Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even if he dies, he will live.
11:25 Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life; — Jesus wanted Martha’s faith to increase, that if she believed in the resurrection at the last day she should understand that this resurrection would be effected by Christ. In saying “I am the resurrection” he said that He is the power that effects it (6:39, 54; 10:28), that life and resurrection were present in his person. He is the source or cause of physical life and spiritual life (eternal life) (1:4; 5:26-29; 10:10). It is necessary to believe not only in the reality of the resurrection as a fact, but also in the person who makes the resurrection possible. The truth expressed here is actually the same truth expressed to the Samaritan woman about the water of life (4:10, 14) and to the Galileans about the bread of life (6:35). “In him was life” (1:4). — Whoever believes in me, even if he is dead, he will live. — In Christ the dead live, and the living do not die. Christ wanted to take Martha to a higher level of faith. He wanted her to understand that the resurrection of the body has its true meaning in the eternal life that Christ gives us.
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
I am the resurrection. Joh 5:21; Joh 6:39, Joh 6:40, Joh 6:44; Romans 5:17-19; Romans 8:11; 1Co 15:20-26, 1Co 15:43-57; 2Co 4:14; Phil 3:10, Phil 3:20, Phil 3:21; 1Thess 4:14; Rev 20:5, Rev 20:10-15; Rev 21:4.
and life. Joh 1:4; Joh 5:26; Joh 6:35; Joh 14:6, Joh 14:19; Ps 36:9; Isaiah 38:16; Ac 3:15; Romans 8:2; Col 3:3, Col 3:4; 1Jn 1:1, 1Jn 1:2; 1Jn 5:11, 1Jn 5:12; Rev 22:1, Rev 22:17.
whoever believes in me, even if he is dead, will live. Joh 3:36; Job 19:25-27; Isaiah 26:19; Luke 23:43; Romans 4:17; Romans 8:10, Romans 8:11, Romans 8:38, Romans 8:39; 1Co 15:18, 1Co 15:29; 2Co 5:1-8; Phil 1:23; 1Thess 4:14; Hebrews 11:13-16.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
christ is the resurrection for those who believe and are physically dead. It is life for those who believe and are still alive. When Jesus asked Mary if she believed, she responded with words similar to those John used to describe the purpose of his book (Joh 20:31). To have eternal life, a person must put faith in Jesus, who is the Christ, the Son of Godwho came into the world to give eternal life to those who believe.
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
I AM THE RESURRECTION. For the person who believes in Jesus Christ, physical death is not a tragic end. Rather it is the gateway to abundant eternal life and fellowship with God. The “shall live” of v. Joh 11:25 it refers to the resurrection; the “shall not die forever” of v. Joh 11:26 it means that the resurrected believer will never die. He will have a new body, immortal and imperishable (1Co 15:42; 1Co 15:54), which cannot die or decompose (cf. Romans 8:10; 2Co 4:16; see ARTICLE THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY, P. 1640. ).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
This is the fifth in a series of seven great statements by Jesus that begin with the phrase “I am” (see Joh 6:35; Joh 8:12; Joh 10:7; Joh 10:9; Joh 10:11; Joh 10:14). With this statement, Jesus moved Martha away from an abstract belief in the resurrection that will take place “at the last day” (cf. Joh 5:28-29) to a personalized trust in the one who alone can raise the dead. Neither the resurrection nor eternal life exist without the intervention of the Son of God. Time (“in the last day”) is no barrier to him who possesses the power of resurrection and life (Joh 1:4), for which He can give life at any time and to whomever He wants.
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
11:25 Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life; — Jesus wanted Martha’s faith to increase, that if she believed in the resurrection at the last day she should understand that this resurrection would be effected by Christ. In saying “I am the resurrection” he was saying that He is the power that effects it (6:39, 54; 10:28), that in his person life and resurrection were present. He is the source or cause of physical life and spiritual life (eternal life) (1:4; 5:26-29; 10:10). It is necessary to believe not only in the reality of the resurrection as a fact, but also in the person who makes the resurrection possible.
The truth expressed here is actually the same truth expressed to the Samaritan woman about the water of life (4:10, 14) and to the Galileans about the bread of life (6:35). “In him was life” (1:4).
— whoever believes in me, even if he is dead, will live. — In Christ the dead live, and the living do not die. Christ wanted to take Martha to a higher level of faith. He wanted her to understand that the resurrection of the body has its true meaning in the eternal life that Christ gives us.
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
“Jesus clarifies him with these words”, which literally means “Jesus tells him”: I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he is dead, he will live“He who believes in me will live even if he dies.” The NEB translates this expression with two copulative sentences: “I am the resurrection and I am the life.” Although the original text uses nouns for “resurrection” and “life”, in some languages the idea will be better expressed with verb forms such as: “I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again”, “I give life to the dead and let them live fully”, “I am the one who gives life and the one who makes the dead come back to life” (TLA). The following statement of Jesus presents the condition to live forever: “Whoever puts his trust in me, even if he dies, will live” (TLA), “and everyone who is still alive and believes in me will never die” (DHH) . The final part of the verse is not easy to understand: “even if he dies, he will live” (TLA), “he who believes in me will live even if he dies” or “the believer in me will live again, no matter that he has died” . In some languages, it will be necessary to alter the order of these sentences: “even if the person dies, if he believes in me, he will live again”. Also “if the person is already dead, but has had faith in me, he will live again.” Probably Jesus refers both to the present life, where those who have believed in him have already started a life of a different quality, bestowed by himself. That life is such that it ensures the resurrection, in such a way that the union with Jesus remains forever.
Source: Commentary for Exegesis and Translation
— and life: Some mss. omit these words.
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
GRADES
(1) “I am the resurrection and the life.” Gr., E·go ei·mi he a·na·sta·sis kai he zo·e; Lat.: E·go sum re·sur·rec·ti·o et vi·ta; J17(Heb.): ‘A no khi hat tequ mah weha chai yim.
CROSS-REFERENCES
s 646 Joh 1:4; Joh 14:6; Col 3:4; 1Jn 1:2; Rev 1:18
t 647 Joh 5:24
Source: New World Translation
I am. This phrase refers to the divine name (see comments on 4:26). Jesus uses an occasion of great pain to express a truth of great consolation.
resurrection and life. In Jesus himself resides the power to give physical resurrection and spiritual life (1:4; 5:21, 24–26), a life that begins now (3:15–16) and anticipates eternity (5:28– 29).
he who believes… even if he dies, he will live. Jesus refers both to the eternal life that is received through faith in Him, and to the resurrection of Lazarus.
Source: The Bible of the Americas
whoever believes in me, even if he dies physically, will live spiritually and eternally.
And everyone who lives physically and believes in me will not die spiritually and eternally.
Source: Ryrie Annotated Study Bible
Resurrection… → §170 (Number 8).