Lazarus was a friend of Jesus. Jesus received a message that Lazarus was very sick. Jesus does not go to see him for two days. Then he says that Lazarus is sleeping and he will go and wake him up.

Let us focus on his sister, Martha, who scolds Jesus for being too late. Jesus assures her that Lazarus will live again.

Martha answers that he will rise in the future resurrection. But Jesus exclaims, “I am the resurrection…” Martha has faith in Jesus but wonders what he means. Jesus goes to the grave.

What does Jesus mean by this remarkable statement? At the gravesite, he stuns everyone by calling for the grave to be opened.

He prays and calls out, “Lazarus, come forth!”

Lazarus comes forth as well as he can, encumbered by grave wrappings. Jesus tells the stunned people to help Lazarus remove the wrappings.

The impact of this is astounding. Lazarus is well known. Many have come from Jerusalem, not far away, to join the mourners. Fear gives way to faith in some. Others go to the leaders to report this event. The leaders say that Jesus has gone too far. He must be eliminated.

Jesus is well aware of the impact of raising Lazarus. But what did he mean by “I am the resurrection?” We, like Martha, believe in a future resurrection, as we should. But do we believe what Jesus said? That He IS the Resurrection. This moment. As Paul says, the power of the resurrection lives in us. What does that mean?