Jesus says: I am the Resurrection and the Life - John 11:25b-26

 

29th November 2020

Mark 13:32-37 - Jesus' advice about timing of His return 

 

[32] “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,

but only the Father. [33] Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

[34] It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each

with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

[35] “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will

come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.

[36] If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. [37] What I say to you, I say to

everyone: ‘Watch!' ”

  

John 11:17-27 

 

[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.”

  

Talk :  I am the Resurrection and the Life - John 11:25b-26 

  

Introduction 

 

“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. . . "

 

I think it is fair to say I have quoted those words, without the little important question that

follows, more than any other scripture. This is the opening scripture spoken at a funeral service  and having taken hundreds over nearly 50 years, the first being one of my grandma's back in 1971, is the reason for that.

 

But - what better words to be said and heard, being careful to see that as many as possible

do hear them, at the start of a service. The greatest promise ever made. 

 

Words, not just of consolation, but certain hope and promise, as well as a challenge to all,

not least, to those without faith. I have preached on it in that context, and others, as well as bringing it in on many occasions in different sermons, talks, conversations etc. I guess others will have a similar experience.  

Of course it is the greatest promise of all time but it is also in a deeply moving, personal and dramatic passage when, after no rush and all kinds of 'matters' after he arrived Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. If you haven't read it recently be encouraged to do so and see who you relate to in the rich and astounding event. 

 

This is the 5th 'I am' saying in John's gospel with the final two being 'said' in the Upper Room. What is significant here is that this is the 7th and final 'sign' in the same gospel. A sign is a marker that points and guides. If you want to travel to Paris it's best to follow the signs that say Paris! If you want to know the truth and see who Jesus is, follow the signs.

 

This final one, the resurrection of Lazarus is, amongst other things, a foretaste of the resurrection of Jesus following his death on the cross where he pays the price of all sin. There is a difference. Lazarus was to die again and wait, with all believers, for the resurrection to eternal life in the age to come. Jesus is the source of that life which is to come.

 

When Jesus rose again, as we see in the resurrection accounts, there was something different about him and the conclusion most hold, I am not going to go into that now, is that he had his transformed body which was, and is, immortal and imperishable and that is how we will one day! (1 Corinthians 15:50-54 and the whole chapter is worth reading!)

 

That day, as Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians 15 is the day Jesus returns which in turn leads to

the new heavens and new earth - Revelation 21.

 

So, in another extended introduction, our two themes: I am the Resurrection and the Life,

and the second coming of Jesus, have started to come together and, they are inextricably

linked. You can't have one without the other!

  

1. The Great Challenge - John 11:25-26 

 

“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?”

 

This time I have not called this the Greatest Promise, although I believe it is, because before that we have to face the Great Challenge because Jesus builds it in and this time I quoted it. Do you believe this?

 

No one is forced to believe and I have regularly said that these two verses are the greatest promise we can hear or, they are the biggest lie that has ever been told! The latter, in turn, makes Jesus a liar, a con man and a deceiver - Do you believe this? I don't, but, and this is behind the question, if Jesus cannot 'deliver the goods' so to speak, if he cannot  raise you and I from the grave, and all the rest who believe and trust in Him as Lord and Saviour, on the day of resurrection then, it is a lie! What else can it be?

 

Martha's response, v 27, “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” moves on, I think from her first response to Jesus earlier statement which is an expression of the then current Jewish belief about resurrection, except, of course, for the Sadducees who didn't believe in the resurrection.

 

 Now, in response to Jesus's statement she makes a full blown and massive declaration as to who He is. I wonder if we can say that as boldly as she: “Yes, Lord , . . . . I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”? It's a big bold affirmation of faith!

 

However, lest we forget, she  is talking the other side of the cross and resurrection of Jesus. Further, when they reach the grave of Lazarus no one expects what Jesus was going to do and would probably not believed he could - call for Lazarus, four days dead, to come out of the grave, and, for him to do so.

 

If Jesus can do this now, will he not even more so be able to do it after He has paid the price

of sin and actually defeated death in one and the same action - death and resurrection?

 

Jesus walked out, or better, burst forth from the tomb and unlike Lazarus did not face death again, only elevation to the highest place and sit on the throne next to His Father - task completed - in full, once and for all.

 

As we share bread and wine shortly reflect on this.

 

As for these words being true, because we believe he can and will, deliver the goods, with

no uncertainty, as we respond to the challenge of belief in Him, these words then become

the greatest promise we have ever heard and we can rely on it in and for the fullness of life! 

 

It undergirds all our comings and going, our health, or lack of, all joys, pains, pleasures and

uncertainties of life - and of course, not the promise, but the action of the cross and Jesus's

own resurrection. The reality behind it.

 

I go back to a passage in 1 Corinthians 15 which is a good supplement to these thoughts:  1

Corinthians 15:20-22

 

[20] But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have

fallen asleep. [21] For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead

comes also through a man. [22] For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 

 

Paul goes on to the second coming and so shall we!

  

2. The Great Certainty - Mark 13:32 

 

It comes in two parts, first, a few verses earlier, Mark 13:26-27

 

[26] “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and

glory. [27] And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the

ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

 

It's a statement - I will return and it is on a par with what he has said before about what

would happen to him when he arrived in Jerusalem, where he was when speaking these

words in Mark 13, that he would be rejected, suffer, die and rise again. 

 

All of this happened within a couple of days we read about it in Mark 15-16.

 

If all that happened, just as he said it would, we have confidence in him and his words and

can know therefore with certainty that he will come again in all power and authority and

usher in a new era with a new heaven and earth.

 

Of course, what will happen and when it will happen, are two big issues. One of these is

clearly answered in the current verse, v 32

 

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,

but only the Father.  . . "

 

Too many forget this or think they know better than Jesus and try suggesting times etc. No

good and actually, it is not the issue. If Jesus had wanted us to know, he could have let us

know, but, as he says, even I don't know!

 

What is certain is that he will and, at an unknown time. What we need to do is pay full

attention to what he says next because that is what matters:

  

3. The Great Command - Mark 13:32-37 

 

" ..  . [33] Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. [34] It's like a

man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their

assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

[35] “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will

come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at

dawn. [36] If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. [37] What I say to you, I

say to everyone: ‘Watch!' ”

 

The message is plain and simple for those who believe in Him who is the Resurrection and

the Life, be on your guard and alert - so as not to be distracted and get on with looking after

the owner's house of which we are the servants to care for it until . . Whenever . . The

owner returns.

  

Get on with the work of caring for the house, the people of God, add extensions, draw

others in with the good news which lies in and around all we are talking bout today - as well

as a whole lot more.

 

Watch and be alert includes praying, praying for what I have just said - here in the

chaplaincy, in the church you belong to or other churches with which you have links. Praying

for the national and worldwide church that all are true and faithful to the master. Big stuff

but through it we are just depending more on God and being focussed on His Kingdom.

 

Again, let us remember all this is to do with a set of love relationships. God loves us - wow -

and out of that love has done and does so much - he wants us to love him, and hopefully we

do that as believers, and then, we have to love one another for that shows we are Jesus's

disciples!

  

Conclusion 

 

We see this morning this great 'I am' saying breaks a new ground and far from being images

that look back, as five did; light, bread and water, gate, shepherd and then vine, or the one

that summarise the whole - the way, the truth and the life, this one looks forward, first to

the resurrection of Jesus following his sacrificial death and then our own resurrection at His

return.

 

As Jesus says in the closing words of the book of Revelation, and these form a wonderful

drawing together of the I am sayings as well as His return, Revelation 22:12-13

 

[12] “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person

according to what they have done. [13] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the

Last, the Beginning and the End.

 

That was 2000 years ago and 'soon' is still 'soon' Let's! Keep 'em peeled and get on with

what he has for us!