RESURRECTION AND LIFE

JOHN 11:17–27

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live”

(John 11:25).

This passage contains the fifth of seven “I am” proclamations (for the others see 6:35, 8:12, 10:9, 11, 14:6, and 15:5). In this instance, Jesus is declaring that He is the source of life. Both the resurrection, which must precede life, and immortality are rooted in Him. Note that Jesus is the resurrection and the life in person, the full blessed life of God and all His glorious attributes: omniscience, wisdom, omnipotence, love, holiness. As such, He is the cause, source, and fountainhead of the believer’s glorious resurrection and everlasting life. In other words, because He lives we too will live. Without Him, nothing but death remains. With Him, eternal life is assured.

From Jesus’ conversation with Martha, we can develop a systematic doctrine of salvation: Jesus is the resurrection, therefore “He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” Jesus is the life, therefore “whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” As you can see the second phrase does not merely repeat the first, but reinforces it.

Notice that “believing” is followed by “living.” Even though we will all face physical death, those who believe will live in union with Him. This is the hope that sustains us from day to day and especially during those darkest hours when death is imminent. By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus reinforced this great truth: only He can give life.

An unbeliever rejects both propositions of this glorious “I am.” He thinks that death ends it all, or he assumes that mere existence guarantees everlasting life. This is not the case. There is no life outside of Christ. Because fallen men are hostile to the ways of God, because they love “death” rather than life, they will never embrace this truth unless they are drawn to Christ in faith. It is by faith alone that these great realities concerning the person and work of Christ Jesus are accepted. Hence, Jesus turned to Martha and asked, “Do you believe this?” Her answer is a beautiful expression of faith, “Yes, Lord, I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God.” It is only when we come to this point, to this confession, that we find life everlasting.

CORAM DEO

Job 29–30

Acts 12

WEEKEND

Job 31–34

Acts 13

Read John 11:25–27 several times aloud. Make Martha’s confession your own. Pray aloud, expressing to God any fear of death that you might have. Use these verses throughout your prayer. You can find comfort in Christ, who alone is the resurrection and the life.

For further study: Ps. 22 • Heb. 9:23–28 • 1 John 5:6–13

WEEKEND