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Monday, March 14, 2016

I am the resurrection and the life

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”-John 11:25

When discussing the I AM statements made by Jesus, it is important to investigate the context surrounding each of His claims. When Jesus makes this declaration in John 11, He is in the midst of a disheartening situation. 

Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, had become deathly ill. His sister’s, concerned for his life, sent for Jesus. However, by the time Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had died and was now slowly decomposing in a tomb just outside the village. 

When Martha heard that Jesus had arrived she ran to meet Him and upon seeing Him said:

“Lord, if You had been here my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”-John 11:21-22

Jesus responded: “Your brother will rise again”; however Martha believed that He was speaking of the resurrection to happen in the last days. This crisis of faith, however, not isolated to Martha; Mary too questioned whether Lazarus would have lived if Jesus had arrived sooner (John 11:32). 

Each of these ladies had hope in Christ; but neither had hope in their current situation. Each of them believed that Jesus had the ability to heal; stating that if Jesus had arrived sooner, Lazarus would not have died. Martha even expressed her hope in a future resurrection that would take place in the last days; firmly believing that Lazarus would be resurrected at that time.

However, neither of these ladies had any hope that Lazarus would recover at this time. It is obvious, from their statements that they felt the time for Lazarus’s healing had passed and death had sealed his fate. This is why it came as such a shock to them when Jesus, upon reaching the tomb, asked that the stone sealing the cave be removed:

“Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”-John 11:39

Jesus was about to prove neither time nor death were an obstacle to Him. After praying to the Father, Jesus commanded Lazarus to come forth and the scripture tells us:

“And he who had died come out bound had and footpath grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”-John 11:44

It’s one thing to claim to be the resurrection and the life, but Jesus proved it by raising Lazarus from the dead.Resurrection and life are not simply things that Jesus doles out to those who believe in Him. They are not prizes or awards for our obedience. They are expressions of Christ’s nature; of which we benefit by being united with Him. 

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church


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