Continuing in John 11:17-26 (NIV) today,
"On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."
Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
What a powerful statement. Just a little while ago we saw that Thomas was convinced that returning to Judea would cost him his life. Now he would learn, along with the others, that death holds no threat to Jesus or his followers.
Imagine what Thomas must have felt hearing that! As if Jesus was saying, "Thomas you came here thinking you would lose your life, well, when following me that simply is not possible."
I think sometimes we get so used to this fact that we forget how amazing that is. Belief in Jesus Christ allows us to cross over from death to life.
Our Jesus is the "resurrection, and the life." He he invites us into this life with him.
That is an amazing truth!
