April 25

From Pastor Gary…

I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. (John 11:25-26)

Jesus spoke these words just before he raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus had been in the tomb four days to give proof that he was certainly dead. When Lazarus walked out of the tomb that day, Jesus made known his power over death. He showed that magnificently when He walked out of His own tomb that first Easter morning. Christ had already paid the price of sin by His death on the cross. When Jesus arose from death, he destroyed our last enemy. Therefore, even though we die physically, we will also be raised on the last day and live forever in the presence of God. All people who, by faith, believe and trust in Christ’s death for the forgiveness of sin, and His resurrection for eternal life, receive both.

Today’s verse actually ends with a question posed to Martha. Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?
This is an important question to which the answer has eternal significance. By God’s grace, through faith, can we answer as did Martha, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world” (John 11:27)

​Verse for today:
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:12)