Devotion 16 March 2026

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”  John 11: 25-26

READING: John 11: 1-4 + 21-27 + 39-43

This is a well-known passage in the Bible.  Jesus is a friend of Mary, Martha and Lazarus and they are supportive of His ministry.  Jesus is staying on the other side of the Jordan with His disciples when He hears that Lazarus is ill.  He doesn’t leave immediately and by the time He arrives Lazarus has died and has been buried.  When He does arrive, He is confronted by the grieving sisters.  They are terribly upset that Jesus had not come immediately.  Jesus says to Martha that her brother will rise.  She answers, “I know he will rise again in resurrection at the last day.”  That is when Jesus says He is the resurrection and the life.  He says that whoever believes in Him will live and never die.

When Jesus arrives at the tomb and sees the family in great distress, He also cries, showing His very human side as He also feels their pain.  Martha says they can’t open the tomb as there will be a bad odour, because his body has already been four days in the tomb.  Jesus thanks His Father God for hearing Him for the family and their friends’ benefit.  He then called Lazarus to come out.  He came out still wrapped in his burial clothes.  He told Lazarus’ sisters to take off the burial clothes.  Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead to prepare the people for His own death and resurrection and to show them that God is the source of the resurrection and the source of life.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we thank You that You are the source of life and the resurrection.  Jesus, we believe, help our unbelief.  May all glory be Yours, through Your resurrection from the dead.  Amen