Resurrection and Life

In John chapter 11 we have recorded for us the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus, friend to Jesus, and brother to Martha and Mary. Jesus purposely waited to return to Lazarus when word of his illness reached Him because Jesus was demonstrating for us His love and power.

When Jesus was met by Mary, He spoke to her sorrow and disappointment over her brother’s death, reminding her that He alone is “The resurrection and the Life.”

Jesus is the giver of life. This is seen in the beginning when Jesus breaths into the nostrils of Adam, making Him a living creature. This is known by the widow at Zarephath when the prophet Elijah calls to God for mercy, and the Lord gives life back to her son. This is known by the empty tomb of Christ, who conquered death by His cross, and rose victorious three days later.

As the giver of life then, Jesus is also the bringer of death. This is hard for us to understand, that He who loves us to death, would also be the one who brings to us earthly death. That He who gives life also takes it. The reason for this difficulty lies in the lies of the devil. He wants you o believe that He is the author of your death. That He has the power to take away the gift that Jesus gives. Therefore, believing that it is the devil who brings death, it follows that the devil has more power than God Himself. Taking what He did not make, thus overpowering the giver of life.

Death, however is not the power of the devil. Death is the just punishment for sin. Those who fail to perfectly follow the will of God as contained in His law rightly deserve death, for ultimately death is separation from the giver of life. A separation brought about by sin.

As Jesus is the giver of life, He is also the resurrection and the life. Sin, which kills is made clean by the blood of the sacrifice Jesus made for you. By Jesus blood are you free. Free to live in resurrection life. Free to know that He who gave you life, will keep you and restore you in the resurrection of the body, to give to His faithful life everlasting.