Read John 11:28–57
Today we witness the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to Martha: Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. This event serves as a foreshadowing of Christ’s own victory over death and a reminder that death does not have the final word for those who trust in Him.
When Jesus arrives at the tomb, He is deeply moved by the grief of Mary, Martha, and the others. He weeps with them, sharing in their pain. But Jesus doesn’t leave the situation in sorrow. He approaches Lazarus’s tomb with a profound confidence in God’s power and purpose. In this moment, Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25), reaffirming His authority over life and death.
When Jesus calls Lazarus to come out of the tomb, Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, walks out alive, still wrapped in his burial clothes. The crowd is astonished. Through this miracle, Jesus reveals that even death, the most feared and seemingly final of human experiences, must submit to God’s authority. The raising of Lazarus is not just about one man’s return to life; it’s a sign pointing to Jesus’ own impending death and resurrection, where He will once and for all conquer death for all who believe.
Death is not the end. For Lazarus, the grave could not hold him, and for Jesus, the crucifixion would not be the final chapter. Death may seem overwhelming and final in the moment, but through Jesus, we are promised eternal life. He breaks the power of death, turning it into a doorway to eternal communion with God.
As believers, we can live in the hope that death does not have the final word over our lives either. Jesus’
resurrection power is at work in us, transforming our fear of death into confidence in His promise of life. No matter what we face, we can trust that in Christ, life—eternal life—will always prevail over death.
Begin praying with Psalm 118:17:
“I will not die, but I will live
and proclaim what the LORD has done.”