I AM THE RESURRECTION
John 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
The Greek word for “resurrection” is only translated into English in a different form in our King James Bibles in one other place. In Hebrews 11:35 the exact same Greek word is listed as “raised (to) life again.” The 1611 translators could have just used the word, “resurrected,” but they chose to use its definition instead.
And as Martha, in our text, so the majority of professing religionists today believe that the resurrection is a future event, and not a person. For she could only believe in the Lord Jesus as a healer to prevent death, and that all resurrection would come only on “the last day.” Yet the Lord clearly informs her, and his disciples, prior to their leaving to come to Lazarus’ grave, that this was a matter of the revelation of the glory of God. John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
For only the Person of the Eternal Son of God could bring life and glory from death. Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
But just how can a person be “The Resurrection?” Let the Lord himself set this forth for us. Consider his recorded words in the fifth chapter of the Gospel of John. John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
The Incarnation of the eternal Son of God was just putting the fulness of His glorious person into human form. Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Therefore the resurrection of Christ includes our resurrection. For he is our resurrection! Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Listen to him also in his prayer to the Father as recorded in John chapter seventeen: John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
He states to his Father that he has been given absolute sovereign power over all living beings. And that he would give eternal life to those whom the Father chosen in him from before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
These are the ones for whom he interceded, and for whom he clearly understood he was to atone. John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
He had a clear understanding of his relationship to these as The Resurrection! John 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
And the Apostle Paul, in his writings to the Colossians speaks of a resurrection prior to this last day resurrection, upon which the last day resurrection is based. Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
The Lord God even physically resurrected the dead at the death and resurrection of Jesus in order to reveal the power of his spiritual resurrection! Matthew 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
For he refers to the resurrection of salvation as the regeneration of the sinner from being “dead in trespasses and sins.” (Eph. 2:1) For the believer’s new birth is but a resurrection into spiritual life. Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
For even as Adam’s sin is imputed unto every human being at their natural birth; even so the righteousness of Christ is imparted to every spiritually birthed believer! 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Also the Lord Jesus spoke of both these resurrections! That is, the resurrection of regeneration, wherein the elect, but spiritually dead sinner is raised into spiritual life, and then the physical resurrection of all their dead bodies at the last day, reuniting them with their eternal spirits. John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Take careful note that in verse twenty-five he speaks of the salvation of sinners as a resurrection whose “hour is coming, and now is!” For he then began to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10 But of the resurrection of their bodies he states, “for the hour is coming,” but makes no mention of that former phrase, “and now is,” but instead refers to them in verse twenty-eight as being “in the graves.” So here are the two phases of resurrection. First, the resurrection by the Spirit in regenerating grace unto salvation, and then the resurrection of their bodies from their graves, reuniting them with their spirits as they meet the Lord in the air! 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Therefore we must keep in mind that the Lord considers being born again as a resurrection! Regeneration is, in fact a spiritual resurrection!
In the following passage the Apostle Paul takes on the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection. (Matt 22:23) Acts 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
1 Corinthians 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 ¶ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
This one doctrine is a most hated doctrine by the forces of darkness. For it strikes the death knoll upon the darkness and lies of Satan. Acts 4:1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 17:18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 24:21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
And, dear Reader, strengthen your faith concerning standing before Almighty God at the last day, by comforting yourself in having already received your spiritual resurrection. Listen at the apostle’s words: Philippines 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
May the Lord strengthen us all;
Pastor Gene Breed
