The Resurrection and the Life
John 11:21-27
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
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?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
I love this passage of Scripture because of Jesus’ statement to Martha. “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” To say this at Lazarus’ tomb while Lazarus is dead is especially powerful.
What does this mean: resurrection and life? How does Jesus work this way in our lives? We celebrate Easter and Jesus’ Resurrection, and Scripture indicates that Jesus has made Himself the resurrection and life for all who believe in Him. How does this work in our lives?
Resurrection and life is a part of Jesus’ Messianic ministry. “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God…” Martha says.
- Jesus Has Unique Abilities to Give Life
- Messiah, the Son of God
Savior, unique Son of God, equal with God.
John 1:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
Romans 1:
3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
It is Jesus’ Resurrection that proves He is the Son of God and it also puts Him at the right hand of the Father interceding for people.
John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- Messiah, Savior from sin and death
Death ends life. If you solve the death problem, then there is only life left!
Romans 3: 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Does God’s righteousness ignore the sin of people? No. Does God’s righteousness condemn all people because of their sin? Is there no mercy and grace? Does love cover a multitude of sins?
I Peter 3: 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Imagine Peter’s attitude toward the Resurrected Christ. He knows that he denied Him. He knows that Jesus has personally reinstated him. And he knows that he just needs to concern himself with what Jesus wants from him now!
John 21: Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
Jesus’ presence in heaven at the right hand of God is seen as a guarantee of our safe relationship with God. If we are accused of sin, and we all know that we will be justly accused, Jesus will speak up for us. Has personally paid the penalty for our sin. We have a clear conscience, not because we have earned it, but because we can trust Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin.
Romans 5 a similar idea: 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Think about Paul and the way that he views his own sinful life as a persecutor of Jesus and the church.
- Messiah, the source of life today
John 15:
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
The fruit of a plant reproduces the plant. The fruit of the Holy Spirit looks like the Holy Spirit. The fruit of Jesus looks like Jesus.
Abide in me and my word abides in you!
Jesus is able to share His resurrection power with others because…
- Jesus Earned Power Over Death
- Jesus gives His victory over sin and death
I Corinthians 15: 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Forgiveness of sins committed. Credit for Jesus’ righteous life. This is why we are described as being “in Christ”.
II Corinthians 5: 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
- Power to give power for life
Ephesians 1: 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Hope for what? 1. To be like Jesus. 2. To live with Jesus in God’s house. 3. To live in a manner pleasing to God.
Inheriting what? We are called equal heirs with Christ. I fully expect your experience after death to be completely amazing. You will be honored and blessed way beyond what you deserve. You are an equal heir with Christ. The value of this is to get us to not live for this life.
God’s power is power to live now in a manner that is energized by that hope and inheritance. Jesus is raised from the dead. He sits at the right hand of God. Who has the power to thwart His intercession for us?
- A future day of judgment
Acts 17: 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Do you know who can look forward to judgement day? Those who are in Christ. Every bit of the honor that we receive will come because of Jesus and will result in praise and glory to Him. His is the Lamb who was slain who has redeemed people to God from every tribe, tongue and nation. He is worthy of all honor glory and praise!
Jesus’ Resurrection guarantees a personal resurrection like His for those who believe and follow Him. He gives life after life!
- Life After Life
I could say life after death, but death is too strong a term to describe what happens to people who pass on who are in Christ.
- What is mortal will be swallowed up by life
Consumed by life!!!!
I Corinthians 5:
1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
- An inheritance that cannot be diminished
I Peter 1:
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
- The Way, Truth and Life
John 14:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus was raised from the dead. He is reigning until He has all of His enemies as His footstool.
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