23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Reflection
We had just set up the Labyrinth for prayer during Holy Week. I was setting up the Walk Through Holy Week displays made by Bob, an artist who teaches Spiritual Arts. These visual arts tell the story of Jesus’ last week using interactive props. But when I got to Sunday, Easter, I realized that for the resurrection there was only the empty cross of Good Friday and an empty tomb. These were the symbols that were left behind. But for us, the resurrection is not symbolic. The resurrection is the loving and grace filled act of God to reconcile us as God’s beloved children. The Risen Christ has overcome sin and death through his suffering, death and resurrection. The Risen Jesus then travels to Galilee to proclaim the amazing and unbelievable good news to his followers, of new life in Christ.
Just days before his crucifixion and death, Jesus stood weeping in front of his friend Lazarus’ tomb. He comforts Martha, Lazarus’ sister by saying, “Your brother will rise again.” And the grieving Martha, thinking Jesus means Lazarus will rise at some future time replies, “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus answers by proclaiming to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Jesus, the great I Am, asks this same question of all of
us. Do we really believe Jesus is the resurrection and the life?
by Jeneene Reduker
For Pondering and Prayer
Surrounded by the smell of death, Jesus stared into the darkness of the tomb and called Lazarus forth into life, just as Jesus calls each us into new life. Jesus proved he was the resurrection and the life when he raised Lazarus from the dead. Many who saw the miracle believed in Jesus. Do we also believe in eternal life through Jesus our Savior? And if we believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, then we are called to experience the joy of the resurrection of Christ in our own lives. In the midst of our brokenness and struggles, we die with Christ and are raised to new life and joy in the Lord. We know that God loves us and is faithful for even when we die, God is there to welcome us into life
eternal. Love has forever overcome the brokenness of sin and death, because he is risen!
Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life? Have you experienced the joy of new life in Christ? Share the good news of Jesus with others.
Holy and Loving God, we give you thanks and praise for Jesus who is the resurrection and the life, Help us to experience the joy of new life in Christ and to share the good news with others. Amen.
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