I AM the Resurrection and Life- "That We May Believe" [Part 2]

— Our passage this week is from the Gospel of John, Chapter 11, Verses 17-27.

— It is found on page 897 in the bible in the rack in front of you, on your app or your in your personal bible.

— Let’s look at last week.

A Review from last week

— Last week we looked at John 11:1-15.

— The passage begins with the news of Lazarus, a dear friend of Jesus, falling gravely ill.

— His sisters, Mary and Martha, sent word to Jesus, hoping for His immediate intervention even from a distance

— Strikingly, Jesus responds by announcing that Lazarus' sickness will not end in death but will serve a greater purpose for the glory of God.

— Surprisingly, Jesus remains where He is for two days, seemingly unconcerned about Lazarus' condition.— The passaged highlights Jesus

— Jesus very deliberate actions

John 11:4 ESV

4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

— His unique perspective as the great IAM on time.

John 11:6 ESV

6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

— We also see His disciples' struggle to grasp His divine plan.

John 11:12–14 ESV

12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died,

— The passage introduced in a very real personal way the impending resurrection miracle of Jesus’ friend.

— And reminds us of the Easter Story. Jesus, died. He was dead until He arose, 3 days later

— In a very profound and personal way Jesus demonstrates His own resurrection.

— this underscores the importance of trust and faith in really difficult circumstances.

Jesus sets the scene demonstrating His authority over life and death.

— Jesus' intentionally delays going to Bethany, allowing Lazarus to die and decay.

— Jesus sets the stage for his “greatest of all miracles.”

— His power over death.

— Our passage today is Verses 17-27

Gospel of John, Chapter 11; Verses 17-27

— There is a profound spiritual significance here.

— The emphasis is the the importance of faith beyond circumstances.

— The declaring Jesus as the source of life and hope.

— Offering a glimpse of the resurrection that comes to “believers,” in who Jesus was and what he has done!

— Stand if you can as we read the scripture

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.”

Key Verse -

John 11:25 ESV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

— This one of the 7 “I AM” statements found in Gospel of John. Just for reference here are the others.

The "I AM" statements:

I am the bread of life.(John 6:35)

I am the light of the world. (John 8:12)

I am the door for the sheep.(John 10:7, 9)

I am the good shepherd. (John 10:11, 14)

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

I am the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)

I am the true vine.(John 15:1)

We are going to break down this passage into four points.

— Faith Beyond Circumstances

— Jesus is the Source of Life

— A Glimpse of The Resurrection

— A Personal Relationship and Trust in Jesus

#1 Faith Beyond Circumstances.

— The sisters called for the Lord… Lord come quickly, Lazarus, your friend, our brother is sick and dying.

— They might have been thinking

— I seen him heal on many occasions

— I’ve seen him feed thousands.

— I believe He is the Messiah

— I have Faith… My household has faith

— Lazarus BELIEVES! — HELP HIM!!

— Listen to V. 21,22 & 23

John 11:21–23 ESV

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.”

— The sisters and by extension us are left hanging, uncomfortably

— In the deepest of despair we naturally reach out

— We want a “lifeline”

— We want a 2nd, 3rd, 200th chance to make it right with God, our family, with our friends, with our community

— There are times when God grants another opportunity...

— But there are those times that He says what is happening is for His Glory.

Jesus is asking us to develop… Faith Beyond our Circumstances.

— Where has your Faith been tested, almost to your breaking point?

— You many scars do you have from the battles (spiritual, emotional, physical).

— The goal in all of this is that our FAITH transcends our circumstances.

!!THAT WE LIVE BEYOND OUR CIRCUMSTANCES!!

#2 Jesus is the Source of Life

— God is the “giver of life.” No matter what way we cut it, argue it, rationalize it, God is the “giver of life.

— Early, early in scripture God is called “The Great, I AM

Exodus 3:14–15 ESV

14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

— So what does this have to do with Jesus as the Source of Life...

— Jesus equates himself with God Almighty!

John 8:58 ESV

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

— I am He, I am God incarnate!

“I AM” is responsible as the Giver and Sustainer of Life!

— He makes that clear in one of his “IAM statements”

John 11:25 (ESV)

25 Jesus said to her, “I AM the resurrection and the life...”

#3 A Glimpse of Resurrection Power

— Jesus says it clearly, decisively and absolutely.

John 11:25 ESV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

— “...Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”

— There is NO ETERNAL death in Jesus.

— We are passing through here…

— If you are a follower of Jesus...

— We know what ‘s next after this life… we don’t know what’s going to happen to get us there, we don’t know when that time comes and we don’t know when we return.

— BUT… we do know we are going to die, unless the rapture occurs and we all go home, we know that we all be resurrected

— Some to Heaven and others to Hell.

#4 Personal Relationship and Trust in Jesus

— That part is completely up to us… The offer of salvation is available to all of us…

— It’s difficult in our world today to trust

— We KNOW to much, we have to much information,

— Sometimes, our knowledge and are information create doubt

— There is not a person here that has not had some level of doubt yesterday, even today or tomorrow.

— Mary and Martha walked with Jesus, Lazarus walked with Jesus.

— Listen to this last interaction between Jesus, Martha and Mary

John 11:23–27 ESV

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.”

— Martha knew Lazarus would rise… on Resurrection Day.

— Jesus had other plans

— Mary, Martha and Lazarus where going to be made an example of… An example that has been recounted over and over and over again.

— Jesus is telling her and she believes that

— He is the Christ, the Messiah

— That whoever believes will not perish but live FOREVER!

— In case you didn’t get it… Here is our Application

APPLICATION — Live your lives beyond your circumstances.

-Acknowledge Jesus as the only Source of Life.

-Find those everyday glimpses of Jesus power over death.

-Have a personal relationship and trust in the Savior.