i am the resurrection and the life

I am the Resurrection and the Life

John 11:21-26


A Sister’s DespairA Savior’s Hope


vv 21-24


“Martha said to Jesus, ‘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.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day’” (vv 21-24, ESV).


Martha told Jesus that if he’d only been there, Lazarus would not have died.


Martha told Jesus that if he’d only been there, Lazarus would not have died.Martha had every reason to believe that.



She believed in Jesus.



She believed in Jesus: “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world” (v 27, ESV).




Jesus had healed so many.




Jesus had healed so many.Notice the despair in Martha’s words.





When Martha needed Jesus the most, he was nowhere to be found.






Haven’t we felt similar despair ourselves?






Haven’t we felt similar despair ourselves?Even in her despair, Martha holds out a little hope:

“Even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you” (v 22, ESV).


Jesus says that Lazarus will rise again.


Jesus says that Lazarus will rise again; Martha says that she knows Lazarus will rise again at the last day.


Jesus says that Lazarus will rise again; Martha says that she knows Lazarus will rise again at the last day.Martha’s faith in the resurrection was common

among Jews of that day.



among Jews of that day.Only the Sadducees denied the resurrection.



among Jews of that day.Only the Sadducees denied the resurrection.

Martha hurt deeply. What would Jesus say in response?


vv 25-26


“Jesus said to her, ‘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, ESV).


Jesus is the resurrection & the life.


Jesus is the resurrection & the life.Some see “resurrection” & “life” as synonyms, but I

personally doubt that.



personally doubt that.Jesus claimed to be the resurrection.




He makes this claim in response to Martha’s despair over her brother’s death.





Jesus tries to move Martha’s faith from a concept—the resurrection—to a person—himself.





Jesus tries to move Martha’s faith from a concept—the resurrection—to a person—himself.

Our faith is not simply that the dead shall be raised, but our faith is in the One who shall raise the dead.


Jesus had every reason to claim to be the resurrection.


Jesus had every reason to claim to be the resurrection.Jesus raised so many during his ministry.


Jesus had every reason to claim to be the resurrection.Jesus raised so many during his ministry, but Jesus

raised are as dead today as they were before he raised them.




Jesus, in his resurrection, was raised never to die again.




Jesus, in his resurrection, was raised never to die again. “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also

the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor 15:21-22, ESV).




Jesus, in his resurrection, was raised never to die again. “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also

the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor 15:21-22, ESV).

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we shall be raised never to die again.


Jesus had ever reason to claim to be the life.


Jesus had ever reason to claim to be the life.The Book of John begins by declaring that Jesus is

the life: “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (Jn 1:3-4, ESV).


Jesus had ever reason to claim to be the life.The Book of John begins by declaring that Jesus is

the life: “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (Jn 1:3-4, ESV).

The physical life we enjoy is because Jesus created life.


According to Jesus, those who believe in him shall never die.


According to Jesus, those who believe in him shall never die.Physical life shall end—only the Lord’s return can

prevent that.


According to Jesus, those who believe in him shall never die.Physical life shall end—only the Lord’s return can

prevent that.Yet, we shall go from physical life in a dying world

to a true life in the Paradise of God.

i am the resurrection and the life

Documents

resurrection life

marthas despair

marthas faith

marthas words

son of god

similar despair

day vv

brothers death