Sermon: I Am the Resurrection and the Life

Text: Jn 11:1-46

Introduction:

Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus demonstrated His supernatural ability over the elements of the natural world – multiplying the loaves and the fish to feed the crowd; restoring sight to the man born blind; cleansing lepers; giving the ability to walk. At the tomb of Lazarus He demonstrated authority and power over death. I think by far, at least in human reasoning, this is His greatest physical miracle.

I emphasize physical miracle because we always need to be aware of and remember, an even greater miracle takes place when He saves men, women, boys and girls and supernaturally transforms their lives. When we look at all the miracles recorded in the Bible we often overlook the changed lives of the men and women who followed Him. It’s important for us to always keep foremost in our minds when we’re talking about miracles and about healing that the transformation from sinner to saint was and is still the greatest miracle of all.

There have been tremendous improvements in the field of medicine and medical science since Jesus walked this earth. People live longer than they did even 25 years ago. Medical science has virtually eliminated certain diseases that once were great killers. Great progress has been made in reducing the fatality rate due to heart disease, and continue to make inroads in the fight against cancer every day. In spite of this progress, we face an undeniable fact, the death rate remains constant. It’s exactly what it has always been – 100%!

The inescapable truth about humanity is that no matter how hard we fight it or push it back we all face death. There is probably nothing that hurts us more, grieves us more, traumatizes us more than the thing we can’t escape. And, death is no respecter of persons, it takes young and old, rich and poor, the famous as well as the unknown, the “good” and the “bad” alike. No doubt the fact it’s inescapable makes dying a subject that we don’t like to talk about. The reality of mortality is frightening. The Lord shares through the Scripture this story about death to help us conquer the fear and bear the pain death brings into our lives.

The focus of our message this morning is verse 25 of the 11^th chapter of John’s gospel. Jesus said to Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies,” (NAS)

Lazarus was sick and dying. Mary and Martha, his sisters sent word to Jesus, anticipating He would come and make their brother well. But, rather than coming immediately, Jesus stayed a couple of days longer, the Bible says, beyond the Jordan before He returned to Judea and Bethany. His disciples were concerned about that decision, they feared the Jewish leaders would have Him stoned when He returned. They questioned His wisdom in going back. They were afraid for Him, and I’m sure for themselves as well. Thomas, however, who is remembered for his doubting Jesus post resurrection appearance to the disciples, said if He is going to die then we will go with Him and die too.

In spite of their fear, they travel with Jesus back to Bethany. By the time they arrive Lazarus has been dead 4 days. I’m sure you are familiar with the rest of the story of Lazarus. They go to the place where Lazarus has been buried or placed in a tomb. Jesus has the stone that seals the tomb moved from the doorway. He then called Lazarus to come forth out of the grave out of the grip of death, and Lazarus comes out of that tomb alive still wrapped in burial clothes .

This morning we are looking at the Claim made by Jesus when Martha approached Him on His arrival, the means that makes His claim a personal reality in an individual’s life, and the profession of faith made by Martha concerning Jesus in verse 27.

In John 11:25 Jesus made this statement to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life; (NAS) To resurrect means to restore to life. Martha told Jesus she believed in the resurrection. She was referring to that time at the consummation of time when all the Saints will arise.

But Jesus was more specific. He said Martha I Am the resurrection, I am the One who conquers death. But more than that He said I am the Life. Jesus declared that He is the very essence and being of life, the power and the energy of life. He is source and sustainer of all life. All that exists, even man, does so by the power and will of Jesus. He is the source of life even for those who oppose Him and for those who do not believe in Him. There are some important implications in Jesus words.

Death is not final v. 23 There will be a resurrection. John 11:25b “he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies,” (NAS) There is life after death – He who believes yet shall he live This is the blessed hope that physical death is not the end, the grave is not our final resting place.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor 15:19-22, If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man {came} death, by a man also {came} the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. (NAS)

Now, I guess I should mention the operator here; that which makes the resurrection and life a reality in a persons life and that is belief. The fact Jesus is the resurrection and the life is good news and it brings hope for those who believe Jesus said. Jesus is talking about a personal faith in Jesus Christ as the mode, means and embodiment of resurrection life.

Martha had a fundamental faith. That word fundamental has often, at least in recent years, been used in a negative sense to imply a legalistic, hateful, bitter kind of faith. But when we talk about a fundamental faith we are talking about a belief in the fundamental concepts or essentials of Christian faith – the deity of Christ, His atoning death on the cross for sin, His burial, bodily resurrection, ascension and His certain return and the resurrection of the dead at the last day are some of the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

Martha had a fundamental faith, she believed in a resurrection. There’s nothing wrong with a fundamental faith. Having correct doctrine is essential. It’s necessary for correct practice. But as important as belief in the right doctrine is, it is not what saves a person. Jesus said faith had to go farther that just believing in essential doctrines. Jesus said faith had to be more than fundamental, it had to be personal. “I am the resurrection and the Life,” Jesus said: “He who believes in me.” Who has a personal faith in me for salvation and forgiveness of sin that person shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.” Then He asked Martha a very important question, Do you believe this?" (NAS) Do you have the personal faith necessary for salvation. Jesus asks all of us this morning the same question, do you believe? In John 6:40 He said , "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life;" (NAS)

Now, having established the means which make resurrection and life possible, lets talk about what it is. Resurrection life is offered by grace and accepted by faith. Jesus said when we believe two phenomenal things happen Believers will experience life even in death, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. (NAS) Is Jesus contradicting Himself? Not at all. The late Dr. A. T. Robertson who’s work continues to be one of the definitive authorities on the Greek text explains In the first clause Jesus refers to spiritual life even in physical death. In the second clause Jesus says whoever has spiritual life with never face eternal or spiritual death. The book of Revelation speaks of this as the second death, cast into the lake of fire eternally separated from God (Rev 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8). We also know it as hell.

There is another dimension of existence that is just as real as the physical and believers who die live in that spiritual dimension of being in the very presence of God Himself. The believer who has died physically is not in some semi-conscious state. They are not in a deep sleep, locked in some compartment somewhere, they are not floating around in space on a cloud. They are fully alive in the very presence of God. We call that heaven. The spiritual world of heaven and hell exists just as the physical world exists and it is a present reality. Where we spend eternity depends of whether we accept God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

When Jesus said Lazarus would rise again, Martha answered I believe in the resurrection v. 24. Jesus said to her, I’m glad you believe in the resurrection that’s good but what about me. I am the resurrection I am the Life, life and death are about me and believing in me. Do you believe in me as the Resurrection and Life? Martha said, She said to Him, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, {even} He who comes into the world." (NAS)

Martha’s fundamental faith was also personal. When we look at the scene later we see Martha didn’t fully comprehend all that Jesus was telling her about resurrection, but she responded to his question saying I have believed. Did she believe he was going to raise Lazarus then? Looking at verses 39, 40 apparently not. But, the Greek construction indicates she believed in Jesus. She said my faith in you is settled and firm. She confessed Jesus was Christ, or Messiah; that He was the Son of God a confession of His divine descent. And that He was the fulfillment of Jewish expectation – God’s anointed deliverer, the one who was to bring salvation and deliverance to the Jewish people.

Conclusion:

Jesus came that we might have life. Not just any life but a resurrection spiritual life. A life resurrected from the death of sin and lived in the Spirit of God. To obtain that life we must believe not just in doctrines as necessary as they are but believe in Jesus. That He was who He claimed to be, God incarnate in the flesh, that He did what He came to do and that was to save us from sin, that He is the resurrection and the life. Do you believe? Do you believe in Him for salvation, do you believe in Him for living? Have you decided to follow Jesus?