INTRO TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, Sarah Barry
JESUS, THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
Passage: John 11:17~27  
Key verse: 25-26
Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.(A) 18 Now Bethany(B) was less than two miles[a] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.(C) 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.(D)
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.(E) 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”(F)
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection(G) at the last day.”(H)
25 Jesus said to her, “I am(I) the resurrection and the life.(J) The one who believes(K) in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing(L) in me will never die.(M) Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah,(N) the Son of God,(O) who is to come into the world.”(P)
Footnotes
- John 11:18 Or about 3 kilometers
Cross references
- John 11:17 : ver 6, 39
- John 11:18 : ver 1; S Mt 21:17
- John 11:19 : ver 31; Job 2:11
- John 11:20 : Lk 10:38-42
- John 11:21 : ver 32, 37
- John 11:22 : ver 41, 42
- John 11:24 : Da 12:2; Jn 5:28, 29; Ac 24:15
- John 11:24 : Jn 6:39, 40
- John 11:25 : S Jn 6:35
- John 11:25 : S Jn 1:4
- John 11:25 : S Jn 3:15
- John 11:26 : S Jn 3:15
- John 11:26 : S Mt 25:46
- John 11:27 : S Lk 2:11
- John 11:27 : S Mt 4:3
- John 11:27 : Jn 6:14
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. If you had been here.... (17-22)
By the time Jesus arrived, four days had already passed since Lazarus' burial. Many people came to comfort Martha and Mary in their loss. Martha went out to meet Jesus. She expressed her regret at Jesus' late arrival. She had not lost her faith, but she was disappointed.
2. Your brother will rise again (23-27)
Jesus plainly told her that her brother would rise again. Martha thought Jesus was referring to a faraway day when the dead shall rise. What she believed was correct, but it was not sufficient. The resurrection is not merely an event in the last day. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. By believing in Jesus, we have eternal life in the present. We are saved from eternal condemnation. We may go through physical death, but we live with the assurance that it is momentary, like sleep. We shall rise from the dead. This is what Jesus promises to all who believe in him. Do you believe this?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for giving eternal life. Help me to believe and use me to help others to believe.
One Word: I am the resurrection and the life