"I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." (John 11:25, KJV, because this is how I first memorized it)
Earlier, our Lord Jesus had told the disciples that Lazarus was sleeping; they didn't get it. "Then Jesus said to them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead.'" Have you ever noticed how reluctant spiritual people are to say those words. We shouldn't be, you know. Followers of Jesus are the People of the Resurrection Life, "....though he were dead, yet shall he live."
Jesus concluded our text to Martha with the Words which really accompany all of the, "God-Breathed," Words, "Do you believe this?" Martha's response was not an answer to Jesus' question. It was more of a general philosophical response, a sort of, "Well, some day something may happen." Every day I believe that our Lord Jesus Christ asks you and me what He asked Martha, "Do you believe this?" This may sound extremely radical, but every verse of Scripture which you and I read, and every time we read it is followed by the Holy Spirit asking, "Do you believe this?"
Do not think this trivial. We are, "born again/from above," once; we are saved daily. You know that the Word for, "saved," or, "salvation," means, "safety, preservation, healing, restoration, deliverance, prosperity." These are not "one-time" needs. I have known people who once "believed" who no longer do. They should have been asked frequently, "Do you (still) believe this." Sorry for the digression, but some may think this condemnatory. "What about the assurance of our salvation?" A periodic checking of the "believer" in us will keep us assured. You could ask me this question every day, and I would not be offended.
The great, "I Am," claims of our Lord Jesus Christ are throughout the Gospel of John. These are not great, "I give," claims. They are, "I Am," declarations. Jesus', "I Am," claims go back to what He said to Moses, "I Am, that I Am." Someone once said, If we need bread, Jesus says to us, "I Am, that I Am." If we need the way, the truth, and the life, Jesus says, "I Am, that I Am." If we need light, a Good Shepherd, and perhaps that "ultimate," resurrection, Jesus says, "I Am, that I Am."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You not only "give" to me, You Are, "I Am," to me. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
