Sermons
You Must Believe in The Resurrection


As Jesus entered Jerusalem, He approached His final “passion” on the road to the Crucifixion. He stopped at the home of His friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, whom He had visited during His annual pilgrimage to the Passover in Jerusalem. This time, however, would be different—His last Passover. Having obeyed and fulfilled the law, Jesus was now prepared to die for the sins of the world, becoming the promised “Passover” lamb. Even with this purpose before Him, He still thought of others, desiring that all be saved. According to the Bible, He deliberately delayed healing His friend Lazarus, knowing it would lead to His own death. Many, including His disciples, the Jews present at the funeral, and especially Martha and Mary, were hurt that He healed others but did not save His friend. Yet Jesus had a greater purpose.

Jesus told His disciples, “I’m glad for your sakes that I wasn’t there, so you may believe; nevertheless, let’s go to him” (John 11:15). When He arrived, Mary, upset with Jesus, stayed in the house, while Martha went to meet Him, saying, “Lord, if You had been here, Lazarus wouldn’t have died.” Yet in her grief, Martha showed great faith, declaring, “Even now, I know that whatever You ask of God, He will give You.” Some Jews, both relatives and friends, scoffed, saying, “He healed a blind man, but couldn’t keep this man from dying.” Jesus told Martha, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live. Do you believe this?” Martha replied confidently, “I know he will rise in the Resurrection on the last day.” As a believer, she spoke of the Rapture and the resurrection of the dead—the hope of all believers—yet saw it as a future event (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58). But Jesus’ point to Mary was that He is the Resurrection, and the Kingdom of Heaven and salvation are not just future promises—they are a present hope found in Him. He told the Pharisees, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21).

The story ends with Jesus praying to heaven, asking God to honor His request because of their relationship as Father and Son, and to raise Lazarus. This happens as Jesus tells them to remove the stone and commands, “Lazarus, come forth!” Lazarus rises from the dead, and Jesus tells them to set him free. This true account reveals spiritual truths for us today: Jesus is the Resurrection, and eternal life is not just an event but a present hope through Him. The Bible declares in Romans 10:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, and 1 Corinthians 15:1-6 that to be saved, a person must believe in the Resurrection. Finally, God showed His power and fulfilled prophecy by going to the cross, dying, being buried, and rising again victoriously, taking the “keys of death and hell” from Satan so that humanity would no longer fear death, but have eternal hope in the resurrection, as stated in Revelation 1:18.