Jesus: The Source & Power of Your Life & Resurrection

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Our Great Savior

The familiar hymn “When we All Get to Heaven” sings, “ While we walk the pilgrim pathway Clouds will overspread the sky, But when traveling' days are over Not a shadow, not a sigh.” Today is one of those cloudy days as we gather to both grieve the loss of and celebrate the life of Esther Bray.
Thinking of Esther Bray, I am reminded of Nap Clark. Nap Clark lived in Starkville, Mississippi. He had the unfortunate responsibility of preaching his wife’s funeral. They were married only six years when she died of cancer. He knew she had cancer when he married her. Following the service, someone said to him, “You must be a great man.” He said, “No, I’m not. But I have a great Savior.”
There are many aspects of Jesus’s life and ministry that make him great. He was God who took on flesh. He lived a perfect life and died as a sacrifice so that sinners like you and I and Esther can be saved from the wrath of God. And all he requires of you is to place your faith in his life and death and resurrection. If you do this you will be saved and have eternal life.
I believe Nap thought all these things were great about Jesus. Regarding his wife, however, I think the resurrection stood out to him most. The resurrection stands out to us when we think of Esther and our own mortality. What makes our Savior so great is
Jesus is the source and power that will raise you from the dead and give you abundant life.
I don’t know if there is a verse in the bible that expresses that truth any clearer than
John 11:25–26 HCSB
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?”
To allow our hearts to feel the strength of the encouragement that God has for us today, we must realize the context by which Jesus made this statement. The bulk of John 11, tells how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. The first fourteen verses inform us that Lazarus became ill. Instead of getting up and running as fast as he could to his friend, Jesus remained another two days and Lazarus dies. Jesus tells His disciples that Lazarus is dead and that they must go to him. The disciples are bewildered but Jesus is preparing them to see Him do something only God can do.
The next section, verses 17-27, Jesus helps a distraught Martha understand that life is found in Him and that He has the power to raise the dead. She does not quite get what he is saying, but he tells her to trust him. The question is, will she? In verse 28-37, Jesus shares in Mary’s grief. Death is not a friend to God’s people. It’s our enemy, and Jesus feels sorrow when his people suffer death.
In verses 38-44, Jesus does not leave Lazarus in death. Jesus came to give life, abundant life to all who will trust him. Jesus knows death is such a strong and mighty enemy to us. We have no defense against it. Lazarus fought as long and as hard as he could, but still succumb to death’s final blow.
Jesus fights on Lazarus's behalf. He conquerors death by commanding life into Lazarus, raising Lazarus from the dead. Furthermore, Lazarus was not a zombie. He was completely restored with a healthy body and mind. He was given abundant life by the word of Christ. Most of the people were in awe of Jesus and the restoration of Lazarus, but verse 45-54 show us that the religious authorities set out to destroy Jesus. Some will reject the life that Christ offers.
What does Jesus mean when He says, “I Am the resurrection and the life.”
The power of Life is in Christ himself. Jesus said
John 5:26 HCSB
For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted to the Son to have life in Himself.
Dr. Stephen J. Wellum explains it like this, “Because Jesus is “the life” and has life in himself, Jesus is able to give life (abundant life now; eternal life in the future) to all who place their trust in him.
The raising of Lazarus is a picture of the life Jesus offers you. Its the kind of life that overcomes death. God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus is alive in heaven right now. And he has promised that every believer will be raised from the dead, given eternal life with Him and abundant life.
The power of your resurrection is in Christ’s resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:20–22 HCSB
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
And Paul makes it clear that your resurrection is guaranteed and your life will never suffer from death again.
1 Corinthians 15:54–55 HCSB
When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?
By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus proves to us that he is the source and power that will raise you from the dead and give you abundant life. Jesus restored life to Lazarus’ dead body. He made his heart beat and his brain function. His body was free from sickness. He also restored his soul. Lazarus was a fully restored man.
I feel very confident that Esther accepted Jesus as her Savior. Jesus promised her everlasting life and he fulfilled that promsie on the cross and at her profession of faith. The moment she closed her eyes in death, she awakened them to eternal life in Christ. Esther is enjoying life now better than she ever did in her 82 years on this earth. She is free from the burden of her sin and her affliction. She thinks more clearly, speaks more freely, feels more passionately, loves with greater depth, and rests with certainty that her life will never be taken from her again.
Jesus made Esther another promise. He told her that she was not meant to be a disembodied spirit roaming from cloud to cloud playing a harp all day. She was made to have a glorified body, a new body with perfect senses. She is meant to walk down streets of gold, sing in harmony with angels, see the new heavens and new earth, hug old friends and hold new kitties, and tastes the food at the banquet Jesus has prepared for his bride.
When Lazarus was raised from the dead, he was not given a glorified body. He had to go through death twice. His resurrected earthly body was still cursed by sin and weak in death. That will never happen to Esther, or any believer. Christ has secured Esther’s, and every believer in this room, new life and resurrected body with his own life and resurrection.
How should you respond? when he says
John 11:25–26 HCSB
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?”

Root your faith in Christ.

Faith is extremely important to Jesus. People are puzzled when they first read the story of Lazarus. They often say, “If Jesus could heal the sick, why didn’t he just go and keep Lazarus from dying? He intentionally stayed two extras days. What’s up with that?” Jesus is always about the bigger picture. Mary and Martha, and his disciples needed to see Jesus do what only God can do. They needed to see him raised the dead. Lazarus needed to see Jesus raise him from the dead. Why? Because his disciples thought well of Jesus and so did Mary and Martha, but they were not yet convinced he was the Son of God.
Jesus says to his disciples
John 11:15 HCSB
I’m glad for you that I wasn’t there so that you may believe. But let’s go to him.”
Their faith was lacking. Jesus wanted to strengthen their faith. He asks Martha
John 11:26 HCSB
Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?”
Do you trust me? Do you believe that I am the resurrection and the life? Jesus says
John 3:36 HCSB
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
It is by faith you are saved from the wrath of God. If you do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God who takes away your sin and gives you eternal life and raises you from the dead, God’s wrath remains on you. If Esther were able to come back and visit with us for 2 minutes, she would tell you to root your faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Repent of your sins. Confess it to God. Accept his gift of salvation by trusting in Jesus to save you. God will forgive you of your sins and give you eternal life.

Realize your life in Christ.

Jesus says,
John 11:25 HCSB
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.
John 11:26 HCSB
Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?”
Life is found in Jesus. Jesus says
John 14:6 HCSB
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 10:10 HCSB
A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
True life is only found in Jesus Christ. he is the gate you must enter through to the Father. Once you are in the Father’s pasture, you are provided for, protected, and given the opportunity to flourish. Life in Christ is the best life lived on earth and in heaven.
Its the realization of what is promised in psalm 23
Psalm 23 HCSB
A Davidic psalm. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff —they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Rest in His resurrection.

Death no longer has a grip on you. Jesus takes the sting away.
Romans 8:1 HCSB
Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus,
Jesus was raised from the dead and conquered the grave. The same power that raised him from the dead is going to raise us from the dead. Everyone who is in Christ will live forever with him. You have a new body awaiting you in the second resurrection. You have a new home that moth and rust cannot destroy. You have a new family that will never be dysfunctional. You have a Father who will never leave or forsake you. It is signed, sealed, and delivered in the life and resurrection of Jesus. The question remains, Do you believe it?
Nap knew our Great Savior. At the time of his wife’s death he found comfort in the greatness of our Savior. Jesus did not merely die for your sin. He arose from the grave conquering death and paving the way for you and I to be raised form the dead. Nap knew he would see his wife again, fully restored with a body and mind that will never be affected by cancer again. He could truly rest his sorrowful heart in the truth of the resurrection; and so can you.
God willing, we will see Esther again. She will be beautiful as always, fully adorned in her heavenly garment. All who root their faith in his work, all who are realizing their abundant life in him, all who are resting in Jesus’ resurrection for their own resurrection, will one day run the streets of Gold, sing of the glories of Calvary, hear the testimonies of the saints, see the awe struck wonder of the new heaven and new earth, and will taste the feast Christ has prepared for us at the table of his banquette. Man, when we all gt to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be, When we all see Jesus we’ll sing and shout the victory.” amen.
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