I am the Resurrection Ps 145:1-13; Isa 41:1-13; 1 Cor 10:12-28; John 11:17-27

Introduction https://youtu.be/kyqGPjPYNck

On the wall of this building is a marble plaque that reads, “erected in memory of Jane Charlotte Godfrey who entered into life 14^th March 1938”. Do we believe what the faithful of another generation believed, that the resurrection turns death into life? Jesus said… ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26). When Dale preached last week on Jesus’ self-proclamation, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14) he made the point that Christ drew together in himself both all God had previously said about himself as a Shepherd[1] and the raising up of a shepherd-leader like David for the caring of Israel (2 Sam 5:2; Ps 78:70-72; Ezek 34:23; 37:24). When Jesus says, ““I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) the same dynamic of the gathering up into himself of every previous testimony to resurrection[2] is happening. The resurrection of the Word of God made flesh is the plan by which Father, Son and Spirit brings humanity into the closest possible conformity to the divine life. The context of Jesus’, “I am the resurrection” proclamation is very important. It is the famous story of the resurrection of Lazarus and the last and most impressive of Jesus’ 7 signs in the Gospel[3], it is a miracle Jesus “engineers” by delaying in coming to see his sick friend, so assuring he is well and truly dead before arriving on the scene (John 11:1-6). In this way the death and raising of Lazarus will foreshadow Christ’s own crucifixion and resurrection. The climax of this story isn’t a simple plot against Jesus or a spontaneous picking up of stones to kill him we have already encountered among the “I am” statements (John :18; 7:1, 19; 8:37, 59; 10:31), but a conspiracy (John 11:45-52) at the higher religious levels in Israel[4] that is a sign that the “hour” of Jesus’ death (John 2:4; 7:30; 8:20; 12:23, 27; 16:4; 17:1) is imminent. In John, Jesus’ dies because he has revealed he has the life-giving power of God abiding in himself.

Exposition John 11:17-27

“Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.” This was quite a normal mourning situation, what is unusual is that “Martha”, the older sister and so the most responsible member of the household, hearing that “Jesus was coming”…”went (out of the house) and met him” (v.20). In doing this she showed Jesus special honour, but as the story unfolds, we will see that the presence of Jesus demands something more than honour[5].

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.” (John 11:21-22). She is certain that Jesus could have saved he beloved brother from dying, but that isn’t the point, [neither is the vague reference to the Father assuredly answering his Son’s prayer requests[6].] At this moment Jesus is looking for a greater and more specific faith.

“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.” (11:23-24). Martha professes a completely orthodox Jewish faith, God will raise the dead on the Day of Judgement[7]; but with the Son of God (11:27) standing in front of her something more in the realm of faith is required.

“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?” (11:25-26).

Martha’s response “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (11:27) seems, at first sight, full of promise[8].  Her recognition of Jesus’ “coming into the world”[9] indicates a faith that Christ has come down from heaven.  However, we remember that Peter boldly was anointed[10] to testify, ““You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”” (Matt 16:16) but went on to deny knowing Jesus three times (Matt 26:9-75). In like manner, when Jesus approaches the tomb of her brother Lazarus, Martha isn’t excited but protests, ““Lord, by this time there will be an odour[11], for he has been dead four days.”” (John 11:39).

For readers of John’s Gospel, the declaration “I am the resurrection” recalls what Jesus has already said about his own authority. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when] the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live… those who have done good to the resurrection of life[12], and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:25, 29)[13]. When he reaches the tomb of Lazarus and “cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” so that “The man who had died came out…” (John 11:44) it is obvious to everyone that Jesus fully shares the authority of God over death[14].

In general, the “I am” statements of Jesus connect him to the divine name of God in the Old Testament (Ex 3:14; Isa 43:10-11, 25; 44:6; 45:5; 47:8; 48:12). “I am the resurrection” occupies a unique place in this Gospel’s revelation of Jesus as equal to the Father[15]. Whereas in other writings in the New Testament, God, the Father and the Holy Spirit are said to raise Jesus from the dead, in John, Jesus always raises himself.[16] In other words the whole Trinity raised Jesus from the dead. Which is exactly what we would expect of their unity in the great works of God[17] beginning with creation. What is most exciting for us is however that Jesus is not merely the resurrecting God, but a human being charged with authority by the Father to raise the dead even as he raised himself[18]. It is enormous comfort to know that Jesus who understands human suffering, temptation and weakness from the inside[19], will raise us from the dead. Not to condemnation, but to life[20].

The saving significance of Jesus raising himself from the dead is vastly underrated. John’s testimony to the glory of Jesus encompasses creation, Incarnation, crucifixion-and-resurrection-exaltation. This is the one undivided glory of the Trinity which is shared with us in Christ (John 17:22). Since when Jesus raised himself from the dead his divine and human wills were in perfect unity with the Father, this completed and perfected his joy in the Spirit of God (Heb 1:9). And this is why when you are raised from the dead on the Last Day your absolute agreement with this saving act of God in judging you as righteous (Dan 12:2; John 5:29; Acts 17:31; 1 Tim 3:16) will envelope your entire being in the highest possible joy (Luke 24:41; 1 Pet 1:8). You and the Lord will share a total “Yes” to resurrection life into the new creation.   On the other hand, the unjust/ified will fully resent being raised to their eternal shame (Dan 12:2).

Whereas throughout the Old Testament, God alone is the giver and bearer of life[21], Jesus’ testimony “I am the life”[22] is a declaration that he has within him the same sort of life that the Father possesses (John 5:26). The profound truth of talking about conversion as asking Jesus into your heart is that it is asking the eternal life of God in Christ to be the centre of your existence now and forever. Such a life is irrepressible. The early Christians shut up within dark underground prisons wrote on the walls in Latin: “Vita! Vita! Vita!” – “Life! Life! Life!” Prison walls could not quench or stop this life, and death cannot extinguish it.

The difference between the Spirit-filled life of those believers (Rom 8:11) and most of us most of the time is that we do not understand that circumstances of extreme stress are allowed by our heavenly Father because joining with Jesus Gethsemane commitment, “not my will but yours be done” (Mark 14:36) is always the way to experience resurrection life.[23] Resurrection life flows out of a willingness to put to death those evil things in us which a holy God cannot possibly raise from the dead, “put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world…. now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behaviour, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other” (Col 3:5, 8-9)

Conclusion  

Jesus says to each of us, just as he said to Martha, Do you believe that “I am the resurrection and the life?” If we do believe, his promise is extraordinary,  we “will not come into judgment but have passed over from death to life” (John 5:24), and “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (11:25-26). If we do not believe there can be no promise. There are many good things in life which can never be resurrected, of marriage, the Lord said, “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” (Matt 22:30). Things like the nuclear family, like nations, corporations, denominations and parishes cannot be eternal. Any part of us in which Jesus doesn’t see himself must perish, and any part in which he sees himself will be raised to eternal life. when I was visiting Marion[24] the other day I asked her what she wanted me to pray, when she said, “That Jesus help me to pass over”. I told her “That’s a good prayer” so we prayed it together. What is your heart response to Jesus who promises today, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”