fault her for it; in fact, He answers her in kind.

“So when 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.’ 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.’”

John 11:20-24, ESV

Notice that Martha says, “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” (v. 22) Jesus says, “Lazarus will rise,” and Martha replies “Yes, at the resurrection.” You see, Martha has total faith in Jesus, but her expectations are still working under her limitations, her own assumptions. She assumes that resurrection will only happen in a far-off future, so she can’t even conceive of witnessing one that very day. After Jesus’ exchange with Martha’s sister, Mary, they all come to Lazarus’ tomb:

“Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.’”

John 11:38-39, ESV

You see, Jesus told Martha that Lazarus would rise and she agreed (though she assumed that Jesus was referring to a far-off future). Then Jesus said to open the tomb and what was her response? “No, Lord, that’s a terrible idea — the smell! — that will only make things worse!” Martha is still stuck in her own limitations and expectations of what Jesus can or will do with the situation in front of her.

I wonder how many times God wants to bring about renewal in an area of our lives, a resurrection transformation, to reveal his power, heal, and bring new life, but we get stuck in our own assumptions and limitations. Has God ever prompted you to trust Him and your answer is like Martha’s? “No, Lord, that would be worse!” 

Let’s pray:

Lord Jesus, You told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Increase our faith and open our imaginations, so that we can trust and follow You far beyond our own limited expectations. We pray in Your name, Amen.