“Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?’” (John 11:25–26 nlt)
Because Jesus lives, everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.
Jesus demonstrated His power over death when He raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. Before Lazarus died, his sisters Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus, letting Him know that Lazarus was gravely ill. Instead of coming right away to heal Lazarus, as Mary and Martha likely hoped, Jesus waited until Lazarus died.
When he finally came, “Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died’” (John 11:21 nlt).
“Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?’” (verses 25–26 nlt).
Jesus was saying to His grieving friend, “Martha, listen to Me. Death is not the end! You’re acting as though itis over with. It is not over with.” At this point, I think He was speaking of something more profound than the resurrectionof Lazarus. After all, raising Lazarus from the dead—as exciting and joyful as that may have been—was only a temporaryproposition. Lazarus would just die again in a matter of years.
I think the bigger message was this: “Death is not the end. This is temporary. One day I will get rid of death altogether, and whoever believes in Me will live forever.”
Jesus wept at the death of His friend and at the sorrow of Lazarus’ two grieving sisters. But the death of His friend also brought Him anger.
John 11:33 tells us, “When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled” (nlt).
I think Jesus was angry at death itself because this was never God’s plan. God’s plan was to have us live forever. God’s plan was that our bodies would never age or wear out or experience sickness or limitations.
So, He was angry over that, and He wept. But these weren’t tears of frustration. God is never frustrated. Jesus wasangry and then did something about it that had been planned from eternity past. He gave up His life on a Roman cross, dying for the sins of the world, and then He rose again from the dead. The Bible says He has become the “firstfruits” ofthose who sleep, which means that He went before us.
And because He went before us into death and came out victorious on the other side, those of us who now live and will face death someday can be confident and unafraid. Because we will live forever.
Reflection question: How does the assurance that you will have eternal life impact your daily life in the here and now?
Copyright © 2026 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/ArtyFree
Greg Laurie is the pastor and founder of the Harvest churches in California and Hawaii and of Harvest Crusades. He is an evangelist, best-selling author, and movie producer. His latest film ‘Jesus Revolution,’ from Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, is now available on-demand worldwide.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com and weekly podcast on LifeAudio.com.
Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.
In thanks for your gift, you can receive a copy of As It Is In Heaven by Greg Laurie
What is Heaven like? Who will be there? What will we do in Heaven? Can people in Heaven see us here on Earth? Will we know each other in Heaven? These questions and many more are answered by Pastor Greg Laurie in an insightful and inspiring new book. As It Is in Heaven will be sent to you in thanks for your gift to Harvest Ministries this month. Get your copy of As It Is in Heaven when you make a gift to Harvest Ministries today!
