This quotation is a brief summary of the good news of Jesus. He says that anyone who believes in him will live, even after death. He says that life comes only through him. And he does not merely say that he knows how to find the resurrection and the life; he says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” This occurs amid the dramatic story of the raising of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, Jesus’ close friends. Lazarus became ill and died while Jesus was away. Jesus even waited to come so that everyone would know Lazarus was surely dead by the time Jesus arrived. Jesus did this so that his followers would believe, learning that he had the power to raise someone from the dead. Then Jesus went to Lazarus’s tomb and brought his friend back to life, so that everyone would believe and see the glory of God (John 11:1-44). Soon after that, resurrected life became available to all—through Jesus’ own death and resurrection. As the apostle Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15, Jesus became “the firstfruits” of resurrection life for all who “belong to him”—that is, for all who believe in him as Savior and Lord. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, all can rise with him. All that God requires is that we believe Jesus is indeed the resurrection and the life.

Jesus, you are the resurrection and the life. Raise us with you. Thank you for giving us life after death, that we may live with you as part of God’s family forever. Amen.