Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” - John 11:25-26
On Easter Sunday each year we as Christians remember and celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. We talk about how the grieving women came to the tomb early that morning to find that the stone had been rolled away. We marvel at the pair of angels standing inside who declared that Jesus was not there, but had risen. We are filled with wonder by the accounts of His post-resurrection appearances later that morning to Mary Magdalene, several other women, and the apostle Peter. Without question, Jesus’ resurrection is the focal point of Christianity and the most significant event in all of human history.
In the past, I have addressed the resurrection in a variety of different sermons. We have carefully described the details and events of that day, we have talked about the importance and implications of the resurrection, we have listed and discussed various proofs of the resurrection, and have even studied other instances of resurrection found in the Bible. This morning I want to take a look at the resurrection from a slightly different perspective. While we typically focus on the fact that Jesus was resurrected, today I want us to reflect on the remarkable truth that Jesus is the resurrection.
I. “I am the resurrection and the life”
After receiving news that His dear friend Lazarus had died, Jesus made His way to Bethany. Upon His arrival, He was met by Martha, one of Lazarus’ sisters. She was upset that it had taken Jesus so long to get there. Unscathed by her open frustration and disappointment, Jesus told Martha that Lazarus would rise from the dead. She was a faithful believer and readily agreed that her brother would indeed rise again on the last day. Little did she know that Jesus intended to resurrect Lazarus then and there!
It was on this occasion that Jesus made a rather puzzling statement. Rather than directly revealing that Lazarus would be resurrected later that same day, or even prophesying that He Himself would soon be resurrected during the upcoming Passover week, Jesus instead said that He is “the resurrection and the life”. He wasn’t foretelling things that were about to happen. Jesus was disclosing his divine nature and character. He wasn’t predicting the future - He was describing himself!
What did Jesus mean by calling Himself “the resurrection and the life”? To begin with, the Bible teaches that Jesus is the source of life (John 1:1-4). In Him we live, move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). Jesus, the co-existent and co-eternal Son of God, was present with the Father during creation and was actively involved in the formation of mankind (Genesis 1:26). Jesus is the giver and sustainer of life, but there’s more... He is very essence is life - and therefore, death has no power over Him (Romans 6:9). He is, by His very nature, the opposite of death! In light of this amazing truth, Jesus’ bodily resurrection on Easter Sunday makes perfect sense and should come as no real surprise, seeing that physical death has no dominion over Him and is wholly incapable of holding Him!
II. “The one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies”
Jesus elaborated by stating that believers would continue to live even if they died. This would certainly apply to Lazarus, who had already trusted in Christ for salvation. Though he was already physically dead and had been buried for 4 days, Jesus explained that Lazarus would live again. He was referring to the physical resurrection of Lazarus, a remarkable miracle that Jesus would perform shortly thereafter.
The Bible distinguishes between physical life and spiritual life. Physical life is a bodily condition. In the Bible, physical life is often compared to breathing or breath (Genesis 2:7, Job 27:3). Unless the Lord comes first, everyone on earth will die physically at some point (Hebrews 9:27). These temporal bodies of flesh are not made to live forever. But Jesus explains that Christians who have physically died will someday live again. They will be resurrected bodily, fitted for eternity, and dwell together forever with the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:50-57). Thus, physical death is only temporary for those who have placed their faith in Jesus.
Believers have the certainty of someday being personally resurrected to eternal life. This expectation should be a source of great hope and courage. Christians can live without fear of physical death because they know that by God’s grace and power they too, like Jesus, will be raised up from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20). Jesus is the resurrection.
III. “Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die”
Jesus then went on to say that every believer who lives will never die. On its face, this statement seems to contradict the one He’d just made. The Lord had just spoken about the reality of death and the hope of resurrection that applies to all Christians. Now He tells Martha that the redeemed of God, including her brother Lazarus, never actually die. Jesus was declaring that Lazarus was still alive spiritually even though his fleshly body had died.
Spiritual life is somewhat different from physical life. Spiritual life pertains to the human soul and it never ends, not even temporarily. Spiritual life is given exclusively to those living in a right relationship with God (Colossians 2:13-14). On the contrary, spiritual death describes the condition of living separated from God, unreconciled and lost. Jesus explained that the soul of the believer lives on in the presence of the Lord even after their physical death (2 Corinthians 5:8) and awaits its reunion with a new, glorified body on the day of resurrection.
Those who have accepted Jesus Christ are born again (John 3:3). They are regenerated, and made spiritually alive in Christ Jesus. They are indwelt by His presence through the person of the Holy Spirit. Their new spiritual life is transformational, as it replaces the old corrupt nature of sin (2 Corinthians 5:17). Believers can be confident that this life will never be extinguished, because those who are truly saved can never be lost again (John 10:27-29). Jesus is the life.
IV. “Do you believe this?”
Jesus closes by asking Martha if she believes what He’s said. This is the most important and pertinent question. The wonderful promises that the Lord had just made apply exclusively to believers - not nonbelievers. Those who reject Christ through nonbelief will not receive eternal life. Theirs’ will be a resurrection to judgment, condemnation, and everlasting separation from God (Revelation 20:11-15).
CONCLUSION
Both Christians and nonChristians can live moral, meaningful, and happy lives. I’ve known and befriended many lost people who are good citizens, have great families, are honest, trustworthy, and serve as pillars in the community. Thus, the value and quality of a person’s earthly life is not in question… rather, the eternal dwelling place of the individual in the life to come is.
Let’s suppose, for a moment, that the atheist is correct. If so, when this life is complete and physical death takes us, we will all simply cease to exist. That will be the end - for both the believer and the nonbeliever. Neither will be conscious to remember or regret the choices that they’ve made while on earth. Both will be gone forever, having received the same fate.
Now, let’s suppose that the Christian is correct. If so, when this life is complete and physical death takes us, the believer will dwell eternally with Jesus in Heaven while the nonbeliever will suffer eternal judgement separated from God in Hell. Both will be conscious - one to experience everlasting joy and blessing, and the other to endure unending remorse and regret. Both will continue to exist eternally, having received very different fates.
So, with this in mind, let’s consider the possible outcomes. When a Christian dies, they will either go to Heaven or cease to exist. As I see it, they have nothing to lose - they either win or break even. When the nonChristian dies, however, they will either cease to exist or go to Hell. They have nothing to gain - they will either break even or lose. In other words, the believer can’t lose and the nonbeliever can’t win. If you’ve never trusted in Jesus for salvation, ask yourself this morning… are you willing to risk eternity on these odds?
Jesus rose from the dead and lives eternally. He is the resurrection and the life. Receive Him today as your Lord and Savior, so that you too might share in this marvelous truth!
And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. - 1 John 5:11-12
On Easter Sunday each year we as Christians remember and celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. We talk about how the grieving women came to the tomb early that morning to find that the stone had been rolled away. We marvel at the pair of angels standing inside who declared that Jesus was not there, but had risen. We are filled with wonder by the accounts of His post-resurrection appearances later that morning to Mary Magdalene, several other women, and the apostle Peter. Without question, Jesus’ resurrection is the focal point of Christianity and the most significant event in all of human history.
In the past, I have addressed the resurrection in a variety of different sermons. We have carefully described the details and events of that day, we have talked about the importance and implications of the resurrection, we have listed and discussed various proofs of the resurrection, and have even studied other instances of resurrection found in the Bible. This morning I want to take a look at the resurrection from a slightly different perspective. While we typically focus on the fact that Jesus was resurrected, today I want us to reflect on the remarkable truth that Jesus is the resurrection.
I. “I am the resurrection and the life”
After receiving news that His dear friend Lazarus had died, Jesus made His way to Bethany. Upon His arrival, He was met by Martha, one of Lazarus’ sisters. She was upset that it had taken Jesus so long to get there. Unscathed by her open frustration and disappointment, Jesus told Martha that Lazarus would rise from the dead. She was a faithful believer and readily agreed that her brother would indeed rise again on the last day. Little did she know that Jesus intended to resurrect Lazarus then and there!
It was on this occasion that Jesus made a rather puzzling statement. Rather than directly revealing that Lazarus would be resurrected later that same day, or even prophesying that He Himself would soon be resurrected during the upcoming Passover week, Jesus instead said that He is “the resurrection and the life”. He wasn’t foretelling things that were about to happen. Jesus was disclosing his divine nature and character. He wasn’t predicting the future - He was describing himself!
What did Jesus mean by calling Himself “the resurrection and the life”? To begin with, the Bible teaches that Jesus is the source of life (John 1:1-4). In Him we live, move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). Jesus, the co-existent and co-eternal Son of God, was present with the Father during creation and was actively involved in the formation of mankind (Genesis 1:26). Jesus is the giver and sustainer of life, but there’s more... He is very essence is life - and therefore, death has no power over Him (Romans 6:9). He is, by His very nature, the opposite of death! In light of this amazing truth, Jesus’ bodily resurrection on Easter Sunday makes perfect sense and should come as no real surprise, seeing that physical death has no dominion over Him and is wholly incapable of holding Him!
II. “The one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies”
Jesus elaborated by stating that believers would continue to live even if they died. This would certainly apply to Lazarus, who had already trusted in Christ for salvation. Though he was already physically dead and had been buried for 4 days, Jesus explained that Lazarus would live again. He was referring to the physical resurrection of Lazarus, a remarkable miracle that Jesus would perform shortly thereafter.
The Bible distinguishes between physical life and spiritual life. Physical life is a bodily condition. In the Bible, physical life is often compared to breathing or breath (Genesis 2:7, Job 27:3). Unless the Lord comes first, everyone on earth will die physically at some point (Hebrews 9:27). These temporal bodies of flesh are not made to live forever. But Jesus explains that Christians who have physically died will someday live again. They will be resurrected bodily, fitted for eternity, and dwell together forever with the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:50-57). Thus, physical death is only temporary for those who have placed their faith in Jesus.
Believers have the certainty of someday being personally resurrected to eternal life. This expectation should be a source of great hope and courage. Christians can live without fear of physical death because they know that by God’s grace and power they too, like Jesus, will be raised up from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20). Jesus is the resurrection.
III. “Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die”
Jesus then went on to say that every believer who lives will never die. On its face, this statement seems to contradict the one He’d just made. The Lord had just spoken about the reality of death and the hope of resurrection that applies to all Christians. Now He tells Martha that the redeemed of God, including her brother Lazarus, never actually die. Jesus was declaring that Lazarus was still alive spiritually even though his fleshly body had died.
Spiritual life is somewhat different from physical life. Spiritual life pertains to the human soul and it never ends, not even temporarily. Spiritual life is given exclusively to those living in a right relationship with God (Colossians 2:13-14). On the contrary, spiritual death describes the condition of living separated from God, unreconciled and lost. Jesus explained that the soul of the believer lives on in the presence of the Lord even after their physical death (2 Corinthians 5:8) and awaits its reunion with a new, glorified body on the day of resurrection.
Those who have accepted Jesus Christ are born again (John 3:3). They are regenerated, and made spiritually alive in Christ Jesus. They are indwelt by His presence through the person of the Holy Spirit. Their new spiritual life is transformational, as it replaces the old corrupt nature of sin (2 Corinthians 5:17). Believers can be confident that this life will never be extinguished, because those who are truly saved can never be lost again (John 10:27-29). Jesus is the life.
IV. “Do you believe this?”
Jesus closes by asking Martha if she believes what He’s said. This is the most important and pertinent question. The wonderful promises that the Lord had just made apply exclusively to believers - not nonbelievers. Those who reject Christ through nonbelief will not receive eternal life. Theirs’ will be a resurrection to judgment, condemnation, and everlasting separation from God (Revelation 20:11-15).
CONCLUSION
Both Christians and nonChristians can live moral, meaningful, and happy lives. I’ve known and befriended many lost people who are good citizens, have great families, are honest, trustworthy, and serve as pillars in the community. Thus, the value and quality of a person’s earthly life is not in question… rather, the eternal dwelling place of the individual in the life to come is.
Let’s suppose, for a moment, that the atheist is correct. If so, when this life is complete and physical death takes us, we will all simply cease to exist. That will be the end - for both the believer and the nonbeliever. Neither will be conscious to remember or regret the choices that they’ve made while on earth. Both will be gone forever, having received the same fate.
Now, let’s suppose that the Christian is correct. If so, when this life is complete and physical death takes us, the believer will dwell eternally with Jesus in Heaven while the nonbeliever will suffer eternal judgement separated from God in Hell. Both will be conscious - one to experience everlasting joy and blessing, and the other to endure unending remorse and regret. Both will continue to exist eternally, having received very different fates.
So, with this in mind, let’s consider the possible outcomes. When a Christian dies, they will either go to Heaven or cease to exist. As I see it, they have nothing to lose - they either win or break even. When the nonChristian dies, however, they will either cease to exist or go to Hell. They have nothing to gain - they will either break even or lose. In other words, the believer can’t lose and the nonbeliever can’t win. If you’ve never trusted in Jesus for salvation, ask yourself this morning… are you willing to risk eternity on these odds?
Jesus rose from the dead and lives eternally. He is the resurrection and the life. Receive Him today as your Lord and Savior, so that you too might share in this marvelous truth!
And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. - 1 John 5:11-12