Jesus Came to Bring Life to the Dead

Jesus came to bring life to the dead.

Now when Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met Him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 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. 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?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” – John 11:17-27

What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ have to do with your busy holiday season? Mary and Martha help us to make a connection. These sisters make a couple of significant appearances in the gospel accounts. One is here, with the death of their brother Lazarus. But the other is in Luke 10:38-42, in the famous story where Martha and Mary play the host to Jesus and His disciples. In the brief story, Mary spends her time at her dinner guest’s feet in adoration. But Martha, we’re told, was “distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40). Jesus lovingly tells Martha, after she complains about the not-so-shared workload, that Mary has chosen the good portion, while Martha was anxious and troubled about many things. Even in this brief story, Jesus is pointing this busy-hearted sister to life in the midst of preoccupation.

As we turn to John 11, Jesus is doing a similar thing for Martha. Her dialogue with Jesus reveals her oft-troubled heart. But Jesus gently points her to life in the midst of sorrow. In the most tangible way possible, He points her to life in the deepest and truest sense. He points her to resurrection life.

Jesus came to raise the dead to life. Lazarus gives us a wonderful glimpse of the resurrection. But Jesus isn’t “the resurrection and the life” because of His ability to raise Lazarus from the dead. He is the resurrection and the life because He Himself was raised from the dead. The resurrection of Lazarus is miraculous, but it doesn’t mean much to you and me if Jesus doesn’t come and rise from the dead eternally. But because He did, we who have trusted in Christ will be raised to life with Him. Though we die, we shall yet live.

Jesus came to bring life to the dead. Let that reality reorient your heart this Advent. Whether you are anxious and distracted about your jam-packed schedule, or whether you are troubled by recent tragedy or sorrowful memories, let Jesus point you to life. Let Him lead you to Himself, for He is the resurrection and the life. Choose the better portion today, and marvel at the feet of the One who proclaims, “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.” Like Jesus asks Martha, ask yourself, “Do you believe this?” and respond accordingly.