I AM The Resurrection and The Life
In this sermon from Mercy Church, Pastor Tim explores Jesus's powerful statement, "I am the resurrection and the life," through the miraculous story of Lazarus in John 11. When we face pain or delayed answers from God, it can be difficult to trust His timing, just as Mary and Martha did when Jesus seemingly waited too long to heal their brother. However, Pastor Tim reminds us that Jesus is not only deeply moved by our struggles, but His pauses are actually driven by His profound love for us. Discover how deeply knowing Jesus completely redefines reality, guaranteeing that those who believe in Him will never truly die.
Deep Dive Podcast
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction: I Am the Resurrection
1:20 - Lazarus' Illness and the Sisters' Plea
1:53 - Jesus' Deliberate Delay and Divine Purpose
4:35 - Trusting God's Timing and His Love
7:07 - Disciples Misunderstand, Jesus Clarifies
11:06 - Martha's Faith, Grief, and Freedom to Complain
13:34 - Knowing Jesus: Beyond Concept to Relationship
15:26 - Jesus Declares: I Am the Resurrection and the Life
19:01 - The Immortality of Believers
23:01 - Jesus Weeps, Then Raises Lazarus
Study Guide: Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life
This study guide examines the narrative of the resurrection of Lazarus as presented in John chapter 11. It explores the theological implications of Jesus’ claim to be "the Resurrection and the Life," the nature of divine timing, and the intersection of human grief with divine purpose.
Short-Answer Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following questions based on the provided text. Each answer should be approximately 2-3 sentences.
How does the commentator Roger L. Fredrickson contrast Jesus’ first miracle at Cana with his last sign at Bethany?
What was the central purpose of both the miracle at Cana and the resurrection of Lazarus?
Why did Jesus wait two additional days after hearing that Lazarus was sick?
How did the disciples initially misinterpret Jesus' statement that Lazarus had "fallen asleep"?
Why was the fact that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days significant to the people of that time?
What was Martha's initial theological understanding of the resurrection?
What does Jesus mean when he says, "I am the resurrection and the life," rather than saying he will simply perform a resurrection?
How does the text describe Jesus’ emotional response to the grief of Mary and the other mourners?
According to the source, what is the "number one tool" for moving Jesus from a theological concept to someone a person truly knows?
Why do some scholars suggest that Jesus specifically called "Lazarus" by name when commanding him to come out of the tomb?
Answer Key
How does the commentator Roger L. Fredrickson contrast Jesus’ first miracle at Cana with his last sign at Bethany? Fredrickson notes that the first miracle at Cana was quiet and took place within the intimacy of a wedding, while the last at Bethany was awesome and occurred at a funeral. Both miracles happened within a family circle, but they contrast the "joy of life" with the "tragedy of death."
What was the central purpose of both the miracle at Cana and the resurrection of Lazarus? The central purpose of both signs was to manifest the glory of God and make the power of the Father visible through the actions of the Son. Additionally, both miracles served to birth or renew the faith of those who witnessed them.
Why did Jesus wait two additional days after hearing that Lazarus was sick? The text explains that Jesus’ delay was driven by love for Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, rather than anger or indifference. He stayed behind because he had a greater purpose in mind—to ensure that God's Son would be glorified through a more profound miracle than a simple healing.
How did the disciples initially misinterpret Jesus' statement that Lazarus had "fallen asleep"? The disciples thought Jesus was referring to natural, physical sleep and suggested that if Lazarus was sleeping, he would eventually get better. Jesus had to tell them plainly that Lazarus was dead, using "sleep" as a metaphor for death.
Why was the fact that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days significant to the people of that time? Many Jews at the time believed that a person's soul hovered near the body for three days to attempt a return, but departed on the fourth day. By waiting until the fourth day, Jesus demonstrated that Lazarus was "dead, dead," and that his return to life was an indisputable miracle.
What was Martha's initial theological understanding of the resurrection? Martha viewed the resurrection as a future event, stating she knew her brother would "rise again in the resurrection at the last day." She understood it as a correct theological concept but had not yet grasped that the power of resurrection was present in the person of Jesus.
What does Jesus mean when he says, "I am the resurrection and the life," rather than saying he will simply perform a resurrection? Jesus is identifying himself as the source and essence of resurrection power, rather than just a teacher or a conduit for it. He is explaining that resurrection and life are woven into his identity, and that belief in him provides an immediate transition from death to life.
How does the text describe Jesus’ emotional response to the grief of Mary and the other mourners? The text describes Jesus as being "deeply moved in his spirit and troubled" upon seeing the weeping of Mary and her companions. Even though he knew he would bring Lazarus back to life, he wept, showing he was profoundly affected by the pain that death and sin cause.
According to the source, what is the "number one tool" for moving Jesus from a theological concept to someone a person truly knows? The most important tool is spending time with Jesus, which requires what Dallas Willard calls the "ruthless elimination of hurry." By slowing down and abiding with him, a believer can move beyond understanding facts about Jesus to having a deep, heart-level trust in him.
Why do some scholars suggest that Jesus specifically called "Lazarus" by name when commanding him to come out of the tomb? Scholars have noted that because Jesus is the source of resurrection and life, his voice carries absolute power over death. If he had not specified Lazarus’ name, his command might have caused all the dead in the vicinity to rise and walk out of their graves.
Essay Questions
The Theology of Divine Delay: Analyze the text’s argument that God’s "pauses" or delays are motivated by love rather than neglect. How does the story of Lazarus redefine the human understanding of "the best timing"?
Emotional Empathy vs. Divine Sovereignty: Discuss the significance of the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept." Why is it important to the narrative that Jesus experienced deep sorrow even though he possessed the power to reverse the cause of that sorrow immediately?
The Definition of Immortality: Examine Jesus' claim that "whoever lives by believing in me will never die." How does this statement challenge standard biological and religious definitions of life and death, according to the transcript?
Relationship vs. Concept: Using the interactions of Martha and Mary with Jesus, contrast the difference between knowing a theological doctrine and knowing a person. How does the text suggest a believer should cultivate the latter?
The Impact of the Resurrection Power: Explore the reaction of the "resurrected" Lazarus to the threats of the Sadducees (as mentioned in the poem "Lazarus Laughs"). How does the firsthand experience of resurrection fundamentally change one's perspective on earthly danger and mortality?
Glossary of Key Terms
Term
Definition
Bethany
A village less than two miles from Jerusalem; the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.
Cana
The location of Jesus' first miracle (turning water into wine), which serves as a quiet contrast to the "awesome" miracle in Bethany.
Deeply Moved
A description of Jesus’ internal state when facing the grief of others; it implies a profound, troubled emotional response to the impact of death.
Glory of God
The manifestation of God’s power and presence; the primary purpose for which the sickness and resurrection of Lazarus occurred.
I Am Statements
A series of declarations made by Jesus identifying his divine nature; in this context, "I am the resurrection and the life."
Judea
The region where Bethany was located; a place of danger for Jesus where people had recently tried to stone him.
Lazarus
A dear friend of Jesus who died of a sickness and was raised from the dead after being entombed for four days.
NDE
Abbreviation for "near-death experience," used in the text to discuss modern research on people who die and return to life.
Resurrection
The act of rising from the dead; presented in the text not just as an event, but as a person (Jesus himself).
Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
A phrase by philosopher Dallas Willard used to describe the necessity of slowing down to spend time with and truly know Jesus.
Stinketh
A King James Version term used to describe the natural decomposition and bad odor of a body after four days in a tomb.
The Last Day
A theological concept referring to the end of time when, according to traditional belief, a general resurrection of the dead will occur.
