SCRIPTURE | John 11:17-27
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”
REFLECTION
In the midst of sorrow and despair, we find Jesus encountering the grieving sisters, Martha and Mary, over the death of their brother Lazarus. Martha’s faith is tested, yet she clings to hope, expressing belief in the resurrection on the last day. Jesus responds with the profound declaration, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”
In this passage, Jesus reveals himself as the source of ultimate hope and eternal life. Even in our darkest moments of loss and uncertainty, we can find solace in knowing that Jesus is with us, offering comfort and the promise of resurrection. Through Lazarus, Jesus demonstrates his power over death, foreshadowing his own resurrection to come.
As we journey through Lent, let us hold fast to the hope found in Christ. May we trust in his promise of new life and resurrection, allowing his presence to bring light into our darkest moments.
WRITTEN BY | Laura Potts