I am the Resurrection
Notes
Transcript
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Patrick, Walema, Steve, Stephanie, Kelly.
Thank everyone for coming to grieve, comfort and support this family.
Title: I am the Resurrection.
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?”
Jesus, Lazarus’ family
words spoken by no one else but the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Himself.
attending the funeral of a friend
Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
Jesus delays
although he loved them, when he heard Lazarus was sick, he stayed put.
told his disciples
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.”
He stayed two days longer and told the disciples
English Standard Version Chapter 11
Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”
The he tells them plainly Lazarus has died.
Many times we find in life that God delays in His answer. Many grow impatient. many give up. Some even turned away from God. But we must always trust God’s Divine Providence. He knows what to answer and when.
Jesus at Bethany
17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.
Bethany
many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.
just like many of you are doing today.
Martha went to meet Jesus.
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.”
She had faith in Jesus. Se knew who He was and He was capable of doing.
Jesus comforts her with the words
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?”
Other I ams
In this eyewitness account of St. John, one of Jesus’ disciples, there are 7 I am’s
“I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51) As bread sustains physical life, so Christ offers and sustains spiritual life.
“I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) To a world lost in darkness, Christ offers Himself as a guide.
“I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7,9)
I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14) Jesus is committed to caring and watching over those who are His.“
I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Jesus is the source of all truth and knowledge about God.
I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5) By attached ourselves to Christ, we enable His life to flow in and through us.
I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) Death is not the final word for those in Christ.
More in John’s gospel
John’s entire gospel sheds light on the power, majesty and glory of Jesus.
Begins by saying:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
English Standard Version Chapter 1
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Back to Jesus
Now here is Jesus saying: I am the resurrection.
He proved this by raising 3 persons from the dead
We know Him as the miracle worker
Opened the eyes of the blind
made the lame to walk again
made the dumb man speak
cured the lepers
walked on water
fed 5000 with a few loaves of bread and fishes
cast out devils from people who were tormented by demons
Said to the wind and the waves “Peace, be still.”
All this is done and recorded so we can know who Jesus is.
Now this lofty claim: I am the Resurrection.
He was Himself raised from the dead.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Was He joking? Was He a madman? Did He lie?
Oh no. The only reason why we have the church today is that JC rose from the dead.
One early convert was the physician Dr Luke
3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
At one time he appeared to over 500 people at once.
Here He tells Martha - I am the Res and the life.
If you believe on Him, though you die you will live.
Resurrection and Judgment
27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
After we die, we will face God and there are two destinations
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
The Bible speaks about two resurrections - the first and second Resurrections.
Jesus at the tomb
Jesus went to the tomb
35 Jesus wept.
The crowd reacted to this display of emotions
36 So 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 also have kept this man from dying?”
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, - “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”
“Lazarus, come out.”
44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
One of these days, the Son of God will return.
We will hear His voice.
The graves are going to open.
All mankind will be resurrected - to eternal life or eternal damnation.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
How can your name be written in the book of life?
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
