19 - The Resurrection & The Life
Scripture Passages: John 11, Psalm 36
Devotional
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were sure you knew what God was supposed to do, but He didn’t do it the way you thought He would? Maybe you had everything figured out—how God was going to show up, when He was going to show up, and exactly how He was going to fix everything. But then… silence. Or worse, He seems to move in a completely different direction.
That’s what happens in John 11, with the story of Lazarus. Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters, knew Jesus well. When Lazarus got sick, they sent for Him, sure that He would be able to heal him. But Jesus didn’t drop everything and rush to their side. Instead, He waited two days before heading to Bethany, and by the time He arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days.
This delay must have felt like a huge letdown to them. They were sure Jesus would heal Lazarus, but it didn’t go as they expected. This is something that we can most certainly relate to. We’ve all had moments when life didn’t unfold the way we planned, and we wondered, Where is God in this?
God’s Timing is Different
But Jesus wasn’t late. He was working according to a bigger plan. In fact, He tells His disciples that Lazarus’ sickness would not end in death, but would reveal God’s glory (John 11:4). In other words, even in the pain and confusion, God had a purpose. And that’s true for us too—nothing happens without purpose in God’s kingdom. Even when life feels out of control, God is still working for His glory, and for our good.
Faith in the Midst of Pain
When Martha meets Jesus, she expresses her disappointment: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). But then she adds something powerful: “But I know that even now, whatever You ask of God, God will give it You” (John 11:22).
Even in her grief, Martha still expresses faith in Jesus. She still believes He can do something, even though everything looks hopeless. It’s a beautiful reminder that, even when things don’t go as planned, we can keep trusting our Lord.
Jesus is the Resurrection
Jesus’ response to Martha is simple but profound: “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). He doesn’t say, I can resurrect people or I have life—He says, I am the resurrection and the life. This is the heart of the Gospel: Jesus is not just the one who gives life, He is life.
For Christians, this changes everything. Jesus defeated death when He rose from the grave, and He offers that same resurrection life to all who believe in Him. No matter what we face in life, death no longer has the final word.
The miracle of Lazarus coming back to life shows us that death is no match for Jesus. Death is powerless because Jesus is life, and death has no authority over Him. This is the power we have in Christ!
A Call to Believe
So, what does this mean for us? Maybe you’re facing something today that feels like it’s fallen apart. Maybe you feel disappointed because God didn’t act how you thought He would. But in those moments, we can remember that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He is still working, even when we don’t understand His timing.
Jesus asked Martha, “Believest thou this?” (John 11:26). Do we truly believe that He is the resurrection and the life? Do we trust Him, even when things don’t go as we expect?
If you’re struggling today, take heart—Jesus sees your pain, and He has the power to bring life where there seems to be none. Because He is the resurrection and the life, we can face the future with confidence, knowing that death doesn’t have the final say.
Prayer:
Lord, we thank You for being the resurrection and the life. Even when life doesn’t go as we expect, we trust that You are always working for Your glory and our good. Help us to rest in Your timing and place our hope in Your power to bring life to every situation. Strengthen our faith and remind us that You are with us, always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.