“… and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)

Jesus’ claim to be the resurrection and the life is so significant, and so frequently quoted, that the last sentence in verse 26 is often often missed. But that last little sentence is a vital one.

After saying that He was Himself the resurrection and the life, and that whoever believed in Him possessed eternal life, Jesus asked Martha a significant question: “Do you believe this?” This is a vital question. He was asking whether she had made this personal or not.  It is not enough to merely hear God’s truth proclaimed; you must personally put your faith in it, and commit to it. You have to make it personal.

In verse 27 Martha gives her answer: “Yes, Lord, I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” That was her personal confession of faith.  Jesus’ claim was not merely something she had heard about, but something that she herself trusted in. And that made all the difference for her.

It does for us too. It is not enough to hear the truth of Jesus proclaimed, or even to “know” mentally that it is true — the demons do that (James 2:19). But if we can answer like Martha did:  “Yes, Lord, I have believed” — that I myself believe this and am committed to it — it will make all the difference in our lives too!