I Am the Resurrection and the Life

The fifth I AM Jesus claimed for himself is, “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25). Jesus made this claim when he was talking to Martha about Lazarus, who had just recently died. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world” (John 11:25 – 27 ESV).

Jesus is making two very strong claims. First, he is claiming to have the power to raise a person from the dead. Several times he demonstrated this while alive on earth. After his death on the cross he had the power to rise from the dead three days later proving that he has the power to raise us, who believe in him, from the dead at the end of our time on earth. Secondly, Jesus is claiming to be the source of eternal life. When we come to Jesus we are spiritually dead, but by believing he is the Son of God who died on the cross in our place, he will give to us the gift of eternal spiritual life. When we die physically, we still have eternal life and will simply wake up in the next life. This Jesus who has the power to calm a mighty storm and a churning sea is also able to give to those who believe and come to him, spiritual life.

He asked Martha if she believed what he was telling her. That is a question each one of us must answer. If we ignore the question or say no then we are left in our sin and remain spiritually dead. Now is the time to come to grips with what Jesus is saying because no one knows how much longer we have to live.