Living in the Resurrection
John 11:17-36
Everyone fears death at some level. In truth, we will do anything to avoid death. Jesus offers not only a remedy for our fear of death, but also death itself. Resurrection is the power, or the process, of overcoming death.
In John 11, we read how Martha and Mary display their fear and desperation over Lazarus' death. They most likely had to depend on their brother for finances and protection. They ask the questions such as "Why God would allow this pain to happen?", and "where is God?" Their fears and actions are typical of us.
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
John 11:21-22 ESV
Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
John 11:32 ESV
Jesus takes the opportunity to state who he is.
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
John 11:23-25 ESV
Jesus sees and understands Martha and Mary’s their desperate situation. Then He tells Martha and Mary as well as the others that he has the power, is the power and gives people the ability to live. Jesus reveals to them that people who are friends of Jesus and who love Jesus will be saved. Jesus grants the Resurrection to the people He loves.
Throughout the book of John, it is stated many times that Jesus loved this family. Yet, he let them suffer through death and mourning of a loved one in John 11. Lazarus died so that Jesus could affirm who he was and what he could do as well as give this family the confidence that those who know and love Jesus are saved.
Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
John 11:24 ESV
Martha expressed her belief in the future resurrection, but Jesus told her that the Resurrection He offers is for now. Jesus implants His presence in us once we believe.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26 ESV
There will be many pains, losses, sufferings, uncertainties and disappointments in our lives. If we don't have the confidence in the Resurrection and the life, we will have problems continuing in difficult times. The confidence gives us hope to continue. Jesus plants a seed of the Resurrection in us. This seed of the Resurrection works on us and it grows. Yes, we do suffer and fail, but sin will lose its appeal and effects on our lives.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18 ESV
We also need to understand that God may allow us to suffer and endure bad times, so we will return to him. God does not want anyone to be lost. The reason why Jesus is in our lives is so that He may sustain us until the last time. Even when things are bad, Jesus is with us and wants us to be saved.
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
John 6:39 ESV
With Jesus in our lives, we should also have the confidence that Jesus is the life. He gave and gives life to everyone who ever existed.
In John 11, we read how Martha and Mary display their fear and desperation over Lazarus' death. They most likely had to depend on their brother for finances and protection. They ask the questions such as "Why God would allow this pain to happen?", and "where is God?" Their fears and actions are typical of us.
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
John 11:21-22 ESV
Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
John 11:32 ESV
Jesus takes the opportunity to state who he is.
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
John 11:23-25 ESV
Jesus sees and understands Martha and Mary’s their desperate situation. Then He tells Martha and Mary as well as the others that he has the power, is the power and gives people the ability to live. Jesus reveals to them that people who are friends of Jesus and who love Jesus will be saved. Jesus grants the Resurrection to the people He loves.
Throughout the book of John, it is stated many times that Jesus loved this family. Yet, he let them suffer through death and mourning of a loved one in John 11. Lazarus died so that Jesus could affirm who he was and what he could do as well as give this family the confidence that those who know and love Jesus are saved.
Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
John 11:24 ESV
Martha expressed her belief in the future resurrection, but Jesus told her that the Resurrection He offers is for now. Jesus implants His presence in us once we believe.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26 ESV
There will be many pains, losses, sufferings, uncertainties and disappointments in our lives. If we don't have the confidence in the Resurrection and the life, we will have problems continuing in difficult times. The confidence gives us hope to continue. Jesus plants a seed of the Resurrection in us. This seed of the Resurrection works on us and it grows. Yes, we do suffer and fail, but sin will lose its appeal and effects on our lives.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18 ESV
We also need to understand that God may allow us to suffer and endure bad times, so we will return to him. God does not want anyone to be lost. The reason why Jesus is in our lives is so that He may sustain us until the last time. Even when things are bad, Jesus is with us and wants us to be saved.
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
John 6:39 ESV
With Jesus in our lives, we should also have the confidence that Jesus is the life. He gave and gives life to everyone who ever existed.
All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:3-4 ESV
The three siblings had been exposed to loss. Lazarus lost his life and all the hope that comes with life. With Lazarus dead, Martha and Mary had lost their heritage, their finances, and their protection, yet Jesus told them not to worry. Even after Lazarus was resurrected, this family would have been targeted because of Jesus and the miracle of resurrection.
Jesus wants us not just to understand that He loves us and will save us. We are to have confidence in who Jesus is and that we are saved now and are resurrected now by the one who first gave us life and is life.
John 1:3-4 ESV
The three siblings had been exposed to loss. Lazarus lost his life and all the hope that comes with life. With Lazarus dead, Martha and Mary had lost their heritage, their finances, and their protection, yet Jesus told them not to worry. Even after Lazarus was resurrected, this family would have been targeted because of Jesus and the miracle of resurrection.
Jesus wants us not just to understand that He loves us and will save us. We are to have confidence in who Jesus is and that we are saved now and are resurrected now by the one who first gave us life and is life.
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