Bible Verse

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Word Study

• 2) to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith

• We think it means 1b2, to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving, because our passage talks about whoever believes or trust in Jesus will live even though they die. Whenever we die, we will also be living with Christ. If we trust in Christ, then when we die we will live with him and have good lifetime in heaven.

Translations

Message	You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?”
New International Version	Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
English Standard Version	25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[a] 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?”
New Living Translation	25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[a] Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?
Young's Literal Translation	Jesus said to her, `I am the rising again, and the life; he who is believing in me, even if he may die, shall live; and every one who is living and believing in me shall not die -- to the age

Literary Context

This is the literary context of the 10th, 11th, and 12th chapters of John. This includes what is going on the chapter before and after our passage.

• The Good Shepherd and His Sheep (10:1-21)

• Jesus is like a gate. He is the gate to God and eternal life.

• Further Conflict over Jesus’ Claims (10:22-42)

• We tend to think things over to much. Most of the time God puts things right in front of us, but we are too ignorant to see it.

• The Death of Lazarus (11:1-16)

• Jesus is like daytime. He will lead us through the bad and the good. Even when we feel like we can’t see anything.

• Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus (11:17-37)

• Those who believe in Jesus will live forever in though they will die.

• Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead (11:38-44)

• Jesus cried from Lazarus death, He cried to the father and He brought back Lazarus.

• The Plot to Kill Jesus (11:45-57)

• The Pharisees wanted to get rid of Jesus, because everyone was starting to believe in Him.

• Jesus Anointed at Bethany (12:1-11)

• Jesus goes to Bethany where Lazarus lives which is who he raised from the dead. There, a girl, Mary, poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet; Judas challenged her decision to do this, wanting the money.

• Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King (12:12-19)

• Jews from Bethany praise him as he leaves for Jerusalem.  

• Jesus Predicts His Death (12:20-36)

• Jesus tells the crowd that the time has come for people to know him, and God even chimes in on what God is saying. Jesus also says that they should follow the light.

• Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews (12:37-50)

• Even though Jesus performed miracles and signs, people still do not believe in him.  Jesus states that he did not come to judge the world.

What this random dude has to say about our verse!

Historical Questions!

1) What did resurrection mean back then? The Sadducees believed that there is no such thing as resurrection at all. They went so far to say that there are no such thing as angels or demons. The pharisees believed in physical resurrection back then. In this context, Jesus is talking about a spiritual resurrection. According to Jewish Law, people would use lambs blood to cover their sins. But Jesus knew that his blood would cover everyone's sins.
2) Who is Martha? Martha was the sister and Mary. Mary and Martha were friends of Jesus. Together they are well known within the bible. Mary was looked at as the scholarly, and more spiritual. Martha was looked at as the homemaker and more ‘uptight’.

What it means to our group?

1.In this passage Jesus is making a promise to Martha. He tells her that He is the resurrection, and the life. We can apply this to our lives by taking Jesus at his word when he says that even though we will die, we will live. Through Christ we will be glorified and living even though our physical bodies are dead.