March 10 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

In March we read the gospel of John. John wrote his gospel so that his readers would know and believe the claims of Jesus. Those who do have everlasting life here and now.

Bible Reading:

John 11:17–27

Bible Text:

"I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25).

Devotional:

All three were unmarried, apparently. Martha was single, Mary was single, Lazarus was a bachelor. Jesus himself was not married either. Some Christian churches and families always think and talk "couples" and "families." They look almost suspiciously at single adults. That's not good. A single status is very honorable.

Jesus comforted these women after their brother's death. "Your brother will rise again," Jesus assured Martha (v. 23). "I know," she replied, for she was well-versed in the orthodox Jewish faith, which in this instance is also the orthodox Christian faith. At the resurrection the dead will be made alive by the power of God.

Then Jesus made one of his deep "I am" statements: "No, Martha, what I'm telling you is not conventional comfort. I want you to believe that I am the resurrection and the life. Once you're one with me by faith, you will live, even if you die. Bodily death cannot end this life. Once you live by faith in me, you live forever."

New life, eternal life, does not come only at the end, on the day of resurrection. Once we believe in Jesus and receive his Spirit in our hearts, we have passed from death to life. We are born anew, remade from above. Jesus does not merely tell us about life, he is life. He not only speaks of the resurrection, he is the resurrection.

Even bodily death cannot break our tie to Jesus.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.