The resurrection and the life

I am

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

The Plot to Kill Jesus

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

The New International Version. (2011). ()

We’ve been studying the self descriptive statements of Jesus from John known as the “I am” discourses. 7 statements Jesus made to help us to realize that He is the great “I am” of the O.T., who has become flesh in the N.T. to seek and to save each of us who are lost.

This AM I’d like to focus our attention on , where we hear about a man named Lazarus who was very sick. His two sisters, Mary and Martha, were worried so they sent word to Jesus hoping He would come and heal their brother. Only Jesus’ response was much different than what they had expected. Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Yet when He heard Lazarus was sick, He stayed where he was 2 more days. Instead of hurrying to help, Jesus purposely waited. In the meantime, Lazarus died. (Read )

Of all the “I am” statements, I believe that Jesus being the “Resurrection and the Life” is not just a statement of His person, but a reality of His personhood meant to assist us practically in this life.

Thus, we are going to discover in principle what Jesus meant when he declared Himself the “Resurrection and the Life.”

Before we look at these principles, I want to discuss His declaration – “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” In this statement Jesus was making a decree of His power and authority over both physical and spiritual death.

These concepts are revealed in Jesus’ conversation w/ Martha (v. 22). It is important to understand that Lazarus was not resurrected – he was resuscitated and restored. He was raised from the dead.

What is the difference? To resurrect is to redeem and transform into eternity never to die again. Jesus was resurrected – transformed through death into immortality. I Cr. 15 tells us that one day, through Jesus’ return we will all be changed – the mortal will put on immortality.

Lazarus didn’t come forth from the tomb w/ a new body never to die again, but w/ a restored body that would perish later in life. Nonetheless, this miracle certainly proves Jesus’ authority over life and death.

Jesus intended this miracle to authenticate His claim to be God. After all, nothing authenticates divinity like revealing one’s authority over death.

Jesus wants us to know

His life, death, and resurrection changes everything

There is one important thing to note – the only way to experience the resurrection Jesus is speaking of is through His death, burial, and resurrection. Which means this – while God is concerned about your earthly life, it pales in comparison to His concern for your spiritual life.

We tend to focus on the here and now – on our empirical experiences in this temporary life. While Jesus death gives value and purpose to this life – His purpose for the incarnation, the cross, and the empty tomb was to rescue us from our sin and redeem us into an eternal relationship w/ Him.

As I have thought about this I have come to the conclusion that many people would prefer experiencing resuscitation over resurrection. How else do you explain man’s unending quest to conquer this life – whether you are talking about the fountain of youth or the Holy Grail – many people put a greater emphasis on this life over eternal life and yet according to God, this life is just a pit stop in the scope of His plan.

Jesus is saying that this life is not all there is – but it is in this life and in this life only that our eternal destination is secured, there is no other chance after this life to secure your ultimate destination. It boils down to what you and I do w/ Jesus. He has done His part – He came – He called – He convicted – and now each of us must decide how we are going to respond – but be certain of this is not a game – it cost God everything – and eternity hangs in the balance.

2.Bad things will happen and God can still be glorified

Whether your circumstances make you feel like a modern day Job, or whether you believe that all hope is gone as in this situation w/ Lazarus.

Promise: All things work together for the good… ()

This means God is never caught off guard. He might allow the difficulties of living in a depraved and decaying world to run their course in our lives – yet He has promised that He can and will use them for His glory – whether it is to strengthen us, protect us, motivate us, or empower us.

Note: This means God is never caught off guard. He might allow the difficulties of living in a depraved and decaying world to run their course in our lives – yet He has promised that He can and will use them for His glory – whether it is to strengthen us, protect us, motivate us, or empower us.

1 James tells us God provides trials to mature us and complete us.

Insert: Did you know that He promised:

1 I am w/ you always…

2 I’ll never leave you nor forsake you...

3 I am confident of this very thing…

4 Though you walk through the valley of death…

There is one exception to this rule – when something bad happens as a result of sin. We all should understand by now that the wages of sin is death – meaning just as there was a destructive consequence for Adam and Eve’s sin – a creation fell, causing all mankind to become sinners () and therefore, when you and I sin, there is a consequence.

If a spouse is unfaithful – the marriage may be lost.

If you lie, cheat, and steal, you’ll likely get caught and go to jail or worse.

If you play w/ fire, you will likely get burned.

II God’s Timing is Perfect – Never Early, Never Late, but Always on Time

We have all heard this statement made, but I am not so sure that we’ve truly come to grips w/ it. More often than not, most of us feel like Mary and Martha – we’re wondering where God is when we need Him most.

God has perfect timing that we may not be able to understand

At the same time, God allows us at times to get ahead of Him. But His will is not threatened or thwarted by our misunderstanding or lack of patience.

One of my favorite examples of this is when Abraham jumped ahead of God. God promised to make him a great nation and to give him a son, but when Abe and Sarah perceived they were getting too old to bear children, they jumped ahead of God – and now we have an entire religion (Islam) as a result of their not trusting God to show up on time.

So Jesus shows up four days after Lazarus’ death – he wanted to make sure that everyone understood that Lazarus was good and dead. He didn’t want anyway to be able to discredit this miracle.

I don’t know why God appears slow on some things and why he allows or disallows other things other than to say b/c He has a bigger plan. But I am certain that He’s never early or late – but right on time.

3. God is not threatened by our honesty, he is drawn by our faith

When Martha first approached Jesus she sternly rebukes Him for not coming sooner and healing Lazarus, but then softens her approach by saying I know that you can still do something.

God is not distressed or dismayed when we are honest w/ Him. The foundations of the world are not sent spiraling out of control. In fact, it is when we get honest w/ ourselves and w/ God that He is enabled to move w/ greater freedom in our lives.

Point: God is not distressed or dismayed when we are honest w/ Him. The foundations of the world are not sent spiraling out of control. In fact, it is when we get honest w/ ourselves and w/ God that He is enabled to move w/ greater freedom in our lives.

It is important that when you get honest w/ God that you also remember that He is God and your not.

A very simple principle –though He knows Lazarus is in a better place – that He is getting ready to raise him from the dead – that Mary and Martha are surrounded by people who love them – He compassionately cares for them. He hurts b/c they hurt. In the same way, He hurts when you hurt.

Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. Hb. 4:15

Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. Hb. 4:15

4 God’s will does not require our faith, but our faith requires Him

When Jesus finally gets to the tomb, Martha’s faith gets a little wobbly. Yet even still, her lack of faith does not prohibit Jesus from working miraculously – it only inhibits her trust and relationship w/ God.

As Long as Jesus is Around, Nothing is Ever Dead, there’s Always life, one way or another. Choose that life today

VI As Long as Jesus is Around, Nothing is Ever Dead, there’s Always life, one way or another