I Am the Resurrection and the Life

John 11:1-44

Key Verses 25-26

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

1. Read verses 1-4. Who was sick and where was he from? (1)  What was the relationship between Jesus and three siblings? (2,5) What was the message the sisters send to Jesus? (3) How did Jesus respond to the news? (4) What outcome did Jesus envision from this sickness?  

2. Read verses 5-10.  How is Jesus’ love different from others? (5-6) How did Jesus’ disciples respond to Jesus’ words in verse 7? (8)  What does it mean by ‘twelve hours of daylight’, ‘day’, ‘night’ ‘walk’ and ‘stumble’? (9-10)

3. Read verses 11-16. How did Jesus view Lazarus’ death? (11) Why was he glad he was not with Lazarus? (15) What did Thomas say and what does it show about him? (16)

4. Read verses 17-24. What was the situation Jesus found when he arrived at Bethany? (17-19)  What does Martha’s greeting show about her disappointment and confidence? (21-22) How did Martha respond to Jesus’ word in verse 23? (24)

5. Read verses 25-26. What did Jesus reveal about himself? (25a) What happens to those who believe in Jesus? (25b-26a) How can we experience the resurrection and the life? (26b)

6. Read verses 27-44. How are the thoughts of Mary similar to those of the Jews? (32,37) Why was Jesus so troubled and why did he weep? (33) What did he say when he came to the tomb? (39,40) Why did he look up to the Father and pray? (41-42) In what respect was God’s glory revealed? 

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

John 11:1- 44

Key Verse 11:25-26

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

The account of the raising of Lazarus is the climactic sign in the gospel of John. Each of Jesus' seven signs illustrates some particular aspect of his divine authority, but this one exemplifies his power over the last and most irresistible enemy of humanity--death. 

1. Read verses 1-4. Who was sick and where was he from? (1)  What was the relationship between Jesus and three siblings? (2,5) What was the message the sisters send to Jesus? (3) How did Jesus respond to the news? (4) What outcome did Jesus envision from this sickness?  

Read verses 1-4.

ANSWER

1 “Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.” 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

Who was sick and where was he from? (1)

ANSWER

“Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.”

Lazarus. He was from Bethany. Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem. (v.18) A village on the eastern downslope of the Mount of Olives.

What was the relationship between Jesus and three siblings? (2,5)

ANSWER

2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

The members of this family were among the few intimate friends of our Lord. He spent time with them, and showed them marks of special friendship (Luke 10:38-42) and they bestowed upon him peculiar proof of affection in return. 

What was the message the sisters send to Jesus? (3)

ANSWER

3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

* They do not state their request. Where there is a true bond of love, there is no need to request a favor; it is enough to make the need known.

How did Jesus respond to the news? (4)

ANSWER

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

He gave assurance to the disciples that Lazarus's illness would not terminate in death, and stated that Lazarus's illness would be an important aspect of his own glorification.

What outcome did Jesus envision from this sickness?  

ANSWER

Lazarus might have already been dead when Jesus said this; but He knew the end result of this would be the glory of God and the glory of the Son, not death.

2. Read verses 5-10.  How is Jesus’ love different from others? (5-6) How did Jesus’ disciples respond to Jesus’ words in verse 7? (8)  What does it mean by ‘twelve hours of daylight’, ‘day’, ‘night’ ‘walk’ and ‘stumble’? (9-10)

Read verses 5-10.

ANSWER

5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. 7 Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”  8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?”  9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.”

How is Jesus’ love different from others? (5-6)

ANSWER

5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters, but he deliberately stayed where he was two more days. His action may have appeared to the disciples, and almost certainly to the sisters, as unfeeling and selfish. Since he had the power to heal Lazarus, why should he not reply instantly? It was because Jesus wanted to plant the resurrection faith in them.

How did Jesus’ disciples respond to Jesus’ words in verse 7? (8)

ANSWER

8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?”

Jesus’ proposal to the disciples that they should return to Judea was not welcomed with enthusiasm. They remembered the previous conflicts with the rulers and feared for Jesus' life, and possibly for their own as well.

What does it mean by ‘twelve hours of daylight’, ‘day’, ‘night’ ‘walk’ and ‘stumble’? (9-10)

ANSWER

9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.”

Jesus makes it clear that He still has work to do. He was acting in accord with the purpose of performing the work the Father had committed to him.

*  Twelve hours of daylight : The time allotted by the Father for Jesus’ earthly ministry.

    The Jews divided the day, from sun-rising to sun-setting, into twelve equal parts;

  * Jesus alludes to the case of a traveler, who has to walk the whole day: the day points out the time of life-the night that of death. Life is the time to fulfill the will of God, and to prepare for glory. 

* Jesus is the light of the world; he that walks in Jesus’ Spirit, and by his direction, cannot stumble-cannot fall into sin, nor be surprised by an unexpected death. But he who walks in the night, in the darkness of his own heart, and according to the maxims of this dark world, he stumbles-falls into sin, and at last falls into hell. 

3. Read verses 11-16. How did Jesus view Lazarus’ death? (11) Why was he glad he was not with Lazarus? (15) What did Thomas say and what does it show about him? (16)

Read verses 11-16.

ANSWER

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” 12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”  16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

How did Jesus view Lazarus’ death? (11)

ANSWER

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

* Falling asleep. It was very common among the Jews to express death by sleep; and the expression, falling asleep-sleeping with their fathers, etc., were in great use among them.

Hebrews probably used this form of speech to signify their belief in the immortality of the soul, and the resurrection of the body. Since the coming of Christ the death of a believer is regularly called a sleep (cf. Acts 7:60; 1 Cor 15:20; 1 Thess 4:13-18). Dead Christians are asleep not in the sense of an unconscious "soul sleep," but in the sense that their bodies appear to be sleeping.

 

Why was he glad he was not with Lazarus? (15)

ANSWER

15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

* Jesus considered this an opportunity for a supreme demonstration of power that would certify the Father's accreditation of him as the Son and confirm the faith of the sisters and the disciples. He was certain of the outcome. 

What did Thomas say and what does it show about him? (16)

ANSWER

16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

* The name Thomas means "twin" in the Aramaic language; the Greek equivalent is Didymus. There are times when all of us seem to be his twin when we consider our unbelief and depressed feelings! Thomas thought he was going to die with Jesus in Jerusalem. Still, he was ready to follow Jesus. His loyalty is remarkable. But without resurrection faith he was useless

4.  Read verses 17-24. What was the situation Jesus found when he arrived at Bethany? (17-19)  What does Martha’s greeting show about her disappointment and confidence? (21-22) How did Martha respond to Jesus’ word in verse 23? (24)

 

Read verses 17-24.

ANSWER

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles[a] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 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.”

What was the situation Jesus found when he arrived at Bethany? (17-19)

ANSWER

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles[a] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

* Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.  

  * Jesus did this in light of the Jewish superstition of that day that said a soul stays near the grave for three days, hoping to return to the body. Therefore, it was accepted that after four days there was absolutely no hope of resuscitation.

What does Martha’s greeting show about her disappointment and confidence? (21-22)

ANSWER

 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.”

* Martha was disappointed that Jesus had not responded to the first news of Lazarus's illness, but that did not lead her to break her relationship with him. Despite her remorse, she was confident that God would grant Jesus' desire in this matter

How did Martha respond to Jesus’ word in verse 23? (24)

ANSWER

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

* The common belief of Judaism in this period was that the dead would be raised bodily at the end. Martha interpreted Jesus' promise that her brother would rise again in terms of the expectation of a general resurrection at the last day (the Day of Judgment). She may have taken his words as a conventional expression of comfort. 

5. Read verses 25-26. What did Jesus reveal about himself? (25a) What happens to those who believe in Jesus? (25b-26a) How can we experience the resurrection and the life? (26b)

Read verses 25-26.

ANSWER

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

What did Jesus reveal about himself? (25a)

ANSWER

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life

* I am the resurrection and the life. This is the fifth of Jesus' great "I am" revelations. The Resurrection and the Life of the new Age is present right now because Jesus is the Lord of life (1:4). ‘The whole power to impart, maintain, and restore life, resides in Me.' What higher claim to supreme divinity than this grand saying can be conceived?

What happens to those who believe in Jesus? (25b-26a)

ANSWER

He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

* The one who believes in Christ has eternal life that transcends physical death. Those who live and believe will never die but will make an instant transition from the old life to the new life. The end of physical life is only a sleep for his body until the resurrection unto life. At death the spiritual part of a believer, his soul, goes to be with the Lord (cf. 2 Cor 5:6,8; Phil 1:23).

How can we experience the resurrection and the life? (26b)

ANSWER

 “Do you believe this?”

* Jesus challenges Martha not to debate or intellectual assent, but to belief. 

Put your faith in Jesus’ words (particularly in his statement ‘I am the resurrection and the life’), then you will be able to experience the resurrection and the life. 

6. Read verses 27-44. How are the thoughts of Mary similar to those of the Jews? (32,37) Why was Jesus so troubled and why did he weep? (33) What did he say when he came to the tomb? (39,40) Why did he look up to the Father and pray? (41-42) In what respect was God’s glory revealed? 

Read verses 27-44.

ANSWER

27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” 28 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.   “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

How are the thoughts of Mary similar to those of the Jews? (32,37)

ANSWER

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

* Mary didn’t expect Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead. People wondered why Jesus had not prevented Lazarus’ death by one of his miracles. They might have been thinking “Jesus is weeping because He was unable to do anything. They are tears of deep regret.”

Why was Jesus so troubled and why did he weep? (33)

ANSWER

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

* Jesus’ feeling is expressed by three words: ‘deeply moved’, ‘troubled’, and ‘wept’.

* The first of these connotes anger.- Jesus was expressing his resentment against the ravages of death that had entered the human world because of sin. 

* The second word expresses agitation. That is, Jesus was not apathetic or unnerved by the prevailing mood of sorrow. Lazarus had been a beloved friend, and Jesus shared in the common feeling of grief over his death. 

* The most tender personal friendship is not inconsistent with the most pure religion. It is right, it is natural, it is indispensable for the Christian to sympathize with others in their afflictions. (Ro 12:15)

* We have here an instance of the tenderness of the character of Jesus, The same Savior wept over Jerusalem, and felt deeply for poor dying, sinners. 

What did he say when he came to the tomb? (39,40)

ANSWER

39 “Take away the stone,” he said. But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

*  “Take away the stone”, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 

* Everybody thought this was a strange thing for Jesus to ask. In any case, the condition of the body provides an irrefutable confirmation of Lazarus' dead state.

* Martha's protest was natural, for it would seem improper to expose a decaying corpse. Such an act would demonstrate her faith and remove her uncertainty and hesitancy so that the glory of God might be revealed to her and all present. 

Why did he look up to the Father and pray? (41-42)

ANSWER

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

 

* The glory of God. The power and goodness displayed in the resurrection. 

This occasion was a remarkable demonstration of that authority. The creative power of God reversed the process of corruption and quickened the corpse into life. Jesus ordered that Lazarus be released from the wrappings and returned to normal life. It was a supreme demonstration of the power of eternal life that triumphed over death, corruption, and hopelessness.

I am the resurrection and the life

John 11:1-44

Key verses 11:25-26

    [25] Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; [26] and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" 

Last Sunday we learned that Jesus and the Father are one. In today’s passage we see the power of death.  Death is a part of our lives. Recently Steve Jobs died and many people miss him. Yet, when he died he is gone. He cannot come back to life again. But in today’s passage Jesus said, “He who believes in me will live even though he dies.” Jesus has power over death. He teaches us that He is the resurrection and the life for all men.  In Jesus we have a living hope; a hope to overcome the power of death in our practical lives. So in today’s passage we want to learn what it means that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and how we can experience the resurrection and the life in Jesus in our lives.  

Part I. Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. (v.1-16)

Look at verses 1-3. “Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. [2] This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.” [3] So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." 

Verse 5 reads, “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” Not only did Jesus love Martha; her sister, Mary and Lazarus; but also, they knew that Jesus loved them. They had mutual understanding. So the sisters said, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” They even did not bother to say “Please come quickly.” They were certain that Jesus would drop everything and rush immediately to them.

But when he heard this Jesus responded differently. Let’s look at verses 4-6. 

John 11:4-6 

    “When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Jesus planned to use the death of Lazarus to reveal God’s glory and his glory. [5] Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [6] Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.” His action seems to be the opposite of his love. Yet, he did so because he wanted Martha and Mary to learn how to live a victorious life over death. 

After two days he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea." Then they said, “Why?” "Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" They were asking, “Don’t you remember what happened a short while ago? Don’t you remember their burning anger and hostility against you when they tried to stone you? It was ONLY a short while ago. You cannot have forgotten already? And NOW you want to go back? Why?” 

Jesus answered in verses 9 and 10. 

 “[9] Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. [10] It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." 

Jesus wanted to teach his disciples that he would be safe in going to Judea. As we see here, what causes stumbling is not walking but a LACK OF light. As long as you have light you will not stumble. If you do not have light you will certainly stumble. 

Then he added, “"Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." [12] His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." It is true when we are sick and have good sound sleep we usually get better. Right?  When Jesus realized that they could not understand that he meant Lazarus’ death he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, [15] and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.” So Jesus had a purpose in his delay. It was for his disciples to believe. When Jesus said, “But let us go to him” Thomas spoke up. Usually it was Simon Peter who spoke up. But this time it was Thomas. [16] Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

Part II. I am the resurrection and the life. (v.17-44)

Look at verse 17. 

“[17] On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.” 

Four days is very significant, because the Jewish people believed that people can come back to life within three days. But in four days it is done. No one can come back to life after four days. 

“[20] When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.” When Martha met Jesus she said, “"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” She knew that Lazarus would not die if Jesus had been there. It was true. But now she thought it was too late. What she said was the expression of her fatalism and the power of death over her life. But she did not say, “Why did you come so late? Don’t you love us? I know you were not far from us.” She gathered all of her strength and said, “[22] But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." She desperately clung to Jesus with a vague hope and desire.  She really loved her brother so much.

Jesus accepted her words of faith and said, “Your brother will rise again." But Martha said, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." (v.24) The Jewish people believed in the resurrection at the last day which is the day of God’s judgment. Yet, her faith did not save her from sorrow and pain. Then Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; [26] and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 

From these verses we can learn two things. First, what it means by Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Second, how we can experience the resurrection and the life in Jesus in our practical lives. 

First, what does it mean when Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life”? It means Jesus is the resurrection and the life itself. Jesus is more than the source of all resurrection and the life. He is more than the one who is able to give life, maintain life, and restore life. Jesus is the resurrection and the life itself means nothing can change the truth that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Since everything came from Jesus he can define what is the resurrection and the life. At the same time he is the resurrection and the life. It is like you cannot remove the author of a book when the book exists. When there is a book there should be the author. When there is the resurrection and the life there should be the author, and the author is Jesus. So Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Death came when Adam disobeyed God and his relationship with God was broken. Death began to reign over all men from the time of Adam. When a man is born his body is already dead because of sin and his soul is already dead because of sin. When we were born our body was already dead, and our soul was also dead. Do you understand what I just said? When we were born both our body and soul were dead because of sin. Our body is like a flower cut from a bush. The flower looks like alive for a few days and our body for 70 or 80 years. Both the flow cut from a bush and our body cut from God are dead. But God has mercy on us. He raises us up from the dead. First he raises our soul from the dead. Secondly he raises our body from the dead. The resurrection of our soul comes when we believe in Jesus. We receive eternal life through him. So Jesus said, “Whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” The resurrection of our body will come at the last day. So Jesus said, “He who believes in me will live even though he dies.”

But the resurrection and the life in Jesus is always present beyond time and space because Jesus is God whose name is “I AM”. 

John 8:58 

    "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" What does it mean “before Abraham was born, I am!”? Jesus is God whose name is “I AM”.

Therefore apostle Paul says that our resurrection has already happened when Jesus was raised from the dead.    

    

Look at Ephesians 2:6. Ephesians 2:6 “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” 

Can you believe that God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in heavenly realms 2,000 years ago? It was when we were not even born, but we were already raised up by God. What does it mean? It means our resurrection life is completely secure. Who can take us down to the grave when we were already seated with Jesus in the heavenly realms by the power of God 2,000 years ago? If someone wants to do it he has to get Jesus’ permission first because we are seated with him and we are in him.

That is why Jesus said in John 10:28

John 10:28 

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” 

Now Jesus claims that he is the resurrection and the life. It means without him there is no resurrection and the life. We cannot find the resurrection and the life in any other man or place.

The first emperor of China wanted to find the special herb that guaranteed his eternal life. So he sent out many of his subjects to find it. Yet, none of them could return successfully. Why? The resurrection and the life is not in some special herbs but only in Jesus. 

 The resurrection life in Jesus is also perfect life. It is completely free from any hint of death because it is the life after death.

If you read the old testament especially Leviticus you will find a very interesting teaching. Whenever you touch dead bodies like dead animals you are ceremonially unclean. So butchers are always unclean (Lev 11:39-40) When you go to a funeral house you are ceremonially unclean. So a priest was not allowed to attend funeral ceremony of other people except immediate family members. (Lev 21:1-2) When you are ceremonially unclean you cannot come to God in the temple. What do you have to do? You have to be separated for a while and you have to bring offerings or wash your clothes or take a bath. Then you can be ceremonially clean, and you can come to God. What does it show? It all shows that there is no death in God. Death cannot exist and does not exist in the presence of God. Anything or any hint of death cannot exist in the sight of God. In the same way there is no death in Jesus because Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Death flees in front of Jesus.

Secondly, how can we experience the resurrection and the life in Jesus in our practical lives? In order to find the answer for this question we need to find out how the power of death is reigning and ruling over our practical lives. 

In today’s passage when Jesus saw Mary’s weeping and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. (v.33) Jesus even wept. (v.35) When Jesus came to the tomb he was deeply moved once more. (v.38) Why was Jesus so troubled and why was he so disturbed emotionally? It was because it was too painful for him to see the suffering of His people living under the power of death. It was too much for him to see his people’s agony because of their unbelief.

So when we talk about ‘death’ we do not only mean physical death itself. Death influences our lives fully. We suffer under its rule in our every day lives.

Death means separation from God. Separation from God brings broken relationship with our neighbors. My neighbors are my loved ones. I am referring to husbands and wives, children and parents, and brothers and sisters in the Lord. 

I want to love them as much as I love myself. But I don’t. I am very sensitive to the weaknesses of them and I judge them. I do not remember millions of their good deeds for me but I remember their one mistake and have grudges against them. I interpret what they say and do negatively and become angry, resentful, un-forgiving, and complaining. I don’t want to make mistakes in my words and deeds, but I do. What is more agonizing is when I see my loved ones are harmed because of my weaknesses and sins. Then I cannot bear the pain and guilt anymore. Sometimes I feel that they would be better off if I do not exist. We want to do what is good but we do not have strength to carry it out. So we all cry out like apostle Paul in Romans.

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:15)

“I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. [19] For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:18b-19) 

 

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24)

 

I know there are so many people that their lives are so miserable that they even want to commit suicide. This is the power of death that rules over men.

In America alone there are 30,000 people who commit suicide every year, which is 82 people per day in average, and that rate is increasing. Worldwide every year 1,000,000 people take their lives. Even brave soldiers take their lives. They are professionally trained to overcome fear of death and they have a clear purpose which is to defend their countries. Yet, still they take their lives by their own hands, and sometimes the number of soldiers who committed suicide is greater than the number of soldiers who died in combat.

Why? What does this all show about? It shows death has really powerful influence upon all of us.

So what is the solution? How can we live victorious life over death? The answer is to believe in Jesus who is the Resurrection and the life.

Where Jesus is, the resurrection power is present and active. In fact believing in Christ reverses the very meaning of death. We all die. But the essence of death - the ultimate separation from God and its role as punishment for sin - has ended for the one who totally trusts in Christ.

The power of death to separate us from God is reduced to nothing by the power of God in Jesus. This is a present reality. 

So Apostle Paul sang a victory song. 

1 Corinthians 15:55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Jesus worked hard to plant faith in his people in today’s passage because only through faith in him can they overcome death and the power of death in their practical lives. Jesus asked Martha, “Do you believe this?” he was not asking her intellectual agreement or head knowledge. He was asking her to believe from the bottom of her heart. So in verse 15, Jesus said to his disciples, “for your sake I am glad I was not there so that you may believe.” (v.15)  Later when Martha refused to move the tombstone Jesus said in verse 40, “Did I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (v. 40) When Jesus prayed for the resurrection of Lazarus he said in verses 41-42, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me. But I say this for benefit of the people standing here that they may believe that you sent me.” (v.41-42)

We still carry our old life which is full of weaknesses and sin. But we do not lose heart because we have received new life in Jesus. We still have troubles. But we do not lose heart because they are light and momentary compared to the eternal glory that will be revealed in us. 

Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, let us forgive one another. Let us understand that our wrongdoing toward each other comes from our old life. But we have received new life from Jesus, and the new life never perishes or fade away. This is our hope, and we do have hope. 

Now the rest of the story is a demonstration of Jesus’ resurrection power. When Jesus said to Martha, “do you believe this?’ she said, “Yes, Lord!” But she said, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” (v.27) Theoretically her answer was perfect but she did not believe.

When Jesus went to the tomb and said “take away the stone” Martha said, "But, Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." (v.39) Then Jesus said, “"Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (v.40) What is the glory of God? It is the resurrection. Who can give life back to the dead except God alone?  So the glory of God is the resurrection.

After they removed the stone Jesus prayed. After he prayed, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out. 

The creation power of Jesus reversed the process of corruption and brought the corpse into life. The raising of Lazarus was a supreme demonstration of Jesus’ divine authority and power of eternal life that triumphed over death, corruption, and hopelessness.  It revealed clearly that Jesus IS the resurrection and the life.

In conclusion, we suffer a lot because of the power of death in our practical lives. We suffer from broken relationship with our neighbors and powerlessness. But Jesus is the resurrection and the life. When we believe in him we receive new life from him, and we can live a life no longer ruled by death, but have life and life to the full.

One word: I am the resurrection and the life

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