“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Do we really believe Jesus is who He says He is ?
We have to see beyond so that we can go beyond.
God gives opportunity to move with Him on into the future a new day.
He is doing this today.
Scripture is unveiled and becomes accessible as we move into the manifestation of His word.
He sees us, knows us, loves sheds tears for us in every detail of our lives and His word is always true.
“Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
His question to us daily now as much as it was when He first said it at the death of Lazarus.
Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus to tell Him that Lazarus was ill.
But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
He had not rushed back and the disciples must have believed that Lazarus would not die but 2 days later Jesus is saying to them that Lazarus is dead.
“Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
They must have felt shocked and mystified about this turn of events and at Jesus’ exact words too.
Jesus is basically saying to them learn to trust in me and what I say is true.
A key revelation to us too in contending that Lazarus was raised from the dead.
Resurrection power in action.
To see and believe what would be impossible in any other way but through God. To witness and believe the unbelievable and to have faith to believe.
“Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
This is where Martha has to go beyond her present understanding of resurrection and why Jesus confronts her saying “Your brother will rise and live.””She answers in her present understanding.
“She replied, “Yes, I know he will rise with everyone else on resurrection day.”
Jesus takes her to see beyond that in his following words. She is moved by God’s revelation in these words to faith and belief.
“ You don’t have to wait until then. I am the Resurrection, and I am Life Eternal. Anyone who clings to me in faith, even though he dies, will live forever. And the one who lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Then Martha replied, “Yes, Lord, I do! I’ve always believed that you are the Anointed One, the Son of God who has come into the world for us!”
I wonder when we read the shortest verse in the bible “Jesus wept.” whether the tears were more for those he foresaw with unbelief than just compassion for these in Bethany? The work of the enemy He deplored so much. He knew He would overcome death.
Just as Jesus wanted to take them beyond their understanding of the Resurrection so does he want to take us beyond.
Breaking us out into a new reality, fulfilment of His word manifesting.
On the Emmaus road the risen Jesus unveiled to the debating Disciples the revelation of Himself all throughout the OT scriptures and their eyes were opened.
To Paul on the Damascus road and his eyes were opened and his belief transformed.
More is unveiled to us today he takes us by the hand and runs forward setting our hearts free moving us beyond our understanding as we see beyond.
We too are transformed.
The illustration shows Christ alive in the tomb removed death clothes. The resurrection. The stone rolled back the Light breaking out of the darkness bringing Light to the world.The resurrection power in the world held in His right hand.
Eight Scriptures that come to mind:
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?””John 11:25-26 WEB
“But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.””John 11:4 ESV
“Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.””John 11:14-15 ESV
“Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”John 11:21 ESV
“Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise and live.””John 11:23 TPT
“She replied, “Yes, I know he will rise with everyone else on resurrection day.””John 11:24 TPT
“Martha,” Jesus said, “ You don’t have to wait until then. I am the Resurrection, and I am Life Eternal. Anyone who clings to me in faith, even though he dies, will live forever. And the one who lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Then Martha replied, “Yes, Lord, I do! I’ve always believed that you are the Anointed One, the Son of God who has come into the world for us!””John 11:25-27 TPT
“Jesus wept.”John 11:35 ESV
The song It’s Always Been You. Phil Wickham
https://youtu.be/BDURInx_GUk
Lessisgreater 