I Am the Resurrection and the Life

Text: John 11:25-26

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John 11:25-26

Jonah Albrecht
Advent 4
December 22nd, 2024
John 11:25-26
I AM the Resurrection and the Life

Grace and Peace to Your from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

25Jesus 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?”

INJ Who was born for the purpose of the cross that we would have Eternal Life, DFR:

Over the last few weeks, we have been considering the I AM Statements of the Savior. It began by taking a look at the first time God coined this name for Himself before Moses in the burning bush. We learned what how this name, I AM, truly encapsulates every ounce of goodness, mercy, love, and justice that is in God.

Then we considered Jesus saying, “I AM the light of the world.” He is the one who called us out of the darkness of our sin and into the marvelous light of the Gospel. He began our relationship with God.

Then we heard about “I AM the bread of life,” and how Jesus has given us food for our souls, that we may feed them and never go hungry. This food comes to us through the means of grace, the Gospel in Word and Sacrament. He preserves our relationship with God.

Last week we pondered the words, “I AM the door.” Jesus has taken upon Himself the role of our Good Shepherd. He watches over us with a loving, careful eye so that He always knows what problems lay on our hearts and minds and what healing to bring for our benefit. He continues our relationship with God.

This morning, we will consider our final installment of the I AM Statements of the Savior. Though there are many statements from which to choose, “I AM the way, the truth, and the life; I AM the Good Shepherd; I AM the true vine;” the one to lay on our hearts today points us forward. It shows how Jesus has sealed our relationship with God forever into eternity. I AM the resurrection and the life.

When you read the account of Lazarus’ death, the last thing you would possibly think of is Christmas, right? There are no shepherds, angels, or wise men. It is about death, not new birth. And yet, it is just as connected to the birth of our Savior as any other section in Scripture. Here’s why: Purpose. The purpose for which Jesus was born was to bring to nothing the final enemy that all human beings must face: death.

It goes all the way back to Genesis 3, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. The bite that changed the entire course of the world forever.

Adam and Eve’s usurped the Lord’s command to not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and brought death to all of creation. The results of the sin were immediate. They hid from God rather than run to Him; they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden and were burdened with work to survive; no longer would the offspring of Adam be born into the image of God, holy like Him, but rather they would be born according to the likeness of Adam, sinful and destined to die.

This fate has been passed down from generation to generation. It infected Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and it affects you and me today. Paul reminds us in Romans 5:12, Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—The world has been captured by sin and death, unable to free itself. Neither Lazarus, or Mary, or Martha had any power over death.

This is our connection to Christmas. I’m sure you all remember the words the angels told to the shepherds on that first Christmas night. “Do not be afraid, for behold! I bring you good tidings of great joy. There has been born to you this day, in the city of David, a SAVIOR who is CHRIST THE LORD.”

Savior, but from what? You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. A Savior from sin, and if a Savior from sin, then also a Savior from the death that follows.

The reason the Son of God was born to the Virgin Mary when the fulness of time had come was to fix the problem that Adam and Eve started. As sin and death spread to all through Adam, so then through the Christ Jesus, life and righteousness would spread to all who believe in Him. This was God’s plan for salvation all along. It would always come through the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. So yes, the birth of Jesus plays an integral role in the raising of Lazarus, in the many times Jesus healed the sick, in His humiliation before Pontius Pilate, the Romans, and on Calvary. The birth of Jesus foreshadows everything that He would accomplish for us on the cross.

This is the Jesus that Lazarus had faith in, and the reason Jesus tells Martha, “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?”

Her grief was great. Jesus was not taking that away from her. Even He mourned the loss of His dear friend. But Jesus also had comfort to give. He knew the faith that was in Lazarus’ heart and now He wanted to show Mary, Martha, Lazarus, all the other Jews who had gathered around, and yes, you and me, that He has power over the greatest enemy, death.

The miracle Jesus would go on to perform in raising Lazarus from the dead was not about preserving his earthly life. It was to show that through Jesus, death is no longer the end. Death is no longer something that Christians need to fear because Jesus is the resurrection and the life, life everlasting. If physical death does come to the body before the Savior returns on the Last Day, faith in Jesus is an immediate express ticket to the glory of eternal life. If Jesus comes before we taste death, faith in Him is an immediate express ticket to the glory of eternal life.

This is all possible because Jesus Himself is the firstfruits. No, He wasn’t the first one to rise from the dead. There are other examples in the Old Testament. He is the first one to rise from the dead, never to die again. In ascending into heaven Jesus made sure that death was as good as dead. It had lost its bite, its sting because Jesus paid for the sins that lead to death. Without Christ, our sins lead to death, and that death lasts eternally in hell. But with Christ, because of the Savior, those who have seen the Light of the World, tasted the Bread of Life, enter into the pen of the Good Shepherd, these will not taste the eternal death, but rather receive life everlasting.

This is the truth Jesus wanted to impress on Martha’s heart. It is the same truth He wants you to know too. He is your resurrection and the life.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we experienced what Mary and Martha were able to experience? To see with our own eyes Jesus’ power over death? My dear friends in Christ, you have. Look at yourself, look at those around you, look at anyone you know who has confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior and you will see Jesus’ power over death. No, you cannot see it with the naked eye. But that is not how we live our lives do we? We walk by faith.

With the eyes of faith you can know that Jesus has delivered you from the eternal death that your sins and mine deserve. By faith you can know that if you do taste death on this earth, it is like laying your head down on the pillow and in a flash, it is over, heaven’s glorious light instantly fills your life.

“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?”

With these words the I AM God would bring stillness to your soul for in them we can be certain that our future as children of God is secure. Our Light, our Bread, our Door will not fail us or forsake us, but rather He will gently lead us into the everlasting light of His glory.

There is one last question to consider this morning: Do you believe this? This question Jesus asked of Martha was one for her own benefit. It shifted her focus from the loss of her brother to the victory that her Savior was providing for her brother and for her. Do you believe this? It is truly that simple. There are no elaborate hoops to jump through or promises to make. Do you believe that in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, you have eternal life? As we gaze upon the manger of our Savior’s birth, with hearts of faith, we echo the words of Martha, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” Amen.