What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25)?

Answer

“I am the Resurrection and the Life” «Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: », (John 11:25) is the fifth of the seven “I am” statements of Jesus. Lazarus was dead. Earlier, Jesus had heard that His good friend was sick, but instead of going to visit Lazarus, Jesus “stayed where he was for two more days” «When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. », (John 11:6). He explained to His puzzled disciples that the sickness was “for God’s glory, that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (v. 4). After Lazarus died, Jesus began a journey to Bethany, Lazarus’s home. Significantly, when Jesus informed His disciples that Lazarus was dead, He simply said His friend was “asleep, but I am going there to wake him up” «These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. », (John 11:11).

Outside Bethany, Lazarus’s sister Martha went out to meet Jesus. “If you had been here,” she said, “my brother would not have died.” Such was her faith in Jesus’ power to heal. Jesus replied by assuring Martha that her brother would rise again. Martha responded again in faith: “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” At this point, Jesus makes His fifth “I Am” statement in John’s gospel, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and He follows it with a call to faith: “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:26).

When Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life,” He was claiming to be the source of both. There is no resurrection apart from Christ, and there is no eternal life apart from Christ. Moreover, Jesus was also making a statement regarding His divine nature. He not only gives life; He is life, and thus death has no ultimate power over Him. Jesus imparts this spiritual life to those who believe in Him, enabling them to partake in His victory over death (1 John 5:11-12). Followers of Jesus Christ will encounter resurrection because, possessing the life Jesus bestows, they are invincible to death (1 Corinthians 15:53-57).

The grieving Martha desired that Jesus had arrived earlier to heal her brother. When Jesus mentioned resurrection, Martha assumed He was referring to “the resurrection at the last day.” Through both statements, Martha indicated that she viewed Time as an insurmountable barrier. Essentially, Martha was expressing, “It’s too late to aid Lazarus (the time has passed), so now we must wait (allow more time).”

Jesus demonstrated that neither Death nor time poses an obstacle to Him. Outside the tomb, “Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ The dead man came out” «And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. », (John 11:43). It’s one thing to assert being the resurrection and the life, but Jesus validated it by raising Lazarus, who had been dead for four days. Indeed, with Christ, death is merely “sleep” «But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. », (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Death has no dominion over Him who is Life itself, nor does death have dominion over those who are in Him (1 Corinthians 15:54-55). Because He lives, we live. Because He is Life, we have eternal life.

Jesus’ statement that He is the resurrection and the life provides a divine perspective on several spiritual matters. Martha believed that the resurrection is an event; Jesus showed her (and us) that the resurrection is a Person. Martha’s understanding of eternal life was an abstract concept; Jesus demonstrated that knowledge of eternal life is a personal relationship. Martha thought victory over death was a future expectation; Jesus corrected her, showing that victory is a present reality.

After presenting Himself as the resurrection and the life, Jesus asks Martha an all-important question: “Do you believe this?” “and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:26). May Martha’s response be ours as well: “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who was to come into the world” (verse 27).