Resurrection and Life (John 11:1-27 esp vs 25 ESV)

 

Jesus was so many things, or should we say, 'I am's'.  He plainly said, "I am the bread of life," "I am the light of the world," "I am the door of the sheep," and "I am the good shepherd" (John 6:35; 8:12; 10:7, 9, 11 and 14).  Here in John 11 it's recorded that He states,

 "I am the resurrection and the life" (vs 25).  

Jesus was the embodiment of all those analogies.  If one mediates on each aspect of Jesus' "I am's" one will gain a greater picture of who He is and His life's purpose  on earth.  And further to these listed, if one continues to read through the book of John one will discover other "I am's."

For now, let's look at Jesus being the "resurrection and the life."  It is such a moving scene as we read John 11:1-27.  Our tears can actually join Mary, Martha and Jesus'.  They wept and mourned their loss.  The sisters knew they'd see Lazarus of Bethany again, "at the resurrection" - that great day sometime in the future that felt distant.

It was some comfort for them.  But the 'here and now' was almost unbearable.  On top of that they'd notified Jesus when Lazarus was so sick.  But He hadn't shown up.

What was that all about?  They had been so close!  He wasn't that far away.  They knew He could have done something about it but He hadn't.

"Lord, he whom you love is ill." (v.3). 

was the urgent message they sent to Him.

And Martha said,

"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died ..." (vs 21).

When Mary meets Jesus she says the same thing - having fallen at His feet in such sorrow and perhaps hurt, and trying desparately to understand WHY?  Why hadn't  He come sooner?!  Why only come now when it was seemingly too late.

Jesus being the resurrection and life had a more momentus part of His identity to reveal.  I believe it was also to emphasize even all down throughout the ages since then, to us today, that there really and truly is such a thing as resurrection and people can and do come back to life in His good timing.

And so Jesus commanded in a loud voice,

 "Lazarus, come out" (vs 43).

What joy must have ensued.  Perhaps then, there were tears of happiness.  

Resurrection.

Life.

Let us not lose these two "I am's" about Jesus in the joy of having the healing and/or the resuccitation earthly doctors and their machines can give and through the prayers of righteous men.  Let's remember it is the power of Jesus Christ because He is the resurreciton and the life.

We do look forward still to that great day when we hear the call from Jesus to go up to be with Him forever with that everlasting life only He can give.  We will meet those who were

 "dead in Christ" again. 

 We will be ... 

"Caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air ..."                   (see 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 ESV).

Despite our grief and loss of loved ones, we can still look forward to this day because Jesus is our Resurrection and Life.  It is comforting.  

It is encouraging.

                                                   ~ ERC  October 2025 ~

Based on John 11:1-27 especially vs 25 ESV.

Sing, Soon and Very Soon, along with Andrae Crouch. and Christ Our Hope in Life and Death, along with Keith and Kristyn Getty.