March 4....Resurrection and Life

John 11:25-26 “I am the Resurrection and the Life, whoever believes in me, though he shall die will come to life, and whoever is alive and believes in me will never die.” (NAB)

“I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

Jesus says that he is two things here, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” Help me understand this. Resurrection is coming back to life, rising from the dead. We are dead in sin. Jesus restores us to life by removing our sin and taking it on Himself. He was “resurrected” after dying for us with our sin on him. Resurrection is only possible through Jesus Christ. The “I AM” statements are all things that are only possible through Jesus. 

The second thing is, “I am…the Life.” Life is a state of being, existing as a breathing entity. We first come to life because you created us and breathed life into us. We lose that life through sin. We are doomed to die as finite human beings. But Jesus removed the sin, so now we have no reason to die if we believe in Him. It seems as if the 2 parts of this verse read this way: “He who believes in me though he shall die (sin) will come to life (resurrection)…”Whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (life). Both statements require belief in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the source of both resurrection and life. He raises us from the dead of sin and restores us to eternal life (not dying) in Him. 

The “I am” statements always seem so perfect and right to me! “I AM is the greatest name for You, O LORD, that we know. When Jesus takes the “I Am” and closely identifies himself with it, he gives it deep meaning for us. All the things that Jesus claims “I AM” are to benefit us, through Him. The great awesome I AM becomes our personal Savior! He is our Light of the World, our Bread of Life, our Vine, our Good Shepherd, our Door, Our Way, Truth, and Life, our Resurrection and Life. Thank you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Amen.