Audio Transcript

Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25–26). When Jesus died and rose again, he destroyed “the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,” so that those who were held in lifelong bondage by the fear of death might be utterly free (Hebrews 2:14–15). That statement that he made to Martha is paradoxical. It says, “Though you die, yet will you live.” Then it says, “You won’t die.” Death is real — and yet, it’s not ultimately real.

Followers of Jesus have had the sting of death removed. Death has become a doorway to paradise. We walk through it into the presence of Jesus. Therefore, “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,” for nothing you do in the hope of the resurrection will be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).