The Resurrection and Life
Notes
Transcript
Seven “I Am” statements of Jesus
Predicate Noun
the Bread
the Light
the Gate (Door)
the Shepherd
the Resurrection and Life (SKIPPED OVER!!)
the Way, Truth, and Life
the Vine
“I AM” - Divine Name
Let’s read the statement I inadvertently skipped during this series
PLEASE STAND AS WE HONOR THE READING OF GOD’S WORD
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,
19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
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.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
THE WORD OF GOD - FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD
Not just Easter or funerals! Resurrection and Life is for the here and now.
Resurrection and Life provides hope and power for each day we live.
Provides life and forgiveness to those dead in sin.
Provides power to LIVE today so we can give our lives as a legacy, a heritage, an impact upon the world and specifically to those around us - family, friends, neighbors, community!
Let’s review our Scripture together...
HEARTBREAK EXPERIENCED
HEARTBREAK EXPERIENCED
Heartbreak Experienced (17-20)
Context (17-18)
Lazarus died - 4 days in tomb - decomposition has started
Concern (19)
Many had come to provide comfort to Martha and Mary
Confusion (20)
Martha went to meet Jesus; Mary stayed at home
DISCUSSED TOGETHER
DISCUSSED TOGETHER
Discussed Together (21-24)
Through Prayer and Scriptures
Complaint (21)
“If only!” - it is OK to complain to God; be as reverent as you can be
Mark - yelling out the window
Confidence (22, 24)
Have faith and confidence in Jesus and the power that God has
Confirmation (23)
“Lazarus will live again.”
How? - Jesus words: “I am the Resurrection and Life”
PROMISE RECEIVED
PROMISE RECEIVED
Promise Received (25-27)
One commentator: “the most far-reaching promise anywhere in the Gospel of what relationship with Jesus offers those who embrace it.”
Preeminence (25a)
Definition - the fact of surpassing all others
Jesus is sovereign over present and future life; Jesus defeats sin and death.
Promise (25b-26)
He did not say “I am the resurrection” or “I am the life” but said BOTH together.
He who believes in Jesus - twofold statement - sound similar - but two perspectives:
1 - will live eternally even with physical death
2 - will live in the present and never die spiritually
Profession (27)
Martha - “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God”
- Pastor Ed Sasnett - childhood address - work address
“If God delays the Second Coming I will one day have an address that includes a row and a number for a grave, but don’t think for a second that I am dead. I will be more alive than I have ever been in my whole existence. My confident hope of victory over death is not based on the life I have lived. It is totally dependent on Jesus who is the Resurrection and the Life.”
BELIEVE
BELIEVE
One condition to receiving the promise - BELIEVE in Jesus.
Believe He is the one who gives life to what you see as dead.
Believe He can bring hope to what you see as hopeless.
Believe He is the one who gives eternal life so you will never die.
Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life…”
He asks each of us a critical question
“Do you believe this?”