I AM the Resurrection
In John 11:25 Jesus makes the statement “I am the resurrection and the life.” Now, I don’t know about you, but there’s something about this statement that has never really struck me before.
I’m guessing that you read that, think that Jesus was resurrected, and that He brought Lazarus (and others) back to life, and pretty much feel like you’ve got a handle on it.
But read that again: “I am the resurrection…” Do you realize that He is NOT claiming to have been raised; He is not claiming to be able to raise others. He is claiming to BE resurrection; He is claiming to BE life.
That’s powerful! He overcomes death! He is life. And He has both the ability and the desire to be that resurrection and life for you.
The first implication is pretty obvious. He brings us out of spiritual death and into an eternal life with Him. But think for a moment about the fact that when Jesus heard His friend Lazarus was very ill, He waited several days before he went to Bethany. Why would He do that?
Well, what are you facing right now? Have you lost your job? Is your business failing? Have you lost one or more loved ones? Is your own health at risk? Do you feel like your life is spiraling downward, beyond your control?
Do you think Jesus knows and/or cares? Oh, yes, He cares! But sometimes God allows those things into our lives so we will turn to Him. Iain Campbell puts it this way, “Sometimes God’s voice is heard by us in things we would never have wished for, and would never have wanted to come into our homes and families” (Iain Campbell, Exploring the “I Am” sayings of John’s Gospel (Evangelical Press, Kindle Edition)).
Sometimes we need to be taken out of our comfort zone before we open ourselves to what God wants to do in our lives. It’s never comfortable, but it’s always worth it. (See, e.g., Matthew 5:12; Luke 21:19; 2 Cor. 8:19; 12:10; James 1:2.)
But suppose, just suppose, Lazarus had heard Jesus’ voice, but thought to himself, “You know, I’m kind of comfortable here. I think I’ll just stay where I am.” Don’t be that Lazarus. Don’t ignore the call and the power of the One who gives you life, the One “who calls you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
