I am the Resurrection and the Life

What did Jesus mean by, "I am the resurrection and the life"?

JOHN 11 BIBLE STUDY ◄
John 11:11-24 Lazarus

John 11:25-34 I Am the Resurrection and Life

John 11:35-42 Jesus Wept

JOHN 11:25-26 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

What does Jesus mean by, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25)?
If Jesus had told Martha, "I can affect resurrection and the life," or "I am in charge of resurrection and the life," those already would have been astonishing statements. But Jesus went even further and declared, "I AM the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). While Martha sees a demarcation between life and death and is lamenting that her brother has crossed over from life to death, Jesus is declaring that such demarcation is immaterial to Him, for He can raise the dead - "though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25) - and grant everlasting life: "whoever believes in Me shall never die" (John 11:26).

JOHN 11:27 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

What is Martha's answer to Jesus' question, "Do you believe this" (John 11:26)?
Jesus asked her if she believed in something specific about Him: His power over life and death. Her general response - “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” (John 11:27) - actually doesn't answer His question, and her words to follow indicate that she actually doesn't believe that Jesus can raise the dead.

JOHN 11:28-31 28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”

Did Martha wait for Jesus to respond to her answer?
No: "When she had said these things, she went her way ..." (John 11:28)

Why did Martha tell Mary "secretly" (John 11:28) that Jesus is calling for her?
She could have been concerned that some of "the Jews who were with her in the house" (John 11:31) may have been among or the informers of those who were seeking to arrest Jesus.

Why did Jesus remain "in the place where Martha met Him" instead of coming "into the town" (John 11:30)?
When Mary left her house in town to go to Jesus, the Jews thought she was "going to the tomb" (John 11:31), so coming into the town would have been a detour for Jesus, who was headed for the area of the tombs outside the town.

JOHN 11:32-34 32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

What did Mary say to Jesus when she saw Him?
“Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32).

What did Martha say to Jesus when she saw Him?
“Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:22).

Is that a coincidence?
It could be, or it could be evidence of Lazarus' two sisters having spent the past four days lamenting, even resenting, together Jesus' absence.

Why did Jesus groan "in the spirit" and why was He "troubled" (John 11:33)?
Let's read on.