I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

John, in his Gospel, emphasizes the seven I AM statements of Jesus. His fourth, "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." John 10:11 NIV Jesus is a relational, personal Shepherd. He invites each of us into relationship with Him. I am so glad He is a shepherd, because I am a sheep. As hard as I've tried to have peace, it's just not possible without Him. I mean, maybe for a little while, but true peace comes from the surety of heaven. I know I've been in some scary, and dark, and even dangerous places in my life; many of which I've tried to navigate on my own. I can't hold a candle to a wolf, but He can.

See my last post, I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD, on John 10:11-42 https://www.jenarainonesmith.com/post/i-am-the-good-shepherd Lazarus, a good friend of Jesus, was ill. So His sisters Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus, "Lord the one you love is sick." (see John 11:1-3) 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.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” John 11:4-7 NIV John said that Jesus loved them so He waited. I've read this dozens of times, but this time, the word so jumped off the page. I never saw it before. Oh how one little word can change everything. Jesus deliberately waited. Let me tell you, for a girl who suffers with chronic insomnia, and who has prayed hundreds of times to fall asleep, this little word breathes new life into me and I hope it does you as well.

Jesus is never aloof, so why did He wait? Let's take a closer look. [Jesus said to His disciples] “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” John 11:11-15 NIV

Jesus waited for the sake of the disciples, but He also waited for Lazarus' sake, his sisters, and for you, and me. He had a much bigger plan! Lazarus was dead. Martha and Mary were devastated. The disciples were confused. And yet Jesus was about to make it all make sense.

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. John 11:17 NIV When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” John 11:21-22 NIV Martha, no doubt was confused, disappointed, maybe even a little bitter. I can relate. After all, Jesus had helped so many, why not her brother? I've asked myself that question many times, why not me? Can you imagine how she felt? I can. Even so, she chose to trust the heart of God. I don't always do that well. At least not right away.

Sometimes it's much easier to ignore the pain than it is to trust God with it. Faith is a journey, it doesn't happen all at once. How we see Jesus changes how we see everything. He carries our struggles with Him as He takes each of us on a journey to grow our faith. He displays this so beautifully in His relationship with Martha and Mary.

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:23-26 NIV Jesus knew that Martha needed a reminder of who He was and what she believed.

But Martha wasn't the only one suffering, Mary was suffering too. She fell at His feet weeping, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (vs 32).

Mary needed compassion; Jesus wept with her. (vs 33-35) Both Martha and Mary were honest with Jesus about how they felt. They trusted Him even though they didn't understand. He met them in their greatest need. One of the most difficult things for us to grasp is that nothing happens without first passing through the hand of God. Interestingly enough, it's also one of the most freeing. Bad things happen, they do, sometimes really bad things. Pain and suffering will be part of this life. Thank God He never leaves us. His word tells us that He's always had an ultimate plan; He wastes nothing; and He equips His beloved with everything she needs. I used to think (and the inclination is still there) that I had some control over my circumstances. Suffice it to say many suffer from this delusion. It's actually center stage right now as we watch much of the world trying to achieve godhood. However, the longer I live, the harder it is for me to imagine how anyone can make it through life without the Hope of glory.

Nevertheless, there is a degree of hopelessness when a person comes to the realization that there is no way to know, at any given moment, what will happen next. The one sure thing is that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. And that's true whether you believe it or not. And if you do, then whatever you’re walking through is achieving for you an eternal glory that far outweighs it all? (2 Cor 4:17)

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 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.” (John 11:38-42 NIV) And there it is—the reason Jesus waited—the bigger picture. Lazarus had to die in order to be raised. God allowed Lazarus' sickness in order to demonstrate His power through Jesus; that they may believe!

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out . . . .” (John 11:43-44 NIV) Jesus fought death at Lazarus' tomb, and plundered the grave. Jesus told death that he would soon conquer it completely ~David Guzik

Simply breathtaking.

Jesus conquered death.

Now I see dimly, but then face to face (1 Cor 13:12). No matter what happens here, if you are in Christ, paradise awaits. So with that being said, we have to wonder if Lazarus struggled with coming back? I think he may have. Or just maybe he thought it was pretty cool to be used by Jesus for such wonder. Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. Believe in me and you will live, even though you die. And if you live by believing in me, you will never die." Do you believe this?

If you do, it changes everything.