We are continuing our series on the 7 “I AM” statements of Jesus found in the gospel of John. Each statement reveals how Jesus fulfills the spiritual needs of humans.[1] Today we continue with the fifth “I am” statement, found in John chapter 11.
“Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles[c] off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[d] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:17-27)
The background to this I AM statement is the story of the death of Lazarus (John 11). Lazarus is the brother of Mary and Martha who were both close to Jesus. Lazarus had become ill and is on the point of death; Mary and Martha send a message to Jesus asking him to come quickly to Lazarus. However, after receiving the message Jesus stayed where he was for 2 more days, before departing on the 2 day journey. This is significant because Jewish belief was that the soul of a dead person remained with the body for 3 days with the possibility of resuscitation.[2] By delaying his trip Jesus ensures that he arrives more than 3 days after Lazarus’ death and highlights the miracle that he is about to do, removing other potential explanations.
When Jesus arrives Mary expresses what they were thinking ““Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32) Mary and Martha assume Jesus could have healed Lazarus, but they do not realize that he has power over death as well as life. Jesus has a bigger plan than any of them have imagined.
As Martha is wondering why Jesus had not come to them sooner “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”” (John 11:23-26). Here we have our fifth I AM statement.
In this I AM statement Jesus reveals much more about himself than he has to this point in the gospel of John. The previous I AM statements have all been metaphors, pointing to the truth and reality of eternal life, but not explicitly stating it. There is no metaphor to unpack this time, just an astonishing story that challenges and encourages faith. What is revealed about Jesus in this I AM statement is that “He is hope in death”[3] Let’s get back to the story of Lazarus and see what happens.
Once Jesus arrives where Lazarus has been buried, he asks to see the tomb. At Jesus’ request the stone covering Lazarus’ tomb is removed, Jesus prays to God, and calls for Lazarus to come out of the tomb. Amazingly, astonishingly, Lazarus rises and walks out of the tomb. Can you imagine watching a man who had been dead for 4 days come walking out of a tomb? This miracle proved that Jesus has power over death and foreshadows his own resurrection. This I AM statement and the story of Lazarus reveals three specific things.[4]
1. Jesus himself is the resurrection and the life
As Jesus has authority to both lay down and take up his own life, so he has authority over all life. The Bible tells us that all life is sustained in and through Jesus. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col 1:15-17)
2. Believers will be raised on the last day
Secondly, we learn that those who believe in Jesus will be raised again. Many Jews, including Martha, believed that there would be a resurrection from the dead. However, the resurrection of Lazarus reveals something unexpected; that Jesus has resurrection power right now.
3. Believers will never die
Finally, we learn that spiritually, followers of Jesus will never die. The final generation of Christians alive when Jesus returns will not die physically, but everyone else will. Though most people will die physically, no one must die spiritually. Through relationship with Jesus people receive both resurrection and life as the story of Lazarus shows. When someone places their faith in Jesus, their new life begins right now as Jesus taught the pharisee Nicodemus (John 3).
It is through a relationship with Jesus that people experience spiritual life. What has been revealed in this I AM statement is that resurrection is available right now. Because Jesus has power over life and death, he has the power of resurrection everywhere, all the time. Resurrection isn’t just about some far-off moment and vague statements about eternal life. New life can begin right now, because of Jesus. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[b] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor 5:17). When you choose to follow Jesus, eternity starts today.
[1] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 316
[2] Kruse, C. G. (2003). John: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 4, p. 252). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[3] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 316
[4] Kruse, C. G. (2003). John: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 4, p. 248). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
“Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles[c] off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[d] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:17-27)
The background to this I AM statement is the story of the death of Lazarus (John 11). Lazarus is the brother of Mary and Martha who were both close to Jesus. Lazarus had become ill and is on the point of death; Mary and Martha send a message to Jesus asking him to come quickly to Lazarus. However, after receiving the message Jesus stayed where he was for 2 more days, before departing on the 2 day journey. This is significant because Jewish belief was that the soul of a dead person remained with the body for 3 days with the possibility of resuscitation.[2] By delaying his trip Jesus ensures that he arrives more than 3 days after Lazarus’ death and highlights the miracle that he is about to do, removing other potential explanations.
When Jesus arrives Mary expresses what they were thinking ““Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32) Mary and Martha assume Jesus could have healed Lazarus, but they do not realize that he has power over death as well as life. Jesus has a bigger plan than any of them have imagined.
As Martha is wondering why Jesus had not come to them sooner “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”” (John 11:23-26). Here we have our fifth I AM statement.
In this I AM statement Jesus reveals much more about himself than he has to this point in the gospel of John. The previous I AM statements have all been metaphors, pointing to the truth and reality of eternal life, but not explicitly stating it. There is no metaphor to unpack this time, just an astonishing story that challenges and encourages faith. What is revealed about Jesus in this I AM statement is that “He is hope in death”[3] Let’s get back to the story of Lazarus and see what happens.
Once Jesus arrives where Lazarus has been buried, he asks to see the tomb. At Jesus’ request the stone covering Lazarus’ tomb is removed, Jesus prays to God, and calls for Lazarus to come out of the tomb. Amazingly, astonishingly, Lazarus rises and walks out of the tomb. Can you imagine watching a man who had been dead for 4 days come walking out of a tomb? This miracle proved that Jesus has power over death and foreshadows his own resurrection. This I AM statement and the story of Lazarus reveals three specific things.[4]
1. Jesus himself is the resurrection and the life
As Jesus has authority to both lay down and take up his own life, so he has authority over all life. The Bible tells us that all life is sustained in and through Jesus. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col 1:15-17)
2. Believers will be raised on the last day
Secondly, we learn that those who believe in Jesus will be raised again. Many Jews, including Martha, believed that there would be a resurrection from the dead. However, the resurrection of Lazarus reveals something unexpected; that Jesus has resurrection power right now.
3. Believers will never die
Finally, we learn that spiritually, followers of Jesus will never die. The final generation of Christians alive when Jesus returns will not die physically, but everyone else will. Though most people will die physically, no one must die spiritually. Through relationship with Jesus people receive both resurrection and life as the story of Lazarus shows. When someone places their faith in Jesus, their new life begins right now as Jesus taught the pharisee Nicodemus (John 3).
It is through a relationship with Jesus that people experience spiritual life. What has been revealed in this I AM statement is that resurrection is available right now. Because Jesus has power over life and death, he has the power of resurrection everywhere, all the time. Resurrection isn’t just about some far-off moment and vague statements about eternal life. New life can begin right now, because of Jesus. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[b] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor 5:17). When you choose to follow Jesus, eternity starts today.
[1] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 316
[2] Kruse, C. G. (2003). John: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 4, p. 252). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[3] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 316
[4] Kruse, C. G. (2003). John: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 4, p. 248). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
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