Resurrection and the Life

 RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

 

I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.

JOHN 11:25

 

Many people’s greatest fear is death. For those who do not believe in God, the thought of dying can be overwhelming, since they don’t know what awaits them once they pass away.

Martha and Mary faced the reality of death when their brother, Lazarus, died of a severe illness. He was most likely their sole protector and provider, since neither husbands nor parents are mentioned in their stories. Martha demonstrated her faith in Jesus when she asked Him to resurrect her brother because “God will give you whatever you ask” (Jn 11.22).

Although Martha properly acknowledged Jesus’ relationship with His Father, she failed to understand that Jesus Himself is the resurrection and life. The power of life and death are in Jesus. He spoke the world into existence and breathed life into Adam. He carefully fashions every child in their mother’s womb, and several times in the New Testament He filled dead bodies with life again (see “If you want to read more”  below).

Jesus nullified death’s hold on His creation when He willingly laid down His own life. He didn’t just stop or end death — He overcame it by entering it and annihilating it from within, rising from the dead without requiring anyone’s intervention. As Scripture says, “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor 15.54).

Because Jesus rose to life, we who have believed in Him have also been raised to new life with Him. Although we groan with creation under the weight of the current decay death causes in the world, we do not mourn as those without hope. Even in the face of death, whether a cancer diagnosis or an empty place at the holiday table, we embrace the hope of a physical resurrection — ours and that of all who belong to Jesus.

But resurrection is not just a future event. Jesus’ words in this passage remind us that resurrection is also a current reality, those who believe in Jesus will ultimately never die. We may experience temporary physical death, but our souls and spirits will continue to live until we receive glorified bodies. We are a resurrected people, and when Jesus returns, we will fully enter His resurrection — body, soul, and spirit. On that day, we will join the chorus of believers who will cheer our resurrected Lord and taunt our former enemy: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15.55).

Jesus’ historical resurrection gives us hope both for today and for the future. Death is defeated in Jesus as He transitions us from temporal life to life eternal. We live the lives of the resurrected.

 

Prayer

 

Lord, You are the Resurrection and the Life. Our world is still torn by sin and destruction, but we acknowledge Your rule over it and we look forward to the day when there will be no more death, no more sorrow, and no more grieving. In the meantime, help us live out the resurrection of Your Son. May we be an aroma of life to a dying world so that they, too, may enter eternal life with You.

In Jesus’s name, Amen 

 

If you want to read more

 

Psalm 139.13, Luke 7.12–16, 8.41–56, John 11.39–45, Acts 3.15, Romans 8.18–25, Ephesians 2.6, Colossians 3.1, 1 Thessalonians 4.13–16, Revelation 1.18