Passage Read: John 11-12
Meditation Verse: 11:25
Thought
Jesus asks Martha if she believes that He is the resurrection and the life, that whoever believes in Him will never die, but will live even if they die. She answers yes, but then goes on to say that she believes He is the Christ, the Son of God. She doesn't affirm what He said about living even though dying and those who live and believe never dying. Did she find that hard to grasp? Did she understand what He meant? She affirmed her faith in Him as Christ, so she confirmed that she trusted Him, even if she didn't fully understand what He meant. Then she went away. I can understand if she was confused and unable to process His meaning on the spot, because it seems hard to understand and believe at face value. Believers have died throughout the ages, not one has remained alive from the time they believed to this moment. Jesus' different understanding of life and death has been on display throughout this event.
Application
Jesus wanted Martha to understand what He understood, and He wanted me to understand it as well. Those who believe in Jesus will never die, even though their bodies die. The resurrection isn't just a far off thing at the end of this age, but it is something that is now. Those who believe in Jesus and die still live even though we no longer see them. They are not tormented, they do not cease to exist, but they are happy and continue to live. They speak, they interact with others who also still live even though they died. Faith in Jesus guarantees a continuation of life even if we lay aside our bodies. It is hard to grasp, but it is a sure hope and should eliminate my fear of death, whether for myself or for those I know who trust in Jesus.