"I Am The Resurrection And The Life” - Presentation In The "I Am Series Of John’s Gospel” Part 1 Series

“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE” - PRESENTATION IN THE “I AM SERIES OF JOHN’S GOSPEL” PART 1

We continue with the seminar series of the “I AMs” in the Gospel of John. Today we look at another glorious truth with eternal applications, just like every one of the “I AM’s” in the Gospel.

[A]. LET’S OPEN UP THE SUBJECT

I think we will begin today with two New Testament passages of great importance, written by Paul to the Corinthians, in regard to the Rapture of the Church and the resurrection of the body.

{{1Corinthians 15 v 14 “and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain. Your faith also is vain. 1Cor 15:15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God because we witnessed against God that He raised Christ whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.”

1Corinthians 15 v 17 “and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless. You are still in your sins. 1Cor 15:18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 1Cor 15:19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”}}

I have selected three crucial statements from these passages (underlined). They are – {{“If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain,” and “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless,” and “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”}} For the first of these three, what are you doing here today listening to a lunatic from Australia raving on? You may as well be out, eating, drinking and making merry for tomorrow you die. For the second, you believe in a fairy tale. You might as well believe in santa claus who has for you a great reception in the universe – somewhere – and all the gifts you’d ever want stored up for you. For the third, if your Christianity is all bound up with a life style just for this temporary world only, you are to be pitied, more than any other people.

[B]. THE SETTING FOR THIS GREAT “I AM”. Our subject is “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE”

Let us see how this unfolded in John’s Gospel. There was a tender relationship between Jesus and this family in Bethany – Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Follow with me from chapter 11 of John. In verse 1 we have the fact that Lazarus became sick, seriously so, I would say, and in verse 3 the sisters sent word to Jesus. When we are not able to solve our own dilemma, we try to find someone who can help us, and who better than Jesus.

Now, you would think, that because of the close relationship with the three precious friends in Bethany to Jesus, then Jesus would have hurried away to their assistance, but in verses 5 and 6, we notice an attitude from Jesus, that might not have been ours – {{John 11:5 “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, John 11:6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”}} We would not have behaved that way, - it would have received top priority - but Jesus had already said in verse 4 – {{”But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”}} He had a higher plan, and God’s ways are not our ways.

You know, there are times when God tests our faith, and it is not to give you stress, but it is for the glory of God, and in the end, your relationship with the Lord, is strengthened. You may have heard the story before, but a man was to view a large, magnificent tapestry of great value. When he arrived, the tapestry had been moved, and all He could see were threads, and tied off knots, and a general disarray of jumbled, coloured strands, all of which made no sense to him. Then the organisers moved the tapestry into the viewing position and turned it around. There before him was the excellence people had mentioned. Often we only see the back of God’s weaving – we see our problems and the untidiness and difficulties. God sees the other side, the magnificence that Christ is weaving in our lives.

There is a very revealing example of dull minds in this story then, as we follow it in these verses – {{John 11:11-14 “After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died.”}} Don’t you find that over and over again, God must speak plainly to us, because we are so devoid of understanding a lot of the time? We do need continual educating, but we have the best schoolbook in the world – the living and inspired word of God. That begs the questions – “How do we rate as dependable students? Are we rather slack about our studies?”