The Resurrection and the Life

“Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” “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 11:23-26 ESV

Sometimes we watch a “trailer” to get a sneak peek at a movie or an upcoming event. It provides a preview of what we can expect. The account of Lazarus provides a trailer pointing not only to our physical resurrection, but to our spiritual resurrection when we were made alive together in Christ (Eph. 2:4-7), and eternally secured by His work on the cross (John 19:30).

These truths about Christ are most certainly tied to His statements He made about Himself in John chapter 11. When Jesus claimed to be “the resurrection and the life” (v. 25), He wasn’t merely claiming He had the ability to resurrect the dead and give life, but He was claiming to be the very source of both. He proved this by raising His friend Lazarus from the grave (v.v. 43-44). Lazarus had been dead four days, and his body was already in a state of decay by the time Jesus arrived. Jesus could have immediately gone to his friend and healed him, or perhaps restored his life before he was placed in the grave. After all, He did that before on two other accounts during His ministry. But God is sovereign and has a purpose for everything He does. First, the waiting gave Jesus the opportunity to perform a miracle that demonstrated the truth of His claim by “bringing glory to God so that the Son of God might be glorified through it” (v. 4). The Jews believed that the soul lingered for three days after death, and there was no hope for life after that without a miracle. Secondly, it was to build faith amongst the believers who witnessed the event (vs. 15).

In His conversation with Martha, Jesus wasn’t trying to get her to recall Old Testament prophecy concerning the resurrection on the last day (Job 19:25-27), but, He wanted her to understand that spiritual life must come through Him and from no other source (John 14:6). Jesus said to Martha “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (v. 25). Jesus bestows His spiritual life on those who believe in Him. This spiritual life begins when “His sheep hear His voice and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3). We see this played out in the Lazarus account. After praying to the Father, Jesus cried out with a loud voice “Lazarus come out!” (v. 43). It reminds me of lyrics from a familiar song we sing at GFC ...

"Now Your mercy has saved my soul
Now Your freedom is all I know
The old made new
Jesus, when I met You
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave”

Everyone that is born into the world is spiritually dead, and the Holy Spirit is the only one who can give spiritual life. When Jesus calls lost people by name, their dead corpses, decaying under the power of sin, are resurrected to eternal life by the one who is the resurrection and the life (1John 5:11-12).

Further study: Compare John 11 to 1 John 5:11-12

Suggestions for Prayer:
Pray that at GFC we will see many lost people find spiritual life as a result of our obedience to the great commission.

Pray for church unity as we always strive to glorify God and seek His kingdom first.

Don’t forget to pray for all 10 items on p4-5.