Verse of the Day 5/27

Through the Bible - 1 Chronicles 21-23, John 11:28-44

 

Good morning,

For today's verse we'll return to John chapter 11 where we find the fifth of Jesus' I Am statements.

 

John 11:25 Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?"   NLT

 

John MacArthur writes, "with this statement, Jesus moved Martha from an abstract belief in the resurrection that will take place at the "last day" (5:28-29) to a personalized trust in Him who alone can raise the dead.  No resurrection or eternal life exists outside of the Son of God."  Jesus also showed that while His power will be revealed on the last day, He does have the authority to use it now as well as then.

At the end of verse 26, Jesus asks Martha a direct question about her faith.  Her response was much like Peter's (Matt 16:16), or Thomas after he had scene Jesus nail scarred hands.  The question is posed to us as well.  It is one thing to be able to say those words it is another to say them in the midst of a trial or after a loss.  Perhaps you've asked God, like both Mary and Martha did, "Lord if you would have been here " this would not have happened.  This passage shows, proves, Jesus power over death.  Even if we don't see the restoration of someone as we see with Lazarus, we can have faith in the final result.  This is what gives us hope.

 

This passage also shows that we have a God who cares.  Jesus shows several emotions here.  We see compassion, indignation, sorrow, and even frustration, the same emotions that we feel.  We see here that our God knows what we are going through.  Don't be afraid to pour out your heart, your emotions to Him.

 

Martha's confession is an example of why John wrote this gospel, that we would believe:

 

John 20:31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.  NLT

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

John 11:17-28

 

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

 

17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

 

20 Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."

 

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 at the last day."

 

25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  26 And whoever 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 to come into the world."    NKJV