John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies;”

Jesus is about to raise Lazarus from the dead in our verse for today. Lazarus and his two sisters Martha and Mary were very close friends with Jesus. While Jesus had been away Lazarus had become ill and died, Martha sent for Jesus before her brother had died, but Jesus delayed His coming to them. Martha knew that Jesus could have healed Lazarus before he died, but by the time Jesus got to their home Lazarus had been dead for three days. She is a little upset with Jesus because He did not come sooner, which leads us to this verse.

When Jesus said this to Martha, she assumed that when He said her brother would “live even though he dies” He meant that since Lazarus had placed his trust in Christ he would raise from the dead when Christ returned to take His church from this world at the last day (John 6:44). But Jesus was basically telling her, “I am God and I have the power of resurrection and life in My hand. I can raise Lazarus from the dead right now, and will do it.” And when you read the rest of this account, that is exactly what He did!

As with most of the things that Jesus said while here on earth, there is a profoundly deep meaning to His words. Yes He raised Lazarus back to life, but He was also looking forward to the time when all who believe in Christ will be raised out of their graves at His coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)! Even though a child of God may die physically, they will never die spiritually, that is why Christ could say, “he who believes in Me will live, even though he dies.” When we have placed our faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, our eternity is set and sealed by the Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:13-14). Nothing can ever take our salvation away from us, it is eternal!

Most of us have experienced the death of a loved one, it is a painful process, isn’t it? But if our loved ones knew Christ as Savior we will see them again in heaven one day!
I know I am looking forward to seeing my mom, dad, and sister who have all passed away from this earth but are with Christ now. When my parents were dying I kissed them good bye with the full knowledge that I will see them again, their spirits went straight to heaven when their physical bodies died for they had placed their faith in Christ and therefore their spirits live forever. Yes, I miss them terribly here on earth, but when I have those days of missing them I cling to the fact that I will see them again for we are not as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)!

Thank You Jesus for shedding Your blood for the forgiveness of my sin. Thank You for redeeming me to God and for loving me always. Help me to live my life before You in obedience to Your Word, giving You all the praise and glory that You so richly deserve each day, Amen!