SF357 - I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE (John 11 25-26)
JOHN 11:25‑26
INTRODUCTION
Series Background
Message of the Master
Ø Reveal Himself ‑ His nature
Ø John 6, the Bread of Life ‑ God's Perfect Provision;
Ø John 8, the Light of the World ‑ God's Personal Revelation
Ø John 10, the Door to Heaven ‑ God's Passage Way
Ø John 10, the Good Shepherd ‑ God's Perfect Sacrifice
Ø The Resurrection and the Life ‑ God's Promise Fulfilled
Sermon Background
Man's greatest enemy is death.
In these verses Jesus confronts death head on.
Ø He declares two promises that seal death's defeat.
Ø He brings victory to man.
Ø He does so by declaring that in Him that is in His person is found the power for resurrection and life.
Paul picks up on this theme in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Ø He elaborates on Jesus two promises
Ø The promise of life beyond the grave: resurrection
Ø The promise of life before the grave: rapture
1A. The Promise of Life Beyond the Grave: Resurrection (John 11:25)
Revelation 1:18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
1B. It is an unending life
John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
John 5:24 " Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
John 6:40 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
D.L. Moody
"Some day you will read in the papers that D. L. Moody is dead. Don't you believe it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone up higher, that is all. I was born of the flesh in 1837; I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the flesh may die, but that which is born of the Spirit will live forever!"
2B. It is an uninterrupted life
The soul goes to be with Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
The body sleeps without the soul 1 Thessalonians 4:15)
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
3B. It is an incorruptible life
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed -- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
Philippians 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
2A. The Promise of Life Before the Grave: Rapture (John 11:26; 1 Thessalonians 4:17)
“caught up,” Wuest gives five meanings...
1B. “To catch away speedily” - The manner of the rapture
1 Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
2B. “To seize by force” - The method of the rapture
Lot is an example
Genesis 19:16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.
3B. “To claim for one's own” – The purpose of rapture (John 14:1-3)
4B. “To rescue from danger” - The motive for the rapture
1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
5B. “To move to a new place” - The result of the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17b)
APPLICATION
THE NIGHT BEFORE JESUS CAME
Twas the night before Jesus Came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were laid on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The Children were dressing to crawl into bed
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the late show while I took a nap.
When out of the east there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angles proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With the light like the sun, sending forth a bright ray,
I knew in a moment this must be The Day.
The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him, in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name,
when He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love,
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready, He rose without a sound.
While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late:
I had waited to long, and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight.
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.
In the words of this poem, the meaning is clear:
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call,
We'll find that the Bible was true after all.‑‑‑‑ Author Unknown ‑‑‑‑‑
John 11:25-26
1A. The Promise of Life ________________ the Grave: Resurrection (John 11:25; Revelation 1:18)
1B. It is an _______________________________ life
John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
John 5:24 " Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
John 6:40 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
2B. It is an ________________________________ life
The soul goes to be with Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
The body sleeps without the soul 1 Thessalonians 4:15)
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
3B. It is an ________________________________ life
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed -- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
Philippians 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
2A. The Promise of Life _______________ the Grave: Rapture (John 11:26; 1 Thessalonians 4:17)
1B. “To catch away speedily” - The _______________ of the rapture
1 Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
2B. “To seize by force” - The ___________________ of the rapture
Lot is an example (Genesis 19:16)
3B. “To claim for one's own” – The _______________ of rapture (John 14:1-3)
4B. “To rescue from danger” - The _______________ for the rapture
1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
5B. “To move to a new place” - The ______________ of the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17b)