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Journey to Jerusalem Day 37

Thursday, April 2 John 11:18-27
18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”


Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. He gives us breath and takes it away. Everything exists by his power. If you wish to live, only Jesus can grant that desire; and if you wish to die, only Jesus can grant that also.
So when Martha said, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world,” I don’t think she understood that He, in all his power, was already in the world and in control. She believed him and she did not.
She couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that Jesus could make Lazarus alive again after so many days. Even though Martha had most likely seen or heard about other miracles that Jesus had done she still couldn’t think beyond human restraints.
Do you do the same thing, believe and yet not believe—knowing it in your head but not living it out? Do you believe that Christ will come again but do not let him give you new life right now?
As this Lenten season of self-examination is almost over, I urge you to think and pray about how you incorporate your beliefs about Jesus into your everyday life.


Thank you, Lord for your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as we walk daily with you. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.