Upper Room Daily Devotional "Faith in the Resurrection" for Monday, 24 February 2014 - Read John 11

Upper Room Daily Devotional "Faith in the Resurrection" for Monday, 24 February 2014 - Read John 11:17 So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia[a] away. 19 Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 20 Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house. 21 Therefore Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 Even now I know that, whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world.”
Footnotes:
a. John 11:18 15 stadia is about 2.8 kilometers or 1.7 miles
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die.--John 11:25 (CEB)
In 2008, when my father died unexpectedly, I sank into depression and felt numb for a long time. My sessions with a psychologist did not bring me out of the depression; I sank deeper into sadness. What lifted me out of the depths of darkness with more understanding, faith, and strength was an event that happened more than 2,000 years ago. The assurance of resurrection was like a balm to my constant and profound sadness. The knowledge that Jesus did not remain on the cross or in the tomb but was raised from the dead, as he promised, was powerful consolation to me. The truth of Christ’s resurrection became my anchor. I gained confidence that one day, on the day of the glorious resurrection, we will all be together again in a place where fear, pain, and death will be no more. With hope in the resurrection of Christ, I knew I had not lost my father, for he was with the Lord; and the Lord is with me.--The Author-Marlenin Roman (Dominican Republic)
Thought for the Day: Christ’s resurrection assures us that love is stronger than death.
Prayer: Living and loving Christ, comfort those who grieve, for your love is more powerful than death. Amen.
Prayer focus: Mental health workers
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