Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die (John 11:25, 26).
These words comforted Martha, who had just lost her brother, and they have comforted the children of God down through the weary centuries to this very day. It is written, "Because I live, ye shall live also" (John 14:19). Can we imagine the world's great philosopher's saying, "I am the resurrection, and the life"? Could Socrates say it, or Plato, or Aristotle? Could any of the great teachers or leaders of this world say it? Yet Jesus could say it, and it was the truth. Only He could proclaim over the rent sepulcher, "I am the resurrection, and the life."
Our Lord declared, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36). The believer may fall asleep in what we call death, but it is not eternal death. As it was said of Lazarus, it may be said of the believer, "He sleepeth." And someday our Savior will come, as He said, to "awake him out of sleep" (John 11:11).
While R. W. Dale was once building a sermon on the subject "The Empty Tomb of Christ," the thought of the risen Lord broke upon him in a new revelation. "Christ is alive," he said to himself. "Alive now, today, just as certainly as I am! He is alive this very minute, and alive forevermore." At first it seemed hardly true. Then it came with a sudden burst of glory--Christ is now living! "I must get this across to my people," he said. "I must preach it in every sermon."
Why shouldn't this wonderful thought grip our hearts every day? "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore" (Rev. 1:18). "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me will never die."
MEDITATION PRAYER: "O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit" (Ps. 30:3).
These words comforted Martha, who had just lost her brother, and they have comforted the children of God down through the weary centuries to this very day. It is written, "Because I live, ye shall live also" (John 14:19). Can we imagine the world's great philosopher's saying, "I am the resurrection, and the life"? Could Socrates say it, or Plato, or Aristotle? Could any of the great teachers or leaders of this world say it? Yet Jesus could say it, and it was the truth. Only He could proclaim over the rent sepulcher, "I am the resurrection, and the life."
Our Lord declared, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36). The believer may fall asleep in what we call death, but it is not eternal death. As it was said of Lazarus, it may be said of the believer, "He sleepeth." And someday our Savior will come, as He said, to "awake him out of sleep" (John 11:11).
While R. W. Dale was once building a sermon on the subject "The Empty Tomb of Christ," the thought of the risen Lord broke upon him in a new revelation. "Christ is alive," he said to himself. "Alive now, today, just as certainly as I am! He is alive this very minute, and alive forevermore." At first it seemed hardly true. Then it came with a sudden burst of glory--Christ is now living! "I must get this across to my people," he said. "I must preach it in every sermon."
Why shouldn't this wonderful thought grip our hearts every day? "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore" (Rev. 1:18). "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me will never die."
MEDITATION PRAYER: "O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit" (Ps. 30:3).
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