I Am the Resurrection and the Life

John 11:17–27 ESV

17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

focus on 25-26

The Gospel according to John 2. Jesus the Resurrection and the Life (11:17–27)

Jesus’ concern is to divert Martha’s focus from an abstract belief in what takes place on the last day, to a personalized belief in him who alone can provide it. Just as he not only gives the bread from heaven (6:27) but is himself the bread of life (6:35), so also he not only raises the dead on the last day (5:21, 25ff.) but is himself the resurrection and the life. There is neither resurrection nor eternal life outside of him.

Resurrection

For Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Jesus’ statement would be very real and tangible.

There were many others that Jesus did not raise - how is this I Am statement a blessing or an encouragement for them, for us?

The Gospel according to John 2. Jesus the Resurrection and the Life (11:17–27)

The plain reference of resurrection is to the final resurrection of believers at the last day, through Christ whose power effects it

hope for eternity. The finality of death is not applicable for Christian’s. (New Amsterdam - show on death - prof of math can’t compute death)

The Heidelberg Catechism:

Historic Creeds and Confessions Question 1

Question 1

What is thy only comfort in life and death?

That I with body and soul, both in life and death,a am not my own,b but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ;c who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins,d and delivered me from all the power of the devil;e and so preserves mef that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;g yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation,h and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life,i and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.j

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

life

how is Jesus’ comment on being the “life” a benefit to Mary, Martha, Lazarus and the others around?

hope, purpose, redemption in life now.

what does Jesus mean by “everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die”?

The Gospel according to John 2. Jesus the Resurrection and the Life (11:17–27)

The verb lives cannot simply mean is alive, as the triteness would be unbearable; obviously only those who are alive can believe! We have repeatedly noticed that the background for these verses is 5:21ff., and there the notion of life is invariably the life of God, saving life, eternal life, the life of the kingdom. So also here: we might paraphrase, ‘whoever has eternal life and believes in me will never die’. The two descriptions ‘has eternal life’ and ‘believes in me’ are not tautologous. The first stresses the internal change that must come about, wrought by the power of God (viz. he lives, he has eternal life); the second underlines what stance the individual must adopt (viz. he believes)