'I Am the Resurrection & the Life'

We're probably all familiar with the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead (Jn.11:1-44).  It's a dramatic moment in the ministry of Jesus!  John tells us that Jesus received word that his friend Lazarus was very sick, and that Lazarus' sisters, Mary and Martha, were wanting him to come and pray for him.  But Jesus didn't go immediately; he delayed for two days.  His delay, however, was purposeful - “This illness does not lead to death.  It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it (v.4).”  The conjunction 'so that' should arrest our attention, it introduces a purpose statement....”so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”  Lazarus' death would give opportunity for the true nature of Christ's person to be put on display. 

Lazarus had been dead for four days when Jesus arrived.  Martha met Jesus and expressed her disappointment and her hope - “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you (vv.21,22).”  In response, Jesus reminded her that Lazarus would “rise again”.  Martha certainly believed this - “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day (v.24).”  Jesus, then, makes an astounding statement - “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.  Do you believe this (vv,25,26)?”  This is the crucial question we all have to answer.  Do we believe that Jesus is the source of our resurrection to eternal life?

What the raising of Lazarus does is substantiate two understandings related to the doctrine of resurrection.  One is that there's a future resurrection day for us to look forward to, some with joy and some with dread.  The other is that the source of our resurrection-hope is Christ.  Notice how these understandings present themselves in the narrative.  Martha affirms her belief in the resurrection (v.24), and yet, her grief over the death of her brother overshadows her resurrection hope .  Death seems to be the victor.  There's an undercurrent of disappointment expressed here - “...Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died...(v.21).”  Martha and Mary share the same belief in a future resurrection, and yet it brings them little comfort.  Death is an enemy that can darken our days and cause us to question God's goodness.  It's in the harsh reality of Lazarus' death that Jesus makes a very provocative statement - “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live (v.25).”  Martha believed that Jesus could heal the sick; could she believe that he could raise the dead?  Jesus is making a profound claim that the future resurrection is dependant on him because he's the source of resurrection-life.  The coming resurrection day is grounded in the person of Christ.

'I am' is a statement of being.  Embodied in the sovereignty and transcendant power of Christ is resurrection to eternal life, to an eternal state of intimate fellowship with God.  Death has been conquered, but only in Christ!  The understanding that Christ has life in himself is foundational to a gospel that promises resurrection-life to those who believe.  Jesus possessing life in himself is a distinguishing feature of Apostolic preaching.  For example, Peter, after healing a lame beggar, said to the Jews who had gathered, “...you killed the Author of life...(Acts 3:15).”  The author of Hebrews argues that Jesus is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek because he “...has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life (Heb.7:16).”  It's because of this that Jesus can make the extraordinary promise that “....whoever believes [trusts] in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die (vv.25,26).”  This is incredible news! Jesus then asks Martha the question we all have to answer - “Do you believe this?”  Martha's answer is somewhat evasive - “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world (v.27).”  She needed to be persuaded in some way that he's the source of resurrection-life, and this is what the raising of Lazarus from the dead was intended to do.

This became a very emotional moment for Jesus.  When confronted with the human pain caused by death (sin's curse), Jesus is moved.  Mary and her friends were weeping (literally wailing), and in response to this scene Jesus “...was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled (v.33)”...and “Jesus wept (v.35).”  The line in v.33 suggests strong emotion; Jesus was enraged in spirit and troubled.  The impact of sin on the human condition angered and deeply disturbed Jesus.  Jesus was enraged in the face of death.  He was angered by the grief it caused, and he was moved with compassion for the grieving.  Jesus quietly wept. 

Fast forward:  When Jesus arrived at the tomb he ordered that the stone covering the tomb's entrance  be removed.  Then he prayed and called Lazarus to come out.  Lazarus appeared at the opening of the tomb bound in grave cloths.  Jesus said, “Unbind him, and let him go.”  Lazarus is freed from the grip of death!  This miracle substantiated Christ's claim to be the 'resurrection and the life'.  It also has something to say about salvation and our resurrection.  With reference to salvation, the saving work of Christ is effectual and particular.  Lazarus is called out of death by name, and when he was called, death could not hold him!  If Jesus had made a general call to the dead the entire cemetery would have been emptied.  The effectual call of God is issued only to those whose names are written in the 'book of life'.  John, the Apostle, says this clearly in the Revelation when he writes that - “...all who dwell on earth will worship it (the beast from the sea), everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain (Rev.13:8).”  Paul makes the same point when he writes to the Ephesians - “...he chose us in him before the foundation of the world...(Eph.1:4)...”  The point is that salvation is a sovereign work and it's a gracious work!  It's God's work alone. 

With reference to the resurrection, the 'Lazarus event' is a foreshadowing of the Christian believer's future resurrection.  Everyone of us who has placed our faith in Christ can confidently anticipate a bodily resurrection.  In a more general sense, the restoration of Lazarus to mortal life anticipates the general resurrection of all mankind, some to eternal life and others to eternal condemnation.  For us, as the redeemed, resurrection is looked forward to as the point of our glorification (1Cor. 15).