The Resurrection and the Life

Sermon delivered on July 31st, 2016

By: Pastor Greg Hocson

Scripture Text: John 11:1-27

 

Introduction

We have been contemplating on the "I AM" sayings of Jesus Christ found in the Gospel according to John. Everyone of these sayings is a declaration of the greatness and the glory of Jesus Christ. Everyone of these sayings identify who He is, what He has done, and what He is able to do. 

 

This morning, we come to the fifth of these "I AM" statements. 

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

 

It this is not true, this is one the most outrageous sayings of Jesus Christ. But if it is true, and I am fully convinced that it is, this is one of the most powerful and life-changing words that have ever been spoken. But in order to appreciate the significance of these words, "I am the resurrection, and the life," we must understand the setting under which they were spoken.

 

These words were originally spoken to Martha who just lost her brother Lazarus. Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha and a close friend of Jesus, had died. Death has taken a loved one away and Mary and Martha are now grieving.

 

We all face the reality of death. None of us is exempt from facing death. One day, if Christ does not return first, every one of us here today will face the time of our own death. And not only that we all face the death of a loved one, the death of a family member, the death of a friend, and the death of a co-worker. 

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Every one of us has appointment with death. But this appointment is not like a dental or doctor's appointment where it could be cancelled or postponed.

 

Furthermore, death is not a respecter of persons. Rich and poor, young and old, healthy and sickly, religious and irreligious, godly and ungodly. Death touches everyone of us. Yes, even those whom Jesus loves get sick and eventually die. 

 

When death comes, it brings with it separation, grief and sorrow. No matter how many friends and loved ones come to our memorial and funeral services, no matter how many sympathy cards we receive, the pain and sorrow still exist.

 

But in this dark reality of death, as He came to Mary and Martha when they lost their brother Lazarus, Jesus comes to us with a great Claim, with a great Comfort, and with a great Challenge.

 

I - A Great Claim

John 11:20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21: Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming she came out to meet Him. As she meets Him and talks with Him, Jesus speaks these words to her ...

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

What a great claim! There is no greater claim than for our Lord to make this statement. Again this statement, like the other "I AM" statements He made in this Gospel, is a claim of Deity. Who else but God could make this statement? Only God can raise the dead. Only God can give life. 

 

John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

This is a claim which He proved to be true, by raising others and by His own resurrection. He is the Lord of Eternity. He holds eternity in His hands.

 

He is all these in Himself

Notice how our Lord said, "I am the resurrection, and the life." "I am," not simply "I promise", nor "I bring", nor "I accomplish". Not simply "I can raise the dead," and " I can give life." Though these are all true, but what He is saying is, He is the Resurection and the Life Himself. He possesses all of the power and all of the authority in resurrecting one from the dead and in giving them life.

 

What was Jesus saying to Martha?  What is He saying to you and to me? In the midst of death, in the midst of grief and brokenness and ruin and sorrow and despair - Jesus is saying to Martha and to you and me, "Look unto Me, I am the Resurrection and the Life." 

 

Look to Jesus. He is the One who gives to all who believes on Him the victory over death and bring them into life eternal with God, to know God and to belong to God and to live with God forever. He is the One in whom all of this is present. He is the One who is able to give it by grace to you.

 

II - A Great Comfort

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

What a great comfort and assurance!

 

With regard to the believers who have died

John 11:25: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live

Those who have believed, but have died, shall be restored to life. Their body may now be in the grave and corrupting but He will not allow them to remain in that condition forever. They will be resurrected and their bodies will be reunited with their soul and spirit in Heaven.

 

Psalm 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

 

With regard to believers who are still alive

John 11:25: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

He had just spoken of what happens to believers who have died. He now says that the same thing happens to the living who have believed. 

 

"Whosoever liveth and believeth in me," that is "Every one living and believing on me," shall never die.

 

As the dead, though dead, shall yet live, so the living shall have the same kind of life. They shall never come into eternal death. 

 

To whom is the promise given?

John 11:25: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

This promise is made to them that believe in Jesus Christ. Those who do not believe have no title to this. The promise of resurrection and eternal life is for every one who believes.

 

"Whosoever liveth and believeth in me," no one is excluded except those who exclude themselves.

 

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

 

Shall he live - Shall be restored to life in the resurrection.

 

Those who place their faith in Jesus Christ will never die! According to God's Word, we have passed from death unto life.

 

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25: Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26: For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27: And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28: Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29: And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

 

III - A Great Challenge

John 11:25: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

Then after a great claim and a great comfort, our LORD closes His conversation with Martha with a great challenge. He asked her about her faith. "Believest thou this?" Do you believe this?

 

It is a very personal challenge

Do you believe this? This is a very personal question. Jesus does not say, "Does your church believe this? Does your pastor believe this? Does your parents believe this? Does your brother or your sister believe this?" He says, "Do you believe this?" You see, it is so very personal. No one but you can answer this question

 

It is a very important challenge

"Believest thou this?" Do you believe this? This is a question we cannot ignore. We ought to know whether we do or not. Your answer to this question will determine where you will spend eternity.

 

Faith, not understanding, brings us the blessing. He did not say, "Understandest thou this?"

 

IV - A Great Confession

Our Lord presses on the importance of believing rightly. 

John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27: She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

 

There is a big difference between belief in a doctrine and trust in a person. It is possible to believe all the right doctrines and still have not true saving faith. People may believe in the resurrection without believing in Him who is the Resurrection and the Life. This is a mistake many people often make. People believe in the abstract doctrine and forget the living Person. 

 

We are not saved can by simply believing right doctrines but believing and trusting a Person.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

 

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 

Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

 

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30: For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

But I like the confession of Martha, after the LORD challenged her faith.

John 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

 

Closing Thoughts

In this story we see the contrast between God and man. God is from everlasting to everlasting. But man is but a vapor. We are here today and then gone tomorrow. Therefore it is absolutely necessary for each and every one of us that we know this everlasting God. Because we will stand before this God. There is only one way to know this God and it is through His Son Jesus Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life.

 

I would like to end this message is with the question that Jesus posed to Martha in verse 26, "Believest thou this?" 

 

May Martha's answer be ours as well: 

John 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

 

Lastly, the One who has the ability and power over sin and death; the One who is able to raise the dead and give eternal life is a tender and compassionate Saviour!

John 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. 34: And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35: Jesus wept.

 

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Be encouraged to come to Him and be comforted that the One who is the Resurrection and the Life has ability to sympathize with His people. He can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities!

 

AMEN!