I Am the Resurrection and the Life

I Am the Resurrection and the Life
John 11:11 - 46
Easter in Our Culture
Easter honors Jesus
Hebrews 2:9, 15 ESV
“Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the
suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he
might taste death for everyone … (He came to)
deliver all those who through fear of death were
subject to lifelong slavery.”
Easter identifies a problem and a solution
Thoughts on Death
Woody Allen
Avril Lavigne
Slipped Away (Avril Lavigne)
Nana, I miss you
Miss you so bad
I don't forget you
Oh it's so sad.
I hope you can hear me
I remember it clearly.
The day
You slipped away
Was the day I found
It won't be the same
Slipped Away (Avril Lavigne)
I didn't get around to kiss you
Goodbye on the hand
I wish that I could see you again
And I know I can’t
Now you're gone
Now you're gone
There you go
There you go
Somewhere I can't bring you back
Thoughts on Death
Jesus’
The Story of Lazarus
John 11:11 - 46
The Context of our Story
• John 8:56-59: Jesus said …, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before
Abraham was born, I am.” Therefore they picked up stones to
throw at Him…
• John 9:22: “… for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone
confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the
synagogue.
• John 10:39: There was a determined attempt to seize Jesus
but He eluded them.
John 11
Jesus & His
Disciples
Lazarus, Martha &
Mary
John 11:11-13 (the beginning of the story)
“… He said to them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has
fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him
out of sleep.’ 12 The disciples then said to Him,
‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.’ 13
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they
thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.”
John 11:47-53 (after Lazarus is raised)
“… the chief priests and the Pharisees … were
saying … 48 ‘If we let Him go on like this, all men will
believe in Him …’ 53 So from that day on
they planned together to kill Him…”
The Story of Lazarus
• Lazarus is dead.
• All were weeping.
• Jesus is late.
The Story of Lazarus
John 11:21-27:
Martha … “Lord, if You had been here, my brother
would not have died… 23 Jesus said, “Your brother
will rise again.” 24 Martha said … “I know that he
will rise again in the resurrection on the last
day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection
and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if
he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in
Me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said
to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You
are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who
comes into the world.”
I am the Resurrection and the Life
24 Martha
said … “I know that he will rise again in
the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to
her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who
believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and
everyone who lives and believes in Me will never
die. Do you believe this?”
He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled
John 11:32, 33
“…when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw
Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, ‘Lord, if You
had been here, my brother would not have died.’ 33
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the
Jews who came with her also weeping, He was
deeply moved in spirit and was troubled.”
enebrimasato tœ pneúmati kaí etáraxen heautón
He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled.
from
embrimaomai indignation
and
tarasso to shake (shudder)
John 11:34-38
"Where have you laid him?" They said to Him,
"Lord, come and see." 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews
were saying, "See how He loved him!" 37 But some
of them said, "Could not this man, who opened the
eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from
dying?" 38 So Jesus, again being deeply moved
within, came to the tomb...
What does Jesus think about DEATH?
Easter and the Fruit of the Resurrection
Ephesians 1:19, 20
"and his incomparably great power for us who
believe. That power is the same as the mighty
strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ
from the dead and seated him at his right
hand in the heavenly realms…”
Easter declares …
… you have a Savior who defeated the power
of death
John 11:39, 40, 43
Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha..., “Lord, by
this time there will be a stench, for he has been
dead four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not say
to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of
God?” … 43 When He had said these things, He
cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth."
Easter frees …
… us from the fear of death
Revelation 1:17,18
“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the
Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and
behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the
keys of death and Hades.”
Easter bids …
… us to trust in the Risen Christ
John 6:40
“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to
the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life,
and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 11:25, 26
“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes
in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who
lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you
believe this?”
Anxious? Life is passing you by?
When Jesus shows up regeneration happens and
your life/things are redeemed.
When Jesus joins and leads your journey, the life
you’ve yearned for springs up. Life comes with Him!
Reflection
•
Offer yourself to Him
•
Admit your need, confessing your sin.
•
Accept His invitation, repent - turning to Him in
faith.
•
Expect Him to change you, thanking Him for
dying in your place and forgiving you