I Am the Resurrection and the Life

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

John 11:25-26 New International Version

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?”

            He is the resurrection and the life. The word resurrection is the Greek word anastasis and it means rising, resurrection. The result of coming alive from death.[1] Jesus is the one who has overcome death, sin, and the grave. At this time Martha was overcome with grief because it seemed her brother Lazarus was lost. He had been dead for four days and when they sent word to Jesus, she thought if he had simply come sooner that Lazarus could have been healed and not faced death.

            But it had to happen this way. There are times when God allows things to happen and play out because He is going to display His glory and power. Through His works He is going to communicate and demonstrate who He is. The word life is the Greek word zōē and means life. Primarily refers to a natural life.[2] Jesus is the one who can give life. He is the one who can bring forth new life. For in Christ we are brand new creations. Our old life passes away and a new life comes forth.

            But the question is how do we access the promises of God? Jesus tells us here The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. The word believe is the Greek word pisteuō and it means to believe, trust; entrust. Describes the act of believing or trusting something on the basis of its truthfulness and reliability.[3] It is the act of believing or trusting something based on truthfulness and reliability. The question is do we truly believe Jesus is who He claims to be? Do we truly believe that He is able to do the impossible? That He can raise the dead? That with a single word the Lord can bring forth divine reversals.

            It is in Jesus Christ that true life is found. Jesus says that whoever believes in Him will live even though they die. As followers of Christ, we no longer have any fear of death. Death is but a door of transition from this world broken by sin and wickedness to a kingdom with our Lord that is marked by love, joy, peace, and all the things that are found in the character and nature of God. Jesus goes onto say that whoever lives by believing in Him will never die. Jesus is not speaking of physical death but spiritual death. For all men are appointed to die once but all will stand judgement before the Living God. Those who know and follow Jesus Christ will stand before the bema seat judgement and it is not a judgement for salvation but an examination in which the rewards that will be given will be handed out. But for those who rejected Jesus Christ they will stand before the white throne judgement and when the book of life is opened, their name will not be found.

            Jesus asks a key question that all of us must answer: do you believe this? Do we truly believe who Jesus claims He is? Do we believe He rose on the third day? That He overcame sin, death, and the grave? What we see from the account of Lazarus is it didn’t matter how many days Lazarus had sat in the grave. When Jesus asked for the stone to be rolled away, He simply called Lazarus to come forth and Lazarus rose from the dead. At Jesus single word death was overcome.

            Regardless of how dire or difficult our situation may be, Jesus is greater. But do we trust Him? That is a question we will be faced with daily. Do we really trust Jesus? Do we trust Jesus to do and be everything that He claims in His word. It is impossible to please God without faith. Faith is simply trusting God at His word and building our lives upon it. The question we must answer is do we really believe.

Prayer

Father thank you for your goodness and love. Thank you that death doesn’t have the final word. Thank you that with you all things are possible. Thank you for sending your Son Jesus to die on the cross and overcome sin, death, and the grave. Jesus thank you today that we have hope. Everyday in you is a brand new day. Help me to grow in my relationship with you and to be the son or daughter you have called me to be. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!

[1] Douglas Mangum and Joshua Spoelstra, “Resurrection,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

[2] Benjamin S. Davis, “Life,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

[3] Aaron C. Fenlason, “Belief,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).