On Sunday, we explored the last “Great I Am” statement of Jesus as He declared to Martha, Lazarus’s sister in John 11:25-26: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
- Jesus, the Great I Am is the Resurrection and the Life. Jesus supersedes death. It isn’t too hard for Jesus to overcome.
Death seems pretty final, but Jesus proves He always has the last say. Death isn’t a match for Jesus. He proved it in the raising of Lazarus from the dead. He proved it by His own resurrection. I Corinthians 15:55-56 tells us that Jesus has taken the sting out of death. It says that death has been swallowed up in victory. Jesus swallowed death and it didn’t take Him out. It couldn’t take Him out because death holds no dominion over Him who is Life!
We also read in I Corinthians 15 that Jesus’ victory has become our victory, so death holds no dominion over those who are in Christ either! Death may seem final, but it isn’t because Jesus supersedes death. He has proven to be greater than death.
I don’t know what you are dealing with that may seem final. I am sure Mary and Martha quit praying for Lazarus to get better after he died. I am sure they concluded it was over. Maybe you have given up on something to which the door seems forever closed. It may seem to be over for you in some area of your life. It may appear to be hopeless. You may feel powerless to see any change, but hear me clearly this morning: Jesus, The Great I Am, the Resurrection and the Life is living, and because He lives, He can call forth anything He wants to at any time for God’s glory and your benefit!
- Jesus supersedes time. It isn’t too late for Jesus to do something new.
Four days in the tomb? No problem. Jesus isn’t bound by time. You may think it is too late for you. Maybe you think you have wasted too much time. Maybe you think your past is too dark and there is no hope for Jesus to perform a miracle in your life. God has sent me to tell you that it isn’t too late. It isn’t too late for you to come to Jesus. It isn’t too late for Him to turn your life around. It isn’t too late for you to walk in newness of life and to share in Christ’s victory!
Martha was a believer. She believed that one day something could change for Lazarus. She believed in a future resurrection (V 24), but she believed more time would have to pass before it would happen. She believed she would have to wait on that miracle. It would be for some day, but not that day.
Jesus proved He stands above time when He resurrected Lazarus from the grave. Maybe you have been praying for something for years, believing for something for years, hoping that the future could be different from the past. What if today is resurrection day for you in some area of your life? What if today Jesus wants to do a new thing?
Here is the bottom line: Jesus proved that He is the Resurrection and the Life. He proved that death isn’t an obstacle for Him. He proved He was and is greater than time.
I don’t know what needs resurrected in your life. I might be your soul. It might be your faith. It could be a relationship. It might be a dream, your finances, your health. I do know God is able to come in power and provide for you. Death has been called the last enemy in I Cor. 15:26. You know what that tells me? Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, has taken care of everything for us.
So, here is my question. It is the question Jesus asked Martha: Look at verses 25-26 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Do you believe? Do you? Do you believe God wants to give you eternal life through Jesus? Do you believe He wants to impact your now? Do you believe He wants to remove the grave clothes from an old way of life, from an old way of thinking and give you an opportunity to live free in Him? Do you believe that everything you might experience in this life, even the difficult stuff, could turn out to be for God’s glory and your benefit? It’s possible if we allow Jesus to do what He desires to do in His way and in His time. Jesus said He is the Resurrection and the Life and that anyone who believes in Him will live and not die. Do you believe?
