The Resurrection and Life

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 ESV)

This is a question we still ask today, “Do you believe this?”  Do you believe Jesus is the Christ, the Mashiach, the Messiah? This verse in the Gospel of John tells us why it is so important.

Jesus, speaking to Martha, told her that He was the Christ. Amazingly enough, it is another woman who Jesus tells his true identity. First, he told the Samaritan woman at the well of Jethro that he was the Christ; now, he tells Martha the same. However, this time, not only does Jesus tell Martha, but he also shows her by raising Lazarus from the dead.

No matter how hard we try, we can never “make” someone understand the gospel. It is God who makes this possible. Martha believed that Lazarus would be raised from the dead at the resurrection. It is apparent that she did not realize the “Resurrection” stood before her. When Lazarus walked out of the tomb, the weight of glory of whom the man was that stood next to her must have been a crushing weight.

We are all commanded to spread the gospel. That does not mean we go baptizing in the Jordan River. Think of it as a jigsaw puzzle. Each person gives one a piece of the gospel, an explanation that may vary depending upon each person. Yet, each of these pieces is a piece of the puzzle.

If the person is an elected child of God’s choosing, the full gospel will be revealed, and the person will come to faith. Sharing the gospel may only be planting a seed, or it may be the final piece of the puzzle. It may be when the person says Jesus is “the resurrection and the life.” I now know that whoever believes in him, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in him shall never die.

If God blesses you and allows you to be the vessel, he uses to reveal the gospel, you will forever be changed. Why would one not want to see God work before them? Why would anyone want to miss a miracle taking place? Why would anyone not want to serve the Lord and fulfill his command to spread the gospel?

Evangelism isn't confined to street corners or ministries. It can unfold at the dinner table, the grocery store, or the gas pump. If God presents an opportunity before you, be bold in Christ and seize that moment. You could be the instrument God uses to transform a life from a pile of dirty rags into a child of God.

Grace and Peace!