Jesus said to [Martha], "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."
John 11:25-26
In Mark 2 we find Jesus performing a physical miracle (healing) in order to prove His authority to perform a spiritual miracle (forgiveness). Healing is visible while forgiveness is invisible. So He performed a visible healing to convince His doubters that His invisible act of forgiveness was just as genuine (verses 1-12). He did something similar when His friend Lazarus died.
Recommended Reading:
1 Corinthians 15:50-53
Before raising Lazarus from the dead—a physical miracle—Jesus told Lazarus's sister Martha a spiritual truth: Even though one dies physically, he will live forever spiritually through faith in Christ. Jesus' authority to make such a claim could have been questioned before He brought Lazarus back to life—but not after. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, His authority to say that the one who believes in Him shall never die was established.
Eventually, Lazarus died again physically but not spiritually. And Jesus' own resurrection ensures that all who believe in Him shall live eternally. Thank Him today for His resurrection that authorizes your resurrection and eternal life.
Eternal life does not begin with death; it begins with faith
