I AM the Resurrection and the Life

Today, we move on to another “I AM” saying of Jesus. This saying, “I am the resurrection and the life”, is a very familiar one to me because I use it as part of the liturgy for every wake and funeral service I conduct. In the common understanding of this saying, Jesus is referring to his power to bring about resurrection and eternal life to those who are dead. Hence, it is a comforting message to those who are mourning. Though their loved ones have passed away, they have the assurance from Jesus’ proclamation that death is only temporal. Those who are dead will rise again in the last day.

As a pastor serving in a church with a sizable elderly population, I have attended and conducted many wake and funeral services. In my years of ministry, I have seen my fair share of how everybody deals with the reality of death. Like how it is described in the stages of grief, there are those who are in denial, those who are angry, those who are bargaining or depressed or in quiet acceptance. The common Christian response from others or in self comfort is in the belief in the resurrection. The “I AM” saying for today seems to be referring to that same hope. Even though we all cannot escape the inevitability of death, thankfully, we have life after death.

Yet, I wondered to myself, is that really meaningful to us? If we are truly comforted by the promise of life after death, then why do I often see the regrets? You know what I’m driving at. I’m talking about all the “if only”s that we feel and say when we come to the issue of death. “If only we had discovered the cancer earlier.” “If only I had not flown overseas when he was hospitalized.” “If only I had not lent the car to him that day.” We see the same reaction in Martha “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”(v.21) Mary later repeats the same sentiment (v.32). Some of the Jews said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” (v.37) Their underlying meaning is the same one: if only Jesus had been here. All these regrets are an indication that the resurrection at the last day was scant comfort to them. Most people would rather wish for more time on earth.

Jesus tells Martha, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha then interprets this as the resurrection at the last day. Such confidence in the final salvation from Martha is indeed commendable. But yet there is also no hiding the “if only” regret expressed earlier. Martha would rather Lazarus be healed by Jesus before his death than the lame comfort in the resurrection in the distant future. It is in light of this that Jesus responded: “I am the resurrection and the life.” If this saying is merely referring to the common understanding of the final resurrection, there would be no need for Jesus to say it. Martha already believes that. Yet, Jesus replies to her with this I AM” saying. Clearly, this reply is a form of correction to Martha’s common understanding. There is something more to the saying and the story, and today’s sermon will be about that.

The raising of Lazarus is a familiar Sunday school story and we often think that the moral of the story is that Jesus is able to raise Lazarus from the dead. But the truth is that it wasn’t really that big a deal. Matthew, Mark and Luke made no record of this. And prior to this, Jesus had already raised others from the dead, including Jairus’ daughter (Matt 9:18-26; Mk 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56) and the widow’s son (Luke 7:11-17). So why did John who is so frugal with the miracles record this incident? If you remember the sign motif in John, this would be very clear. John had intended this incident to be the final sign (11:47; 12:18). Not only does this sign say that Jesus can raise the dead, more importantly, this is the sign showing that Jesus is now ready to die.

If you were to look at the story once again, and not be bedazzled by the resurrection of the dead Lazarus, it would be obvious that the raising of Lazarus is only a sub-plot. The real mission of Jesus in this story is to confirm his death. We read from the beginning that when Jesus received the message about Lazarus’ sickness, he said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” The glorification of Jesus goes further than just the wonder of the miracle. This event will be the final triggering factor that will initiate the events leading to the cross. In the gospel of John, the cross is the moment that manifests the full glory of Jesus.

This nuance becomes abundantly clear from the response from the disciples. “But Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?” It is a reminder to readers that Bethany is extremely near to Jerusalem (v.18). This event was highly dangerous because of the intensifying heated conflict with the Jewish authorities. Did Jesus know it? Of course. Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by the day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.” Daylight refers to the time while he is still on earth. Jesus is very clear that he has to finish his work soon, for darkness will soon be coming. The time for signs will soon be completed, and soon the time for his death will arrive. When Jesus tells them explicitly that Lazarus was dead, Thomas gave a very revealing response. “Let us also go that we may die with him.” Thomas is not joking here. This may very well be the final showdown.

This is why we return to this main theme at the end of chapter 11. Because of the miracle, the Jewish authorities called a meeting. Their concern was clear, “If we let him go on like this, everybody will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” They fear that the popularity of Jesus will lead to a Jewish revolt. And when the Romans retaliate to clam down the unrest, their days of relative self-governance will be gone. Their fears are not unfounded. This happened for real in the Jewish War of AD 70, and the temple and city of Jerusalem were totally destroyed. This is why Caiaphas the high priest said, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” John made clear for us that this is an unintentional prophecy foretelling that “Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.” (v. 51-52) It is at this very meeting that we are told “so from that day on they plotted to take his life.” They also gave “orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him.” (v.57)

Looking at the context that frames the story of the raising of Lazarus, we can now see that the main plot is actually the story of Jesus sealing his own death. Jesus knew of the outcome from the very beginning and the events at the end proved to be so. On the surface, this final sign from John is about Jesus resurrecting Lazarus. But when we look deeper, it is a sign that Jesus is on his mission to die on the cross. At this point, some of us might be confused. Didn’t Jesus make the proclamation “I am the resurrection and the life”? Why then is this story about his road to death?

Brothers and sisters, I hope that we can learn to look at death from a new perspective from today’s story. Mary and Martha believe in the resurrection at the last day. But like the others they felt helpless in the face of death. They regret that Jesus had not been around, or else Lazarus would still have been alive. Death is the inevitable enemy that has taken Lazarus away. Jesus saw their weeping. But what is Jesus’ response? This is important so I’ll explain in detail. The NIV’s “deeply moved” may not be the best reading of the Greek verb embrimaomai. In classical Greek, this word describes the snort of a horse in war or in a race. In humans it describes outrage, fury or anger. Why was Jesus extremely furious? One commentator says, “He is certainly not angry at Martha, Mary or their mourners. Rather he is overcome by the futility of this sorrowful scene in light of the reality of the resurrection. God’s people possess knowledge of life; they should possess a faith that claims victory at the grave. But here they stand, overcome in seeming defeat. And here stands the One in whom victory, life, and resurrection are powerful realities. Jesus is angry at death itself and the devastation it brings.”i Many of us may not know this, but when Jesus wept, those were tears of rage. And when Jesus came to the tomb, the place of human despondence and futility, there was that same emotion again. This is no ordinary miracle story. Jesus is on a vengeance to conquer death. And he demonstrated his way by coming to die.

Brothers and sisters, this is the true meaning of the saying “I am the resurrection and the life.” It is more than just saying that Jesus gives life after death. It means that Jesus embodies what it means to truly live beyond the reality of death, to display the essence of life itself. Jesus is not helpless before the fate of death. On the contrary, Jesus confronted and defeated death. The belief in the resurrection is not hope for the future, it is for us to live our lives courageously now. We know death, but we also know that we have the victory in Jesus.

This is why Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life.” He knew that this trip will be the nail that seals the coffin, yet he sharpened that nail. He intentionally delayed his arrival to Bethany for two days because he wanted to use Lazarus’ death for his glory. With a large crowd gathered, he did his sign in style. He was in full control of his plans, and he left his enemies no choice. This is the way he deals with death. It is without regrets and without fear. He came to die so that death will be conquered once and for all. He ends with the display of the empty tomb. It is undeniable evidence to us all. He is the resurrection and the life.

Knowing all this, what does this saying mean for us? In the gospel of John, we know that we are one with Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ prayer for his believers he said, “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one. Father just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:20-21) Being one with Jesus means that the resurrection is our reality too. If we believe, we will also see the glory of God. Let us live our life fearless of death, knowing that we have the true life in Jesus Christ.
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i Gary M. Burge, The NIV Application Commentary, p 318