John 11 25

John 11:25 kjv

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 11:25 nkjv

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

John 11:25 niv

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

John 11:25 esv

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

John 11:25 nlt

Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

John 11 verses

John 11 25 Meaning

John 11:25 encapsulates Jesus' profound claim as the embodiment of life triumphant over death. Faced with Martha's sorrow and belief in a future resurrection, Jesus declares Himself to be the very source and substance of both resurrection power and eternal life. For those who place their trust in Him, physical death is not the end but a passage, for they possess a spiritual life in Christ that death cannot extinguish, leading ultimately to bodily resurrection.

John 11 25 Context

The immediate setting for John 11:25 is Jesus' visit to Bethany after His friend Lazarus has died and been buried for four days. Martha, Lazarus' sister, expresses her grief and faith in a future resurrection, stating, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." She clarifies her belief: "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day" (Jn 11:21-24). It is within this profound human sorrow and the anticipation of a future divine act that Jesus delivers His foundational "I AM" declaration. The conversation challenges Martha's limited perspective of resurrection as a future event by presenting Himself as the present reality and embodiment of both resurrection and life, dramatically demonstrated moments later by raising Lazarus.

Historically and culturally, Jesus' statement challenged contemporary Jewish understandings of death and resurrection. The Sadducees, a prominent religious group, denied any resurrection of the dead (Mk 12:18). The Pharisees, whom Martha's belief generally aligned with, did affirm a general resurrection at the end of time, a belief rooted in certain Old Testament passages (e.g., Dan 12:2). However, none among the Jewish groups envisioned the Messiah as being the "resurrection" itself in a present and personal sense. Jesus' claim, therefore, not only confirmed the hope of resurrection but redefined it, placing His own person at its center as the active agent and essence, rather than a mere bringer of an event. It also stood in contrast to popular Hellenistic philosophical ideas which often devalued the physical body, viewing the soul as immortal, but rejecting the concept of bodily resurrection entirely. Jesus asserted both spiritual life and eventual physical resurrection as realities bound in His own identity.

John 11 25 Word Analysis

• Jesus said to her, "I am":

  • "Jesus" (Ἰησοῦς, Iēsous): The human name of the Son of God, linking the divine claim to a specific person known to Martha.
  • "said to her": A direct address, deeply personal and authoritative to Martha in her moment of grief and belief.
  • "I am" (Ἐγὼ εἰμι, Egō eimi): This phrase holds immense theological weight. It is an emphatic, divine self-identification echoing Yahweh's declaration to Moses ("I AM WHO I AM") in Ex 3:14 (LXX). In John's Gospel, Jesus uses it seven times metaphorically (Bread of Life, Light of the World, etc.) and also in absolute claims, asserting His divinity and pre-existence (Jn 8:58). Here, it proclaims His unique and ultimate authority, identifying Himself with divine power.

• "the resurrection and the life.":

  • "the resurrection" (ἡ ἀνάστασις, hē anastasis): This is a definite article followed by the noun, meaning Jesus is the actual resurrection, not merely its facilitator. It refers to the raising of the dead, signifying triumph over death's dominion. He embodies the power to bring life back from physical cessation.
  • "and the life" (καὶ ἡ ζωή, kai hē zōē): Again, a definite article emphasizes Jesus as the unique source and essence of "life." This is not just biological existence (bios), but divine, spiritual, and eternal life that originates from God (Jn 1:4, 14:6). He not only restores life but is the quality and substance of unending, true life.

• "The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;":

  • "The one who believes" (Ὁ πιστεύων, Ho pisteuōn): Present active participle, signifying continuous and active trust, commitment, and reliance on Jesus. It's not passive assent but active faith.
  • "in me" (εἰς ἐμὲ, eis eme): The preposition eis with the accusative indicates direction into Christ, emphasizing a vital, living union with Him, not merely belief about Him.
  • "will live" (ζήσεται, zēsetai): Future active indicative, expressing certainty. This refers primarily to the continuation of eternal spiritual life already possessed by the believer, but also pointing to future bodily resurrection.
  • "even though they die" (κἂν ἀποθάνῃ, kan apothanē): Literally "even if he should die." This acknowledges the reality of physical death for believers, but minimizes its ultimate power. Physical death cannot interrupt or terminate the eternal spiritual life found in Christ. It asserts that spiritual life, begun through faith, is immune to the finality of physical demise.

Words-group Analysis:

• "I am the resurrection and the life": This self-declaration highlights Jesus' ultimate power and identity. He is not merely a prophet who speaks about resurrection and life, nor merely an agent of them, but their very embodiment and essence. This positions Him as sovereign over death and the giver of eternal vitality. It asserts His divinity and exclusive claim to offer salvation.
• "The one who believes in me will live, even though they die": This phrase explains the condition and the promise. Faith in Jesus is the gateway to receiving and maintaining this resurrection life. It offers incredible hope: physical death loses its sting (1 Cor 15:55), for the believer's true, spiritual life is secured and continues seamlessly through Christ. It conveys that union with Christ guarantees life both spiritually in the present and physically in the future resurrection.

John 11 25 Bonus section

This verse beautifully illustrates the "already and not yet" dynamic of the Kingdom of God. Believers already possess eternal life in Christ now ("will live" implies present and continuing spiritual life), yet the full, physical bodily resurrection that perfects this life is not yet realized (it awaits "the last day" as Martha believed, but now understood to be inaugurated by Jesus' own resurrection). Jesus' statement implies that the spiritual aspect of "resurrection" (new life from spiritual death) begins at the moment of faith, and that physical death becomes a gateway rather than an interruption to that life. It is also one of the central proof texts for the doctrine of Christ's absolute sovereignty over death and His unique capacity to grant spiritual and physical revival.

John 11 25 Commentary

John 11:25 is a monumental declaration, serving as the cornerstone of Christian hope regarding life after death. Jesus reveals not just a divine capability but a divine identity. By saying "I AM the resurrection and the life," He directly appropriates the divine name (Ex 3:14), positioning Himself as the ultimate authority over all existence, including the power of death. This assertion goes beyond promising a future event; it states that the source, power, and reality of both resurrection and eternal life reside fully within Him now. For Martha, who believed in a resurrection on the last day, Jesus shifts the focus to a present, living relationship. He embodies the victory over death that Adam's sin brought, providing the antithesis of the curse. This verse clarifies that while physical death is inevitable, it is not terminal for the believer. Through faith, one receives an indwelling spiritual life that transcends the grave, bridging the gap between temporal existence and eternity, and securing a future physical resurrection to join that continuous life. It encourages us to look beyond death as a fearful end, viewing it instead as a transition for those whose life is found in Christ.