Jesus: The Resurrection and the Life

“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’?  She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’” –John 11:25-26 (ESV).

It took a funeral of a good friend for Jesus to reassure Lazarus’ sister, Martha, who came to meet Jesus as he approached their house of mourning, that He was, indeed, ‘the resurrection and the life.”  Imagine, if you will, the setting for this statement and the subsequent miracle of resurrection.  Jesus had been summoned, for Lazarus whom He loved was very sick.  Jesus delayed His going to Bethany and arrived after Lazarus died and was already in the tomb for four days.  Why had Jesus delayed?  Even Mary, the one who sat at Jesus feet earlier to hear him teach while her sister Martha was “encumbered with much serving,” reprimanded Jesus and told Him if He had been there, her brother would not have died.  Jesus delayed so that God could be glorified in the situation of death…and subsequent life.

Jesus showed his compassion.  He, too, wept (v. 35).  Jesus joins his friends in their sadness with heartfelt sorrow, even though He knew that resurrection and joy would soon follow.  Did His weeping not show us that heartfelt mourning in the face of death is a natural and normal human emotion?  Someone has also suggested that Jesus wept because He had decided to call forth Lazurus from death and eternity to return to this sad world of sin and its trials.  When we weep under such a sad circumstance as death it does not indicate our lack of faith but shows our honest sorrow for parting and for the reality of suffering death brings to the family members that remain.  But the mourning at Bethany would soon turn to joy.  Jesus simply commanded, “Lazarus, come out!” (v. 43). Someone has written that had Jesus not called Lazarus by name, all the dead in that cemetery in Bethany would have come forth, for He who holds life in His hand and in His Word was speaking.  The Resurrection and the Life was commanding the dead to live!

Jesus, in telling Martha (and any about her who might have heard His words), “Do you believe that I am the resurrection and the life?  She responded yes, she knew He was the Christ.  And therein lies the transfer from death to life—by simple belief.  Unsaved people aren’t just tainted and sick because of their sins.  They are “”dead in trespasses and sins”  (see Ephesians 2:1, 5).  And “by grace through faith” we are saved to walk in newness of life with Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Resurrection to newness of life means abundant and meaningful life in our remaining time on earth while we await the consummation of our sanctification, eternal life with the Father.  Unless the Lord returns to earth before our death, we know physical death is sure for every living person:  “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).  But for us who trust in Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, we have “eternal life and will not be judged…[but will] cross over from death to life (John 5:24).  For those who have had a near-death experience, as in the recent book entitled Heaven is for Real, tells us, what Jesus taught us about His being the Resurrection and the Life is also for real!  He conquered the last enemy, death, and so can we, through Him!  To God be the glory!