The Power Of Faith

Martha’s brother Lazarus was dead.

• Jesus said to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believers in me will never die.” (John 11:25)

Martha sees God’s answer as something that can happen only in the future.

• Her first response was: “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (v.24)

• In a sense, she was right. This is what will really happen at Second Coming of Christ. The dead in Christ will be resurrected - 1 Thess 4:16-17

• But her faith only allows God to do that IN THE FUTURE.

• And so Lazarus has to remain dead, and wait for that day to come.

Jesus is always the “I AM” in your life.

• Whatever the situation, He is the ‘I AM’ in the situation you are facing.

• To Martha, who has just seen death, Jesus said “I am the resurrection & the life.”

• To those who walk in darkness, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)

• To those who are hungry, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35)

He is not the “I was” nor “I am going to be, or I will be” but the “I AM” in our lives.

Jesus’ answer was insightful.

• He said, “I am the resurrection AND the life.”

• He did not say “I am the resurrection” or “I am the life” but BOTH.

• If he has already died, then I will raise him up. I am the resurrection. If he has not, then he will never die. I am the life.

In order words, whether death has occurred or not, does not concern Jesus.

• If he is dead, I am his resurrection. If he is not dead, I am his life.

• Either way, he will live on.

Jesus wanted to stretch her faith, and those who were there mourning the death.

• When Jesus prayed outside the tomb - John 11:41-42

41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

• Jesus comes to us, in the present tense so to speak, to address a present need.

• He can bring life to the dead, right there and then.

• He can bring hope in a hopeless situation, right there and then.

• He can bring joy to the mourning, right there and then.

• He is and will always be the “I AM” in our situation.

That was how God introduced Himself to Moses.

• Moses was asked to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

• But what should I tell them, if they asked, “Who sent you?”

• Exo 3:14 “This is what you are to say to the Israelites: `I AM has sent me to you.’”

He will always be the ‘I AM’ in our lives.

• Jesus says, I am the light of the world, I am the bread of life, and I am way, the truth and the life. Always the present tense.

• In times of darkness He is your light, in times of need He is your bread of life, in times of weakness He is your vine, when you are lost He is your way, when you are confused, He is your truth.

In order words, if we felt that He is not doing what we expect Him to, it is because He has chosen NOT to.

• Because He is never late (even with Lazarus in the tomb for 4 days)

• And He is not confined to make things right only at some point in the future.

• Nothing limits Him. Sometimes we feel that God will work, when the situation is better, or when I get my act together… always under certain conditions.

• Martha came to know that Jesus can intervene and change a situation completely.

IF only you believe. “Do you believe this?” Jesus asked (v.26).

• What a question. It sounded too simplistic.

• Do you believe I can, even if I did not come on time to heal your brother?

• Do you believe I can, even if your brother has been dead for 4 days?

• Do you believe I can turn your mourning into joy?

• Martha, do you believe I am the resurrection and the life?

Believe is such an odd word – it is abstract; it is unseen, and action-less.

• Yet it is the key to seeing life in death, seeing light in darkness, seeing hope in despair, experiencing joy in sorrow.