Weeping, grief-stricken, Martha hurled her words at Jesus. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died”(John 11:21). While Lazarus was clinging to life, the sisters had sent the urgent message to Jesus. “Lord, the one you love is sick” (John 11:3). But Jesus hadn’t come, and now their beloved brother had been entombed for four days.
“If you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” Martha and Mary were confident that Jesus could have healed their sibling. He could have touched his feverish frame. He could have spoken miraculous words of restoration and renewal. But not now. Now, four interminable days after he’d breathed his last, it was too late. He was gone.
What was the Lord’s response? Gently but firmly, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
After His crucifixion, Jesus was sealed in a tomb. He was dead, until the third day, when He busted free from death’s grip! He is “the Resurrection and the Life.”
The Apostle Paul tells our story. “You were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!” (Ephesians 2:1–5).
We were spiritually dead, destined for eternal separation from God’s goodness and glory. We were dead, but … hallelujah … He is “the Resurrection and the Life.”
“Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43, NKJV). He did!
“… think on these things”(Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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