Why did Jesus say “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25)?

What did Jesus mean when He said “I am the Resurrection and the Life”?

“I am the Resurrection and the Life” is one of the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus Christ. The context of Christ’s statement was after His friend Lazarus had died.

In John 11:1-44 a message was sent to Jesus by Lazarus’s two sisters Martha & Mary that Lazarus was sick and Christ was urgently needed in Bethany to come and heal him. Jesus however deliberately delayed going to Bethany while stating that Lazarus’s sickness was intended for the glory of God and so that Christ Himself might be glorified (John 11:3-4).
So after Lazarus died Jesus travels to Lazarus’s home in Bethany, the place where Lazarus had already been dead and buried for 4 days. Martha then meets Jesus outside Bethany expressing her hope that if Jesus had arrived in Bethany earlier then Lazarus would have been healed and wouldn’t have died (John 11:17-22).

It is during this part of their conversation that Jesus says to Martha “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).
Jesus then later demonstrates His power as “the resurrection and the life” by resurrecting Lazarus’s dead body from the tomb and bringing Lazarus to restoration (John 11:38-44).

Jesus is the Source of both Physical & Eternal Life

Jesus Christ is the source of physical life. Nothing physically exists on this planet without Christ. The Bible reveals that the entire universe and all of life was created through Christ. Therefore without Jesus we wouldn’t be physically alive.
However, Jesus is not only the creator of natural life, but Jesus is also the source of eternal life.

There are several Scriptures which reveal that Jesus is the source of life for all creation.

John 1:3-4 says: All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. 4  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Colossians 1:16-17 says: 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.

By resurrecting Lazarus from the dead, Jesus was ultimately demonstrating His divinity and that He has power to give physical life; to restore physical life and to overcome the power of death.
When Christ said that He was the resurrection and the life, He was revealing Himself as the true source of all life – both physical and eternal life.

The reason why death exists in this world is because sin exists. The sin of Adam created a sinful and fallen world where every physical creation is subject to decay, depreciation and death.
As the Resurrection and the Life, Jesus reveals that anyone who believes in Him will ultimately resurrect even though he might die a physical death (John 11:25).

Therefore when Jesus said that He was the “Resurrection and the Life”, He was revealing Himself as the source of eternal life and following our physical death, Jesus Christ will give us everlasting life because we believe in Him.

1 Corinthians 15:21-23 NLT says: So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another Man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when He comes back.

1 John 5:11-12 says: And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Therefore Christians should no longer fear physical death because through Christ we have eternal life. Furthermore, He will one day resurrect our physical bodies into a perfect and immortal state.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NLT says: It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

When Jesus was crucified for our sins on the cross, He died, but rose again on the third day. His resurrection proved and affirmed everything He spoke regarding Himself and about His divinity. The resurrection of Christ was proof that He is indeed “the Resurrection and the Life”.
Death itself had no power to keep Him in the grave because Jesus is the source of all life; He is the Creator of all life and He has the power and authority to give eternal life to anyone who believes in Him as Lord and Saviour.

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN or A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST???

1. ACKNOWLEDGE: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
This means that we have all broken God’s laws and God’s 10 Commandments like those mentioned in Exodus 20:1-17. For example, if you have told a lie; if you have stolen something; if you have lusted after somebody or if you have coveted. This means you are guilty of breaking at least one or more of God’s 10 Commandments. Breaking God’s commandments makes us sinners. The fact that we are sinners who have broken God’s law means that we are accountable to God who is the Lawgiver. Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death BUT the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”
You must acknowledge that you are a sinner who has broken God’s commandments and that you therefore need Jesus in your life.

2. REPENT: “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3), “Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19)
Repenting means: to change your mind; a sincere turning away, in heart, mind and action;
Therefore God wants you to change your mind about sinful values and of sinful living. God wants you to decide to follow Him and to make Jesus the Lord of your life.

3. CONFESSION: “If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)
God is a forgiving God. God will forgive any sin that you have done because Jesus died for ALL your sins and to set you free from the bondage of all types of sin in your life.

4. BELIEVE: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
You must believe that ONLY Jesus can save you and restore your relationship with God. You must believe that Jesus is the ONLY way by which you can have everlasting life and escape from eternal separation from God. You must believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and resurrected from the grave.
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive him, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12)
Through faith, You must receive Jesus as Your Lord & Savior and therefore; you become a child of God; you become born again; you become a Christian; you restore your broken relationship with God

Why Not Make Your Eternal Decision NOW?

We become born again Christians by GRACE through FAITH or TOTAL TRUST in Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior (Galatians 3:26) & (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is a FREE gift received through FAITH in Christ.

PLEASE NOTE: You can choose to pray in your own words. This prayer is a sample prayer and it is only an EXPRESSION of your faith, belief & trust in Jesus. Salvation is by GRACE through FAITH or BELIEVING in Christ Jesus as your Lord & Saviour.

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your love. I thank You that You died on the cross for me and resurrected so that I may have life through You.
I confess Lord that I have sinned against You and today I ask You to forgive me of all of my sins, past present and future.
I repent of all of my sins and I ask You to cleanse me Jesus.
Thank You for forgiving my sins.
From this moment, come into my life Lord Jesus & take full control of my life. I want to follow You Jesus and I want to follow Your ways. Save me and from today, make me the person You want me to be.
I receive You Lord Jesus right now by faith. I trust You as my Lord and Savior – Amen”

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