I AM the Resurrection and the Life

The Gospel of John is quickly becoming my favorite of the gospels to read and study. While the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are fantastic and each teaches about the life of Christ, I feel that John urges everyone to believe in Jesus because He is the only way to the Father, and through Him, we have eternal life.

He starts off his Gospel with the ever-powerful words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God,” John 1:1-2. The “Word” is Christ, Himself.  John didn’t mince around with subtleties; he went straight to the point. Jesus was, is and always will be, seated on His heavenly throne with the Lord.

In the Gospel of John, we believe and know that Jesus is…

the Bread of Life

the Light of the World

the Door of the Sheep

and the Good Shepherd

Today, we will add to the list.

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

John 11 focuses on the good friends of Jesus; sisters Mary and Martha and their brother, Lazarus. We are first introduced to this family in Luke 10. Mary and Martha are hosting a dinner for Jesus and his disciples. Martha is running around preparing everything to be just right while Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus trying to grasp every word that He speaks.

While Lazarus isn’t mentioned in the Gospel of Luke, it’s revealed in John that he was Mary and Martha’s brother – and he was very ill. The sisters sent word to Jesus because they knew He was the Son of God and could heal their brother. Jesus received the message but stayed put where He was, and it would be two full days before He traveled to the village where the family resided. By that time, Lazarus had passed away and was buried.

Sounds odd, doesn’t it? Why would the Savior of the world not rush to the aid of his dying friend?

As Jesus came into town, Martha ran to Him, while Mary stayed back, too distraught over losing her brother.

Please read the conversation between Jesus and Martha;

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.” 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 11:21-27

Jesus IS the resurrection and the life. It’s only through a relationship with Him that we can be resurrected from the dead and have eternal life.

Four days after his death, Jesus commanded Lazuras to get up and walk out of his tomb. In full view of an awestruck crowd, the man walked out with the linen strips still tied to this feet and hands.

“Do you believe this?”

As a new believer, I never really understood why Jesus didn’t go right away to save his friend.

However, what would be most impactful for people to see? Healing of the sick, or seeing a person who had been dead for four days, walk out of his tomb, alive?

While healing is undoubtedly important, seeing a dead man come alive and walk again would certainly have left me rendered speechless.

That’s not the end of Lazarus’s story. In John 12:2, we read that Martha was serving dinner for Jesus and his disciples. And who was there eating with them? None other than Lazarus himself!

My Challenge to You

If you are reading this post and are not a believer, I am encouraging you to run and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. No matter what you have done in the past, you are forgiven! You are loved, and you will have eternal life! Please email me with any questions that you may have at missy@missyeversole.com. I would love to pray for you!

If you are a believer and feel stagnant in your walk with Christ (we all go through this!), I pray you will “come out of the tomb” and live fully in Christ. I am praying for every one of you!