The Gospel Of John 8-14

Part 4: I AM the Resurrection & the Life

By Louie Marsh, 5-15-2022

 

3 slides, last one explaining

 

1) ACCEPT that God’s timing isn’t mine.

 

5  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6  So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7  Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”…

 

 11  After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12  The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13  Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14  Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15  and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16  So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” John 11:5-7; 11-16 (ESV)

 

2) Jesus is about more than just correct DOCTRINE.

 

21  Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22  But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23  Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24  Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” John 11:21-24 (ESV)

 

3) BELIEVE that Jesus is the Resurrection & life.

 

25  Jesus said to her, “I AM the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27  She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” John 11:25-27 (ESV)

 

• Only IN & THRU him can resurrection happen.

 

• Jesus ALONE can grant me eternal life.

 

12  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (ESV)

 

4) Neither death nor time is a PROBLEM to Jesus.

 

32  Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33  When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34  And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35  Jesus wept. John 11:32-35 (ESV)

 

• Do I live this way when my plans are upset?

 

41  So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42  I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43  When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44  The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:41-44 (ESV)

 

Resurrection is no longer an event, a date or even an historical event. It is all three of things and yet it is still more. For in saying this Jesus personalizes both the resurrection and spiritual life. He IS both, you cannot find or experience them in anyone or anything else. Period.

 

Resurrection isn’t just a series of events that brings life where death once stood. It is now a person who not only performs the resurrection or provides the life but is himself each and both simultaneously.

 

Welcome to the mystery of bring “in Christ.”  Welcome to real spirituality.