I AM the Resurrection and Life
Jesus in the Present Tense
John 11:25-26- Deals with LOVE
- Deals with HOPE
- Deals with FAITH
- If you find yourself in a "dead situation" the Lord's statement in these verses is the answer.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
This I AM statement is coming on the heels of Martha telling Jesus that had he been there her brother would be alive.
- Jesus consoles here by telling her, "Your brother will rise again"
- It is important to note that Jesus did not deny what Martha said about the future resurrection.
- The resurrection of the human body is a cardinal doctrine in the orthodox Jewish faith.
- But in His great I AM statement, our Lord completely transformed the doctrine of the resurrection and, in so doing, brought great comfort to Martha’s heart.
By His teaching, His miracles, and His own resurrection, Jesus clearly taught the resurrection of the human body.
- He has declared once for all that death is real, that there is life after death, and that the body will one day be raised by the power of God.
- He took it out of a book and put it into a person, Himself. “I am the resurrection and the life”!
Perhaps the greatest transformation Jesus performed was to move the theme of the resurrection out of the future and into the present.
- Martha was looking to the future, knowing that Lazarus would rise again and she would see him.
- Jesus tried to center their attention on the present: wherever He is, God’s resurrection power is available now.
- "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Rom. 6:4
- Through them they gave the knowledge of the one true God.
- Through them they gave the Bible
- Through them they gave a Savior, Jesus Christ
To Abraham and Sarah God was "resurrection and life."
- They had been promised a son…late in life they received that promise then God asked that he be sacrificed.
- God didn't want Abraham's life, what He desired was Abraham's faith in Him.
- Faith in God's resurrection power turned this trial into triumph.
It did not end here…
- Isaac's son Jacob had a son named Joseph.
- Joseph was sold into slavery and ends up in prison, but God did not neglect Him.
- God delivered Him…this was a resurrection for him.
- He affirms her Jewish faith and belief in the resurrection - Jn. 11:24
- Jesus, however had something else in mind - Jn. 11:25
- He moved resurrection from a statement of faith to a person.
- He moved it out of the future into the present.
Of all the pictures of salvation that we find in scripture, resurrection is the most important and encouraging.
(Advance Slide 15)
(Advance Slide 17)
- "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." John 5:24
- Unsaved people are not just sick because of their sin.
- Scripture says that they are "dead in their transgressions"
- "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus," Eph. 2:4-6
In the four gospels we only have 3 resurrection recorded:
- 12 yr. old girl, who had just died.
- A young man, who had been dead about a day.
- Lazarus, and older man who had been dead 4 days.
- Which of these are you like?
- In each instance it was the command of His Word that restored life.
- It is the same Word that raises sinners from spiritual death.
- After they received life they gave evidence of the new life.
3 NT epistles begin with this, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ."
- Eph. 1:3 - looks back and praises God for the blessings of the past.
- 1 Cor. 1:3 - focuses on the present and the encouragement it brings.
- 1 Peter 1:3 - focuses on the future blessings.
- Jesus is ALIVE and has given us a "living hope."
Peter also reminds his readers that this "living hope" is also "living and enduring" - 1 Peter 1:23
- Jesus is the "living stone" - 2:4
- Believers are "living stones" - 2:5
- This living hope does not die because it is rooted in the eternal!
Because He is the "resurrection and life" Believers have a hope and expectation:
- Seeing Him, being like Him; and living with Him forever.
- A "living hope" grows stronger and stronger in the hearts of His people.
- With this living hope and growth believers will be ready; careless Christians will be unprepared.
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