Jesus is the resurrection and the life

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?”

John 11:25-26

0. Introduction : Difference of perspective

There was a mother with two sons.

Each of the two sons had a different job.

The first son was a fan salesman, and the second son was an umbrella salesman.

And although both sons were employed, the mother was worried about them every day.

She thought, if it rained, her first son would not be able to sell fans,

but if it didn’t rain, her second son wouldn’t be able to sell his umbrellas.

One day a wise man gave her some advice. 

“Don’t worry about it. Rather, try to be a happy person. Whenever it rains, your second son’s umbrella sales are good, and when it doesn’t rain, your first son’s fan sales are good.”

(This is kind of like a glass half empty or half full change in perspective.)

Changing her perspective, the mother began to experience more happiness and gratitude in her everyday life.

Our perspective has an important impact on our lives.

What perspective should we live from?

We have to look at the world from a Christian perspective.

In other words, we must live with Jesus.

Today’s message is titled “Jesus, the resurrection and the life”, and it is taken out of John chapter 11.

1. The Death of Lazarus

John 11:1-3 ;6 ;14

1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

…

6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

…

14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,

Lazarus and his sisters had an intimate relationship with Jesus.

Then one day, when Lazarus was in danger of dying from a serious illness, his sisters urgently asked Jesus for help.

However, Jesus did not immediately respond to their request. 

And so, eventually, Lazarus died of his illness.

Of course Jesus knew about his death. 

So then, why did Jesus delay helping in them?

2. The Perspective of Jesus

John 11:4 ;15

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God`s glory so that God`s Son may be glorified through it.”

…

15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Jesus’ perspective of Lazarus’s death was quite positive.

But how could he be so positive about death like this?

This was not the same perspective that ordinary people would have had.

In fact, Jesus said he was glad that he had not been with Lazarus.

He said that Lazarus’s death would display the glory of God,

and that the purpose of Lazarus’s death was to make people believe in him as their savior.

Jesus’ perspective may have been misunderstood by these women who had lost their family member and were deeply saddened because death is not something that a person can overcome.

So what was the perspective of the people regarding Lazarus’ death?

3. The Perspective of the People

John 11:21-24 ;32

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

…

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Lazarus’s death was a tragic event for Martha, Mary, and the Jews who were with him. 

Jesus came, but their grief could not be overcome.

This was because of their limited belief in Jesus.

So, how did Jesus react to the unbelievers?

John 11:33

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

This passage says ‘he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.’

The original meaning of this sentence in Greek is ‘furious indignation’.

Even Mary, whom Jesus expected to have a deeper faith, did not fully trust Jesus in the face of her brother’s death. He was sad and angry that the people did not fully believe in him and trust him entirely.

4. Jesus, the resurrection and the life

John 11:25-26 ;40-44

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?”

…

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.  Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Jesus prayed to God to save Lazarus from death.

This prayer was not a plea but an expression of gratitude.

Because Jesus is one with God, he thanked God first before making his prayer.

This prayer was a very important symbol in proving that Jesus was the savior sent by God.

At that time, the people did not realize that Jesus was the savior sent by God.

But, through the resurrection of Lazarus, Jesus helped them realize that He is the resurrection and the life. And the resurrection of Lazarus became an important event that foreshadowed the resurrection of Jesus.

Most people think there is a golden window of time or opportunity in which to solve their problems. So they despair when they cannot solve their problems in that golden window.

This is the general perspective of people.

But Jesus presented a new perspective to Christians by revealing to us that he is the resurrection and the life.

If we fully trust Jesus as a savior, then THIS becomes our golden window of opportunity for solving our problems – chief of which is sin, which leads to death.

So, don’t complain that Jesus doesn’t immediately solve your problems.

Expectations like these prevent you from recognizing Jesus’ sovereignty.

But the perspective Jesus presents to us is that we should acknowledge God’s sovereignty first.

Jesus told the people that the greatest problem of man, “death,” was essential for displaying God’s glory in John chapter 11.

Similarly, if your problem is to be used to display the glory of God, then you must endure it and it will become an essential growing process for your faith.

This may be a great gift of grace for you.

Everything that happens to you is what is needed to display the glory of God.

And when you meet Jesus, the true meaning that is hidden in all the problems eventually appears.

Admit God’s sovereignty and plan for you, and confess Jesus Christ as your savior!

Ask Jesus for his wisdom and for a Christian perspective!

Jesus will let us express our gratitude to God through our problems!

This is the amazing grace of Jesus, the resurrection and life.