John 11:25–26 — The Resurrection and the Life

John 11:25–26

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'"
— John 11:25–26 (NIV)

Reflection

Grief often feels like the end of the road. Death seems final, and despair insists that death buried hope with what was lost. Into that moment of sorrow, Jesus speaks words that overturn despair. He does not claim to know the way to life; He declares Himself to be life. He does not promise a philosophy or an idea; He offers His very person as the answer to death's power.

Martha had just lost her brother Lazarus. Her pain was real, her disappointment raw. Yet Jesus directed her gaze away from the grave to Himself. He pressed the question, Do you believe this? Faith is not an escape from mourning but the conviction that even in the shadow of death, Christ's authority stands unshaken. Death does not speak the last word; Christ does.

This truth does not remove tears, but it reframes them. For those who belong to Christ, death is no longer a wall but a doorway into unending life. His resurrection becomes the guarantee that loss is never final and that His life cannot be extinguished.

Biblical Insight

This exchange takes place in Bethany just before Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. The miracle that follows proves the truth of His words, but the claim itself stands apart from the sign. Jesus does not say He brings resurrection; He says He is resurrection. The shift from concept to person changes everything. Resurrection is not an event distant in time but a reality bound up in Christ. For John's Gospel, this moment captures the essence of Jesus' mission: to conquer death and bring eternal life to all who believe.

In Application

• Let this verse steady you when grief insists that death has won. Christ's resurrection declares otherwise.
• Answer Jesus' question personally: Do you believe this? Write your reply as a confession of faith.
• When fear of death unsettles you, remind yourself that life in Christ cannot end.

Practical Journaling

Reflect on John 11:25–26, then write with honesty:

• Where has death or loss felt final in your life, and how do these words of Jesus challenge that sense of finality?
• How does linking resurrection to Christ Himself, rather than to a distant event, strengthen your hope?
• What would it mean to answer Jesus' question today with conviction: Yes, Lord, I believe?

Take as much time as you need with this exercise, and if writing feels too difficult today, simply holding these questions in prayer is enough.