Jesus encouraged her faith by declaring to her, “Thy brother shall rise again.” Martha, not comprehending the full meaning of Jesus, answered that she knew he would arise in the resurrection, at the last day. But Jesus, seeking to give a true direction to her faith, said, “I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. Believest thou this?” Jesus would direct the thoughts of Martha to himself, and strengthen her faith in regard to his power. His words had a double meaning; not only did they refer to the immediate act of raising Lazarus, but they also referred to the general resurrection of all the righteous, of which the resurrection of Lazarus which he was then about to perform, was but a representation. Jesus declared himself the Author of the resurrection. He who himself was soon to die upon the cross, stood with the keys of death, a conqueror of the grave, and asserted his right and power to give eternal life. {2SP 362.2}

Jesus opmuntrede hendes tro, idet han sagde til hende: "Din bror skal opstå." Martha forstod ikke den fulde betydning af Jesu ord og svarede, at hun vidste, at han skulle opstå i opstandelsen på den yderste dag. Men Jesus søgte at henvende hendes sind til det, han ville udrette for dem, og sagde: "Jeg er (363) opstandelsen og livet; den, som tror på mig, skal leve, om han end dør. Og enhver, som lever og tror på mig, skal i al evighed ikke dø. Tror du det?" (25.,26. vers) Jesus søgte at henlede Marthas tanker til sig selv og at styrke hendes tro på hans kraft. Hans ord havde en dobbelt betydning, de viste ikke blot til, at han ville oprejse Lazarus, men også til alle de retfærdiges opstandelse, som Lazarus' opstandelse var et forbillede på. Jesus erklærede, at han var selv opstandelsens kilde. Han, som snart selv skulle dø på korset, stod med dødens nøgler som en sejrherre over graven og vidnede om sin ret og kraft til at give evigt liv.