Have you ever read a book or watched a movie and noticed subtle clues as to how the story might end? This technique is called foreshadowing. In a similar way, through words and actions, Jesus foreshadowed His resurrection from the dead, preparing His followers for what would happen next.

In a way, all of Jesus’ miracles served this purpose. His disciple John emphasized seven of these “clues” in his Gospel, beginning with the miracle at the wedding in Cana and climaxing with the raising of Lazarus. These signs revealed Jesus’ glory to His followers and to His enemies (see also John 2:11). The raising of Lazarus also set in motion the final events that would lead to Jesus’ crucifixion.

When Lazarus became seriously ill, his sisters sent word to Jesus saying, “Lord, the one you love is sick” (v. 3). But instead of returning immediately, Jesus remained on the east side of the Jordan for the next two days (vv. 6–7). It’s not that Jesus was underestimating His friend’s illness. His delay was intentional. Jesus could have left sooner or even healed Lazarus from a distance (see Matt. 8:13). Yet He allowed Lazarus to die in order to prove the point He expressed in verse 25: “I am the resurrection and the life.”

The miraculous resurrection of Lazarus points forward to Christ’s own resurrection. But this miracle was meant to show more than the fact that Jesus could restore the dead to life. According to Jesus, it identified Him as the source of eternal life. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. This truth is the central theme for this study. We will be looking at what the Bible teaches about the resurrection of Christ along with its importance to the gospel and the implications it has for our Christian life.

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