“If you had been here, he wouldn’t have died.” Her brother, dead. Her friend, too late.

Martha had buried her brother Lazarus four days before. Her friend Jesus had just arrived. She knew Jesus could have healed him. She knew Jesus could do anything, even now.

Jesus says to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha answers, “I know he will, at the last day.”

Jesus says to her, “I am the resurrection.”

Resurrection. To rise again. To have fallen in death and to stand up again alive. That’s impossible. For man it is impossible. For God nothing is impossible.

Jesus is God. Jesus is the resurrection.

He goes to the tomb of Lazarus. He sees the sorrow that death brings. He watches the tears that you and I cry at the death of one we love. Jesus breaks down. Drops run down his cheeks.

Death is an enemy. Death is the consequence of disobedience. When God created the world, people were made never to die. Unfortunately people disobeyed, and now they die, a punishment.

Jesus wept when he saw the pain human disobedience had brought.

Jesus took on the pain human disobedience had brought. He walked straight to the tomb. He insisted the stone be rolled away. He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”

Jesus is resurrection. Death was powerless before his almighty word. Lazarus came out.

Then Jesus took on the pain human disobedience had brought again. He willingly went to his own tomb, dying but not for any sin of his own. He endured punishment for sins you and I and Lazarus committed. Our substitute. Facing death. Unafraid.

Because Jesus is resurrection. On the third day Jesus raised himself. He was delivered over to death because of our sins. He was raised to life because we have been declared innocent of all sin.

You are forgiven! Believe it. Know that he who believes in Jesus will live, even though he dies.

Jesus took on death and won. Jesus is resurrection.

Jesus took on your death and won. Jesus is your resurrection.