Temple Baptist Church - 10-4-2023
John 11:21-27
Introduction:
A. Last week, we looked at verse 25 in reverse order as we saw that Jesus Christ is “The Life.”
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
1. Christ Jesus is Life
2. Christ Jesus gives Life
3. The only life Christ Jesus is or gives is Eternal Life.
B. During our Lord’s conversation with Martha, there are a couple of things that need to be noted.
1. Her Partial Faith in the Lord. John 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
a) Martha knew that Jesus was the Christ, Israel’s Messiah.
b) Martha knew that Jesus had power over life and could have prevented the death of Lazarus.
c) Martha knew that Lazarus was a saved man and would be resurrected in the end-time.
d) Martha thought that the death of Lazarus was “a bridge too far” for the Lord.
2. Her Partial Knowledge of the Lord. She did not know that Jesus had the instantaneous power of resurrection.
John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Mark 9:23-24 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (24) And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
C. In these verse 25, we also find that Christ Jesus is the Resurrection. As Christ has complete power over life, He also has total power over death! John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
1. Possibly the greatest fear in life to the unbeliever is impending death. So much misinformation has been put out about after death experiences. Dying and going to heaven or hell and then back. The spirit hovering about the operating table and watching. Portals of light and visions, etc.
Hebrews 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Job 24:17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
2. Outside of the Bible, after death is completely unknown because people do not come back and tell what they experienced. They just keep hoping and guessing.
3. To the believer, we find trust—peace—comfort—happiness in death.
Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
4. Death is only the end to temporal life but is also the entrance into eternal life. God did not mean for you and I to live in a sinful flesh on a cursed earth forever!
5. In resurrection, He has a “far better” life in store for the believer.
Philippians 1:21, 23 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (23) For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
D. To understand what resurrection is, I want to look at two words used in the Bible, resurrection and revived, which are similar in meaning yet different.
1. Resurrection and revived are both terms used to describe a return to life or vitality. Revived and Resurrection are not the same. There are key differences between the two.
2. Resurrection refers to the act of coming back to life after death, while revival refers to the act of bringing something back to life or restoring it to its former state.
E. I want to look at the word “revived” first, then we will look at the word “resurrection”.
1. Revived:
a) To revive means to restore something to its former state.
b) The First Mention of the word “revived” is found in Genesis 45:27: “And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:” (Jacob’s returned to its former estate.)
c) Physical death. “Revived” is found in the realm of restoration of life after physical death but is restoration to the original state of living in a sinful body with the same Adamic nature of sinfulness.
1 Kings 17:22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. (The revival of life was temporal, not eternal as the child would one day die again. Also, the nature of the child was not changed.)
2 Kings 13:20-21 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. (21) And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet. (The man buried was restored to as he was before his death and would one day die again because the revived life was temporal.)
2. Resurrection:
a) Resurrection means to restore life to a dead body to another state that is both different and eternal.
b) The First Mention of resurrection is found in Genesis 2:7. Though the word “resurrection” is not found there, the principle is established.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
1) When God made Adam, he formed a body of the dust of the ground that was lifeless. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground.” There was no former life for Adam to be revived thus, no former estate to return to.
2) This act of making man was not to make him what he was, but to make him what he was not: as the body was dead and temporal, the breath of God was alive and eternal.
F. Where resurrection and revival are found in the same act is found in Romans 14:9 and is only used relating to the resurrection of Christ: “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.” (Jesus Christ’s body was dead and both rose (resurrection) and revived (became as before).
1. Rose (resurrection) because life came back into His dead body.
2. Revived (returned to His former estate) because Jesus was—is—will always be the perfect—omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent Jehovah God! Christ remained in the same state after the resurrection as He was before.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
G. Now, let us look at the statement again that our Lord Jesus Christ made to Martha: John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
1. The Person of Resurrection. “I am the resurrection and the life”
a. They knew that Jesus Christ was the Messiah; they knew that He was God; but they did not believe He was Almighty Jehovah God. They knew that He could heal the sick, but thought that death was out of His control. He is Lord over life and death!
b. Otherwise, they would not have indicted Him for not being there where He could heal and would have known that He could allow Lazarus to die and resurrect him!
Psalms 121:1-2 A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. (2) My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
1) The Resurrection of the Believer to Eternal Life. John 6:39-40 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.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 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.
2) The Resurrection of the Body to Eternal Life. 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:
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: (43) It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: (44) It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
2. The People of Resurrection. “he that believeth in me” Two types of people and two types of resurrections:
John 5:28-29 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.
a. The Resurrection of the Just. “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;” (Resurrected to a new life in a new body.)
Philippians 1:20-21 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. (21) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 3:10-11 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.
b. The Resurrection of the Unjust. “and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (Resurrected and revived with the same sinful nature. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still.)
Revelation 20:12-15 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
3. The Promise of Resurrection. “though he were dead, yet shall he live”
a. To the Old Testament Saints. Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: (26) And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: (27) Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
b. To the New Testament Saints. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 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. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
4. The Power of Resurrection. “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die”
a. The Old Testament Saints. Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
b. The New Testament Saints. John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
5. The Prerogative of Resurrection. “Believest thou this?” We are not Calvinist! We are not followers of Reformed Theology. God, in His absolute sovereignty, has given each of us personal choice.
Acts 28:23-24 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. (24) And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
a. Some believed on Christ! I thank God that I one day believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.
b. Some chose not to believe on Christ! My heart is heavy for those who willfully chose to reject the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for them just like He died for me.
Conclusion: To believe or not to believe is a choice that we all have to make. The Lord Jesus Christ wanted those whom He loved to know not only Who He was but also What He could do! As He was Lord over life, He was also Lord over death.
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