"WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?" BLOG 3 – "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE"

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• Community group/family study
• Daily bible studies 
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COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY 3

 “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE” (John 11:25-26;)

John 11:25-26Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

The death and raising of Lazarus is the context that is used by John to teach what is meant byof Jesus’ name, “I am the resurrection and the life”. 

·     Read John 11:1. What does this chapter say about suffering and sickness in this world? 

Jesus’ name “I am the resurrection and the life” is spoken to us, as it was spoken to Martha, in order to give us hope in this world of difficulty, sin, sickness and death. 

·      What do you think are some of the things that are meant by Jesus’ name, “I am the resurrection and the life”? 

·      Jesus claims to be “the resurrection”. Like Jesus, believers will experience a bodily resurrection at the end of history. What does John 5:28-29 & 6:40 say about this?

·      Jesus claims to be “the life”. Read John 5:24, 17:3 and 2 Corinthians 5:17 and discuss what this means. 

·      How does this description of Christ help us when we are worried or upset about death?

RESPONSE

We live in a world that tends to to think that the past is better than the future, and that the future is bleak. Jesus’ name gives us hope. In Christ we are alive, we are loved, and we see the renewal of all things coming. Jesus asks you today, “Do you believe this?” Do you believe that “I am the resurrection and the life”? 

DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

MONDAY– I AM THE RESURRECTION AND LIFE

John 11:25-26Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

The context of these words are the death and raising of Lazarus. Let’s explore what this event teaches us about what it means for Jesus to be the ‘resurrection and the life’. 

We are in an age of suffering

We read that ‘Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.’ Even so, suffering came to this family. Martha was confused as we often are when suffering strikes, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 

Jesus gives resurrection and life

Jesus’ statement, “I am the resurrection and the life” is designed to fill us with hope beyond suffering and death. It means,

•     Believers will experience future, bodily resurrection, “they will live even though they die.” This links with what we saw when we looked at Jesus as the bread of life,

Jn. 6:40My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

•     Christians die physically but remain alive spiritually, “whoever lives by believing in me will never die”. 

All of this is illustrated in this miraculous sign of raising Lazarus from death. At the end of history, all Christians will rise from death, in a resurrection body, never to suffer or die. 

RESPONSE

Resurrection-life is promised to all Christians. He reassured Martha in her mourning. Perhaps you need your vision extended to our glorious hope. 

1 Cor. 15:20-24Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come… 

TUESDAY – YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS NOW

John 11:25-26Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus said these words to Mary after the death of her brother, Lazarus. This terrible incident was permitted by God in order to teach them, and every generation of Christians, about Jesus. Prior to this we read, 

John 11:4When 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.” 

We often don’t listen to Jesus about resurrection and hope until we are in moments of suffering. Jesus wants to be ‘glorified’ in your heart and mind; He wants you to understand and live in the good of what it means for Him to be “I am the resurrection and the life”; He wants to teach you this before you face the suffering that comes to all of us. 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 

(I’ve broken this up with my own comments) 

Verse 13. Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 

As Jesus gave hope to Martha at the death of Lazarus, so He wants us to be hopeful. God wants you to grieve, but grieve differently because you have hope beyond the grave, and hope of future resurrection. 

Verse 14. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 

Jesus’ resurrection is a demonstration of what will happen to all Christians. A Christian’s death is often termed ‘sleep’; it teaches us that for Christians, like sleep, in death we remain alive, and that death will come to an end in resurrection. 

Verse 15-18. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.Therefore encourage one another with these words.

There is much that could be said about these verses. For the purposes of today’s study, I want to keep us focussed on the hope of Jesus’ return and resurrection – we have a great hope! Paul ends – and this is what I want to urge on you – with the words, ‘Therefore encourage one another with these words.’ Let’s be encouraged, and encourage others, that Jesus is ‘the resurrection and the life’. 

RESPONSE

Is your faith and love for Jesus dependent upon your life going well? Will you reject Jesus if He doesn’t perform how you want? Grieving is a part of life. In this chapter we read of Jesus’ grief,

John 6:33-36 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

Let’s face suffering with hope. Jesus loves us and is in control, no matter what happens. Jesus wants you to live in full confidence of eternal life through faith in Him; He also wants you to trust Him for Christian loved ones who have ‘fallen asleep’, that you will be reunited with them. We also need to trust Him about those who have died without faith in Christ – this is not a burden for you to bear!

WEDNESDAY– THE ONE WHO BELIEVES

John 11:25-26Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus is ‘the resurrection and the life’; but the power of this name does not come into our lives automatically. Any electronic device needs to be plugged into a power socket, or the power that is available remains useless. How does one ‘plug in’ to Jesus’ name? The answer is ‘believing’ or faith, “the one who believes in me will live”. 

Jesus asked that the stone covering the entrance to Lazarus’ tomb be removed. Martha protested, “by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.” Martha had faith that Jesus could have kept her brother from dying (11:21); she had a theoretical faith that Jesus could raise the dead (11:24); but she needs her faith enlarged to believe that Jesus could actually raise her brother from death right now. 

We are all in the process of growth. We all ‘believe’ certain things, but when reality hits, the weakness (or strength) of one’s belief is revealed. 

A father came to Jesus to heal his son. The suffering of loved ones, particularly children, will test and reveal the depth of anyone’s faith. The dad pleads, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” (Mark 9:22). Jesus responds,

Mark 9:23-24“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

This man is a great example to all of us. He brings his most precious things and pressing troubles to Jesus. But, he also asks for growth in faith. 

RESPONSE

Do you believe Jesus when He says, “I am the resurrection and the life”? If you think that your faith is not mixed with unbelief, it’s simply because you don’t know yourself properly. Belief in life after death, and, more extraordinarily, in future resurrection, is challenging to us. Perhaps the best response is to come to Jesus, like this father, and pray, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

THURSDAY– RESURRECTION AND LIFE NOW 

John 11:25-26Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus’ name as, “I am the resurrection and the life”, is not just about the future. We have resurrection–life right now. To be a Christian is to be made alive by the Spirit right now. 

John 17:3Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 

2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Let’s think, using Ephesians 2 as a guide, about what it means have Jesus as ‘the resurrection and the life’ right now. 

Ephesians 2:4-6But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

·      God has ‘made us alive’. This is right now. We have the hope of life and resurrection after death, but these are the continuation, and completion, of a new life that has already begun in us. 

·      ‘God raised us up with Christ’ – Somehow, we have participated in the resurrection of Jesus. Christians are united to Christ – His Spirit is in us – and so we share in His life. We will think more on this when we study “I am the vine”, which is a marvellous metaphor of how life flows from the vine into every branch.  

·      We have been ‘Seated with him in heavenly realms in Christ Jesus’ – Our union with Jesus is so real that Paul can say that we are ‘seated with him…’ Because the Spirit of Christ is in us, we are united to Him and are, in a mysterious way, also in heaven with Him – we have a great victory right now! 

This new life is often called the ‘new birth’ or ‘regeneration’. A Christian’s inner-man has been brought to life by the Spirit. This new life is eternal and, if you are a Christian, it has already begun. 

RESPONSE

Here are two very different scriptures for you to meditate and pray out of. The first is about assurance, the second is about action. Focus and pray on what you feel that you most need.

John 5:24“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

Colossians 3:1-3Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

FRIDAY – DO YOU BELIEVE THIS? 

John 11:25-26Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

This week we have been meditating on Jesus’ name, “I am the resurrection and the life”. Belief is mentioned three times in this text: “the one who believes… whoever lives by believing…” and it finishes with a personal question to you and me, “do you believe this?” 

Martha answers this question,

John 11:27“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

It’s interesting that Martha Jumps from Jesus’ words about “resurrection…” to Him being the “Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Messiah (Christ) was a term used for Israel’s long-awaited Saviour King (See also Matthew 16:13-17). He had been promised to come from the line of David, and to come into the world as their great deliverer. As ‘Son of God’ she was declaring that Jesus was God who has come into the world.  

Martha’ confession is in harmony with John’s expressed purpose in writing this gospel,

John 20:31 But these are written that you may believethat Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

At His birth the angels declared to the shepherds, 

Luke 2:10-12“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Martha said of Jesus “I believe…” She has personal faith. We often remember Martha by comparing her unfavourably to Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet (Luke 10:38-42). Surely, she should principally be remembered for her outstanding faith whilst mourning for the death of her brother! 

RESPONSE

Jesus asks you today, “Do you believe this?” Do you believe that “I am the resurrection and the life”? 

What is your identity and what is God’s attitude to you as you say “Yes, I believe”? Let’s finish with a parable told by Jesus in order to show us His attitude to those who come to Him in faith.

Luke 15:18-24   I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.