Chapter 10: I am the Resurrection, and the Life
As I have mentioned before, Jesus performed many miracles while He lived on this earth. He healed incurable people and instantaneously calmed violent storms. Let us look at one of the most miraculous things He did.
Many people believed that He was the promised Savior. Lazarus, and his sisters Mary and Martha, were three such people. One day, Lazarus fell sick and died, and the Lord Jesus was not anywhere near Him. Several days later, Jesus went down to Bethany, their hometown, and many of those who mourned the loss of Lazarus were there. Let us look at what happened.
John 11:17-27, 38-45: Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. (18) Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: (19) And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. (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. (22) But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. (23) Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. (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...
(11:38) Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. (39) Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. (40) Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? (41) Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. (42) And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. (43) And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. (44) And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. (45) Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
Let us examine this conversation between Jesus and Martha, Lazarus’ sister, and the subsequent events:
- Lazarus was really dead. There was no mistake about his death. There was no chance of him being revived, but rather he was already decomposing after being dead four days (John 11:17, 39).
- Martha believe Jesus’ authority as the Christ was enough that He could have healed Lazarus. She knew not only that, but also that Lazarus was going to be resurrected (bodily risen from the dead) at the last day (John 11:24). The people of Israel knew from the Scriptures that people would be risen from the dead at some time in distant future. Daniel the prophet wrote, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). Lazarus believed the promises of the coming Savior much like men such as Abel did, and such would be those who awake “to everlasting life.”
- Jesus is the resurrection and the life. If someone dies who believes on the Lord Jesus, “though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). Lazarus will certainly rise again.
Moreover, whoever believes on the Lord Jesus “shall never die” (John 11:26). Remember how Adam and Eve sinned by eating of the tree of knowledge, and they were physically alive yet spiritually dead? Trusting in Jesus as the Christ is to be spiritually alive again. The enmity between the believer and God was gone, and the eternal punishment in the lake of fire was gone. In the future, the believer would rise from the dead, never to die again. Just as eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil brought certain death, believing on the Son of God brought certain eternal life. The threefold cord of death was destroyed.
Since Jesus as the Son of God was the source of all life (Genesis 1:26-27, Colossians 1:16), He has the ability to give life to the dead. Not only can He resurrect and give life; He also is the resurrection and the life. - Lazarus rose from the dead after four days of being dead. Jesus always is heard by God the Father (John 11:41-42), and Jesus can give life to all because He is the author of life. Lazarus was dead, and his life was over. Though dead and helpless, God could bring Him back from the dead, and He did.
Next: Chapter 11: It is Finished
Previous: Chapter 9: Except a Man be Born Again