17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.  21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”  23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” 

Here is a tremendous promise of the resurrection hope that is ours by faith in Jesus Christ. We have hope of life everlasting. We have hope of seeing our saved loved ones again. It is often in funerals that we remind people of Jesus’ words, "I am the resurrection and the life." There are many who do not have that hope.  The Bible tells us, “He who has the Son has life." (1 John 5:12) Jesus gives us what we cannot give ourselves. We cannot forgive ourselves of sin against God, only Christ can do that.  Only Christ can bring our loved ones to life again.  We cannot raise ourselves, only Christ can do that to us. 

When He asked Martha if she believed in the resurrection, indeed, she knew the conservative Jewish thought that was consistent with the Old Testament teaching in Daniel 12:2-3 "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake; some to everlasting life, other to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." Martha believed that at the last day there would be a resurrection.  That was her hope and is ours. That is what we look forward to since Christ purchased us by suffering and dying for us on the cross.

Walter Lowen wrote in Reader’s Digest of the intense sorrow he felt and the emptiness he experienced after the death of his beloved wife of 37 years.  He felt all meaning was gone from his own life. The doctor who was a friend and a fellow believer in Jesus took his arm and said in a matter of fact voice, "You'll see her again." That was all and he left the room.

Lowen writes, "But that was all I needed to hear, that simple gesture and eloquent statement reminded me of the one thing that has been given to us to help us bear such separations form our beloved; the resurgent and ever-present ability to believe in the immortality. The idea of immortality is the strongest lifeline to the grief-stricken. In my case I could, from his words on, think of the separation of Selma and myself as temporary.  Everything that sustained that belief sustained me. Three of my friends somehow knew the almost morbid sensitivity that one in grief has, they sent flowering plants instead of cut flowers, so that the idea of continuance of life and not its brief blooming would be suggested."

Application:   There is the comforting presence of Jesus with us in our sorrow. There is the promise of faith that conquers the fiery darts of the evil one. Tell me, what in your life, have you concluded is beyond the Lord's power?  What seems hopeless? What is it that seems irreparable - a disease, a relationship, a business crisis?

Consider Ephesians 3:20 "he is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine" God's hands are not tied.  Why is this important?  Because God's sufficiency is your basis of hope. There is the fantastic hope of resurrection that is for all who believe. This hope is in none other than Jesus Christ.

Because Jesus is the resurrection and the life, we take comfort in the fact He lives, so shall. We are promised a life everlasting.   

Thought for the Day:   This is our promise.

Prayer:   Lord, I pray Your Word back to You that I know that You are ble to do immeasurably more than we sk or imagine.   Your promises are always true and You hear us when we cry out to You.