Do You Believe This?

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John 11:25–26 “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?”

1. Grief Meets Hope

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

You could begin by illustrating the backdrop of grief surrounding Lazarus's death. Jesus arrives amidst mourning, emphasizing human frailty and the inevitability of death—a reality everyone faces. Yet, in this moment of sorrow, there's anticipation in Jesus's presence. This section sets the stage for revealing hope, suggesting that, even in despair, the entrance of Christ introduces a significant shift from hopelessness to potential resurrection.

2. Doubt Meets Faith

Romans 5:1–2 “1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Purhaps, you can highlight how Martha, despite mourning, showcases a glimmer of belief in Jesus’s transformative power. Her initial reaction to Jesus, while filled with pointed disappointment, evolves into a dialogue of faith. She acknowledges Jesus’s ability to speak to God, hinting at belief beyond the current sorrow. This encounter shows the tension between facing present grief and holding onto hope, inviting listeners to see Jesus as a beacon in distress.

3. Death Meats Life

Philippians 3:10–11 “10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”