The Great I Am
June 20, 2004
I am the Resurrection and the Life
Sunday AM
Review: We’ve been studying the self descriptive statements of Jesus from John known as the “I am” discourses. 7 statements Jesus made to help us to realize that He is the great “I am” of the O.T., who has become flesh in the N.T. to seek and to save each of us who are lost.
Trans: Today as we turn our attention to the 5th statement I was reminded of a funny story I heard about two boys playing together.
Intro: A pastor’s son and his friend were playing outside when they found a dead robin. They decided the bird deserved a proper burial and so they put him in a Kleenex box, dug a hole, and placed their feathered friend in the ground. The minister’s son was chosen to say a few words. Remembering what his father said at times like this, the boy proclaimed loudly, “Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn…and into the hole he goooes!”
Trans: I wonder if some of you feel like you’re in a hole today. Perhaps you’re hurting b/c someone close to you has recently died. Maybe a relationship has ruptured and you’re filled w/ a combination of rage and numbness. Sooner or later, each of us will experience disappointment, sickness, even death b/c they are a common heritage of being a descendants of Adam and Eve.
This AM I’d like to focus our attention on John 11, where we hear about a man named Lazarus who was very sick. His two sisters, Mary and Martha, were worried so they sent word to Jesus hoping He would come and heal their brother. Only Jesus’ response was much different than what they had expected. Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Yet when He heard Lazarus was sick, He stayed where he was 2 more days. Instead of hurrying to help, Jesus purposely waited. In the meantime, Lazarus died. (Read John 11:17-46)
Trans: Of all the “I am” statements this is the most ambiguous. While there is a definitive statement Jesus is making about Himself, I believe that Jesus being the “Resurrection and the Life” is not just a statement of His person, but a reality of His personhood meant to assist us practically in this life.
Trans: Thus, this AM, we are going to take a different approach to exegeting this text – we are going to discover in principle what Jesus meant when he declared Himself the “Resurrection and the Life.”
Note: Before we look at these principles, I want to discuss His declaration – “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” In this statement Jesus was making a decree of His power and authority over both physical and spiritual death.
Insert: These concepts are revealed in Jesus’ conversation w/ Martha (v. 22). It is important to understand that Lazarus was not resurrected – he was resuscitated and restored. He was raised from the dead.
Note: What is the difference? To resurrect is to redeem and transform into eternity never to die again. Jesus was resurrected – transformed through death into immortality. I Cr. 15 tells us that one day upon Jesus’ return we will all be changed – the mortal will put on immortality.
Lazarus didn’t come forth from the tomb w/ a new body never to die again, but w/ a restored body that would perish later in life. Nonetheless, this miracle certainly proves Jesus’ authority over life and death.
Note: Jesus intended this miracle to authenticate His claim to be God. After all, nothing authenticates divinity like revealing one’s authority over death.
Note: We see from their conversation understanding of the final resurrection in which those who have died in Christ will be raised into eternity. 1 Th. 4, tells us not all of us will die, but upon the Lord’s return the resurrection will take place – where the flesh will be transformed into in incorruptible body.
There is one important thing to note – the only way to experience the resurrection Jesus is speaking of is through His death, burial, and resurrection. Which means this – while God is concerned about your earthly life, it pales in comparison to His concern for your spiritual life.
We tend to focus on the here and now – on our empirical experiences in this temporary life. While Jesus death gives value and purpose to this life – His purpose for the incarnation, the cross, and the empty tomb was to rescue us from our sin and redeem us into an eternal relationship w/ Him.
Question: If Jesus were to return today, would you go or would you stay?
Note: As I have thought about this I have come to the conclusion that many people would prefer experiencing resuscitation over resurrection. How else do you explain man’s unending quest to conquer this life – whether you are talking about the fountain of youth or the Holy Grail – many people put a greater emphasis on this life over eternal life and yet according to God, this life is just a pit stop in the scope of His plan.
Note: Jesus is saying that this life is not all there is – but it is in this life and in this life only that our eternal destination is secured. Whether you have 10 years or 100 years, there is no other chance after this life to secure your ultimate destination. It boils down to what you and I do w/ Jesus. He has done His part – He came – He called – He convicted – and now each us must decide how we are going to respond – but be certain of this is not a game – it cost God everything – and eternity hangs in the balance.
Trans: I want us to briefly discuss a couple of the principles found in this text that might assist us in understanding Jesus as our resurrection and life.
I Bad Things Happen to Godly People All for the Glory of God
Note: Whether your circumstances make you feel like a modern day Job, or whether you believe that all hope is gone as in this situation w/ Lazarus.
Promise: All things work together for the good… (Rm. 8:28)
Note: This means God is never caught off guard. He might allow the difficulties of living in a depraved and decaying world to run their course in our lives – yet He has promised that He can and will use them for His glory – whether it is to strengthen us, protect us, motivate us, or empower us.
1 James tells us God provides trials to mature us and complete us.
2 From David we learn that sometimes God puts a Saul in our life to take the Saul out of us b/c He is growing and guiding us.
3 The Exodus teaches us that God allows difficulty to remind us that He is God and that He is in control.
4 At times God allows bad things to happen to show us He is near.
Insert: Did you know that He promised:
1 I am w/ you always…
2 I’ll never leave you nor forsake you...
3 I am confident of this very thing… (Ph. 1:6)
4 Though you walk through the valley of death… (Ps. 23)
Note: There is one exception to this rule – when something bad happens as a result of sin. We all should understand by now that the wages of sin is death – meaning just as there was a destructive consequence for Adam and Eve’s sin – a creation fell, causing all mankind to become sinners (Rm. 5:12) and therefore condemned in our trespasses and sin - so too is their w/in the Law of Sin and Death an immediate or eventual consequence to our sin – when you and I sin, something must die.
If a spouse is unfaithful – the marriage is likely to die.
If you lie, cheat, and steal, you’ll likely get caught and go to jail or worse.
If you play w/ fire, you will likely get burned.
II God’s Timing is Perfect – Never Early, Never Late, but Always on Time
Note: We have all heard this statement made, but I am not so sure that we’ve truly come to grips w/ it. More often than not, most of us feel like Mary and Martha – we’re wondering where God is when we need Him most.
Note: This text serves to remind us that God has perfect timing.
Note: At the same time, God allows us at times to get ahead of Him. But His will is not threatened or thwarted by our misunderstanding or lack of patience.
Insert: One of my favorite examples of this is when Abraham jumped ahead of God. God promised to make him a great nation and to give him a son, but when Abe and Sarah perceived they were getting too old to bear children, they jumped ahead of God – and now we have an entire religion (Islam) as a result of their not trusting God to show up on time.
Note: In this text, Jesus shows up four days after Lazarus’ death – he wanted to make sure that everyone understood that Lazarus was good and dead. He didn’t want anyway to be able to discredit this miracle.
Point: I don’t know why God appears slow on some things and why he allows or disallows other things other than to say b/c He has a bigger plan. But I am certain that He’s never early or late – but right on time.
III God is Not Threatened by Our Honesty but He is Drawn to Our Faith
Text: When Martha first approached Jesus she sternly rebukes Him for not coming sooner and healing Lazarus, but then softens her approach by saying I know that you can still do something.
Point: God is not distressed or dismayed when we are honest w/ Him. The foundations of the world are not sent spiraling out of control. In fact, it is when we get honest w/ ourselves and w/ God that He is enabled to move w/ greater freedom in our lives.
Note: It is important that when you get honest w/ God that you also remember that He is God and your not.
Note: Very few of us if we get upset w/ our boss are going to march in and tell him what we think – at least not if we want to keep our jobs. Just like there is an appropriate way to approach people in authority over us, there is an appropriate way to approach God.
Quote: The biggest difference b/w me and God is God doesn’t think that He is me.
Note: It’s incredibly important to remember that God is always good, only capable of doing good, and always working for His good in our lives.
IV God Loves You So Much that His Heart Weeps When Yours is Torn
Note: A very simple principle –though He knows Lazarus is in a better place – that He is getting ready to raise him from the dead – that Mary and Martha are surrounded by people who love them – He compassionately cares for them. He hurts b/c they hurt. In the same way, He hurts when you hurt.
Verse: Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. Hb. 4:15
V God’s Will Does Not Require Our Faith, But Our Faith Requires Him
Text; When Jesus finally gets to the tomb, Martha’s faith gets a little wobbly. Yet even still, her lack of faith does not prohibit Jesus from working miraculously – it only inhibits her trust and relationship w/ God.
Note: The focus of our faith must never be the circumstances around us but the God before us. We should fear the consequences of our unbelief far more than the stench of death surrounding a dying entity.
Truth: The only time your faith will stink is when you are focused on your will being done instead of God’s will being done.
VI As Long as Jesus is Around, Nothing is Ever Dead, there’s Always a Chance
Note: It might be a marriage relationship that’s on the brink of death or has died – but God can revive it. It might be a physical illness – God can heal it. It might be a church where people don’t see eye to eye – God can still move.
Song: God Will Make a Way
