John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
In the 11th Chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus made a statement declaring Himself to be the RESURRECTION and the LIFE. He actually gave Himself this Title.
In my research of the word Resurrection, I discovered that the source of the word resurrection comes from the Greek word anastasis. This is the word from which we get the English word anesthesia which is the medical procedure of putting people to sleep and then waking them back up. The key is not putting a person to sleep. The key is being able to wake them up!
Many years ago, my husband and I had a customer at our lumber yard. He paid for his lumber with a check and my husband noticed that his name on his check was followed by M.D. Jack asked the man what kind of a doctor he was. The man answered, I am an anesthetist. To that, Jack jokingly said, “So you get paid to put people to sleep.” The man answered, “No. I get paid to wake them up. Anyone can put them to sleep.”
This is the meaning of Jesus being the RESURRECTION. Everyone will die at some point. If they have placed their faith in the Finished Work of Jesus Christ, they will not die but live eternally with Him in Heaven. (John 3:16; John 11:25) Also, when Jesus comes to Rapture His Church, the dead bodies of all believers will be Resurrected! For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the Voice of an Archangel, and with the Trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
When word came to Jesus that Lazarus was sick, He didn’t immediately rush to his home in Bethany to Heal him. Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, had faith that Jesus could Heal their brother. His Disciples questioned Him about his delay. To this He answered, This sickness is not unto death, but for the Glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it. (John 11:4) The Scripture goes on to tell us that Jesus waited two days before He started for Bethany. When asked again about His waiting, He replied Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up. (John 11:11)
Jesus knew Lazarus would be dead by the time they got there. In fact, by the time they arrived, Lazarus had been dead and in the tomb for four days. Jesus’ actions were done with the intention of building their faith. They all knew and believed that He could Heal Lazarus if He got there before he died.
When Jesus was nearby, Martha ran to meet Him on the road. Lazarus had already died and his lifeless body was in the tomb. The fact that Martha ran to meet Him was a display of her love for Him even though He did not come in time to Heal her brother. Martha told Jesus that she was sorry He didn’t come sooner because she knew He could have Healed Lazarus. Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You. (John 11:21-22)
To this Jesus responded, Your brother will rise again. (John 11:23) Martha told Jesus that she knew Lazarus would rise in the Resurrection of the Church (Rapture). I know that he will rise again in the Resurrection at the Last Day. (John 11:24)
At this point, Jesus knew exactly what Martha believed. She had revealed to Him her degree of faith. She believed that Jesus was the Healer. She also believed that whatever Jesus asked of God, God would grant. In addition to all this, she also believed in the Resurrection at the Last Day (Rapture). This was a lot of faith but Jesus wanted Martha and all of them to believe for MORE!
He wanted them to know and believe that He is the RESURRECTION now in this life. I am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. (John 11:25) When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the faith of Mary, Martha, and all those present that day grew exponentially! They now had faith for more!
The Apostle Paul understood this because he was dead in sin but the Lord Jesus Christ Resurrected him from the dead and he was born again; alive; totally transformed; a new person with a new name! Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:11)
What do you believe Jesus for? What is the degree of your faith? Whatever your answer, there’s MORE! Hallelujah!
Jesus Christ, the RESURRECTION will………..turn the tide……..in this dying world!
Alive in Christ and believing for MORE! Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
