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Last week, we read the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus had a resurrection here on this earth, which most of us will not have, but the story points to something even greater. It’s not just whether the resurrection is true that is important. It’s who has power over the resurrection. And that person is Jesus.
John 11:25-26: 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Without Jesus, there would be no resurrection. There would be no life after death.
If you want to listen to the whole passage of John 11:17-44 again, it’s available in this audio clip.
3. What do we learn about Jesus from this statement?
At the resurrection that brings people to the afterlife, there are two possible destinations: eternal life and eternal condemnation. We saw this last week in John 5.
John 5:28-29: [Jesus said,] 28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”
In order to determine which path a person will be destined to, there must be a judge. This judge is Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
When we are resurrected, we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Jesus will judge every person that stands before him. How will he decide whether they should receive eternal life or face eternal condemnation? There is only one qualification: Those whose names are written in the Book of Life will receive eternal life and enter eternity with God; those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will face eternal condemnation and separation from God in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-21:8). Revelation calls this eternal condemnation the second death.
How do we get our names in the Book of Life? That also depends on Jesus. After Jesus claims to be the resurrection and the life, he stated, “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” In other words, even though we must face the first death (death on this earth), if we believe in Jesus, we will be resurrected to the side of life, not the side of death. Then he said, “Whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” In other words, if we are resurrected to life after the first death, then we won’t ever face that second death. If we believe in Jesus, we will have eternal life.
John 3:16-18: 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Although Lazarus was resurrected on this earth, Jesus promises a much better resurrection. He promises a resurrection to eternal life, and that resurrection is possible because of Jesus’ own death and resurrection. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin with his death on the cross. If we believe in him, then our condemnation, our destiny of receiving the second death, is wiped away. Jesus paid that penalty with his life. But he didn’t stay dead. He proved his power over sin and death by his resurrection.
Acts 2:24: But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
Romans 6:8-9: 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
1 Corinthians 15:20-24: 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.
2 Timothy 1:9-10: 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
At his resurrection, Jesus destroyed death. The result of his death wasn’t his defeat. It was, and continues to be, life.
4. How should we respond?
If we continue reading after the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, we see two responses.
John 11:45: Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
Compare that to:
John 11:46-53: 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
Many who were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ power over life and death decided to believe in him. They chose the side of eternal life.
But there were others whose hearts were hardened against Jesus. They were more concerned with their own power and privilege than they were about the truth, so they looked for ways to kill Jesus. They didn’t yet understand the message. Jesus has power over life and death. If they were able to take his life, it would be because he willingly gave it. If they succeeded in killing him, he would rise from the dead—because he is the resurrection and the life.
You have the same two choices. You can choose to believe—you can choose the side of eternal life. Or you can harden your heart against Jesus—you can choose the side of eternal condemnation. If you want to choose life, then you must choose Jesus. Jesus is the only one who has the power to resurrect you to eternal life.
If you believe in Jesus and his power to resurrect you to eternal life, then you do not need to fear death. You can be confident that on the other side of death on this earth, you will see Jesus face-to-face.
1 Corinthians 13:12: For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Romans 6:5: For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Death no longer holds any power over us. We will be transformed to be like him, holy and righteous and forever in the presence of God.
Philippians 3:20-21: 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57: 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:10-11: 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
With Jesus as the resurrection and the life, we have been given the promise of hope for eternal life with him. This should change your entire perspective on life. Your goal in life should be to focus on the eternal, to walk in obedience and live a life that honors God. It’s no longer about the here and now. It’s about what matters for eternity.
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