Today we come to the next“I am” statement of Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” In John 11, Jesus demonstrated HIS ultimate power over a dead and decaying human body by raising Lazarus from the grave, after he’d been dead four days!  And He promised, “whoever believes in Me will live even if he dies.” Jesus will not leave ONE of us in the grave, but will raise us up at the last day. 

And even more, Jesus said, “Everyone who lives and believes in me will NEVER die!” You, your person, your soul or spirit, CANNOT die because Jesus is the life! His life is indestructible and you have His life!

Seen through human eyes, every life comes to a sad end! The death of Lazarus was sad to Mary and Martha, AND to Jesus.  Jesus wept over the misery, grief and sorrow caused by death.  Many of us have watched someone we love die. There’s nothing sadder.  Something beautiful and precious to us is lost. Like a rose trampled on the ground. That life is gone, seemingly, lost and gone forever. 

YET, Jesus said, I WILL NOT lose that person, but I will raise him on the last day.  He didn’t minimize the power or pain of death. But He proclaimed HIMSELF as the conqueror of death.  “I” am the resurrection and the life!  I MYSELF will raise you up.  “I” will give life to your mortal body! 

Resurrection not only means new bodies, free of pain and handicap, but it means our entire being, made whole and perfect. No tears. No sorrow. Only joy and pleasure forevermore. 

The scripture, and our own experience, tells us life hurts! Sometimes, a lot! It’s imperfect, there’s pain and sorrow; evil and suffering. There’s so much good too, of course.  But it’s never all that we want it to be.  And so the Bible says we “GROAN inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies.” It’s our weakness, our sorrow, the awareness of our own mortality, our disappointment with this life, that pushes forward our hope to the day of resurrection. 

But it is not only trials or disappointment that push our hope forward to that day. The first-fruits of the Spirit also drive our hope of resurrection. We’ve tasted love, joy, peace, the beauty of righteousness in the Holy Spirit. We’ve tasted the powers of the age to come. And that taste is so good, we long for the full and perfect experience of it!  So we groan, we eagerly wait for the resurrection of our bodies, and all that goes with that.

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Jesus said, to Martha, I am the resurrection and the life, “Do you believe this?” You must actually believe this to have it affect you. It will never change your life if you don’t actually believe it. And you have to believe it in the face of suffering loss, even death, when everything falls apart this has to be your hope.  You have to believe this to have hope, joy and courage in your life. Paul said, if there’s no resurrection, then there’s no Christian hope, our “faith is futile”, and “we are to be pitied above all people”.  

To Paul the Christian life was costly and dangerous. If there’s no resurrection then we’re just paying a big price for nothing! But if there is a resurrection then no price too great to pay! He said the resurrection is why I was willing to fight with wild beasts at Ephesus, it’s why I am willing to place myself in danger every hour. The hope of resurrection gives courage and endurance! It’s what makes us overcomers!

The early church was willing to resist government pressures to worship Caesar, and to be faithful to Jesus, to the point of death, NOT only because they believed that Jesus was raised from the dead, but because they believed in their own resurrection!  They weren’t dying for some nebulous idea of an intangible afterlife.  They suffered for Jesus because of a vibrant hope in a future concrete life, in very real, physical resurrected bodies.

The resurrection is the reason for US to follow Christ in obedience and suffering. It’s why we take up our cross daily and pay whatever cost we must pay to follow Jesus. It’s why we bear the cost of discipleship. Because THAT is WHAT will matter in the resurrection. Jesus said those who keep my works to the end will be raised up to rule and reign with Me.   

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Of course there’s always a danger for Christians to be influenced by the world’s ideas in any area of truth.  And this truth is no exception. Our present day culture says a couple of things: Many believe that death is followed by “nothing”. We just cease to exist. No heaven, no hell, no judgment, no reward, no God, just nothing.

John Lennon wrote the song, “Imagine there's no heaven. It's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky.” Imagine all the people just living for today.”  

The truth is much worse than that for unbelievers because there IS a day of judgment. And the truth is far better for believers because death flows NOT into “non-existence” into resurrection, and a life far beyond what we even dreamed it could be.

Another popular view is a new age mystical, very non- concrete view of life after death. This view is found in statements like, “Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room.”  or “I did not leave you at all.  I am still with you. I am in the sun and in the wind.  I am even in the rain.  I did not die, I am with you all.”  These are the kinds of things people say at funerals today.

This view tries to deny the real, painful break with life, that comes at death. And it pretends that we are just kind of absorbed into the universe and present in some mystical form, or reincarnation.  And so everything is just okay. That’s completely contrary to the Christian hope of resurrection. 

Probably the most common statement today, said about any dead person is “they are in a better place”.  Believers say that. Unbelievers say that. Everybody says that.  It is true for Christians! Paul said “it is better by far to depart and be with Christ.” It’s better because it’s better to be in the immediate presence of Christ! But for many “a better place” is a kind of new age nebulous concept that is true of everybody who dies, there’s no concrete hope, no tangible, future life, just a better place.   

I think a more Biblical statement we can say for those who know Christ is “they are with Christ and His saints in Paradise”. They are in perfect joy and peace waiting the great day of the resurrection of all who belong to Christ. 

*The idea that the resurrection is ONLY spiritual, is a false doctrine.  The apostle’s creed. “I believe in the resurrection of the BODY.”  Paul wrote 1 Cor. 15 to refute those who said, “There is no resurrection of the dead.” Some said the resurrection was only spiritual and had already happened.” He warned Timothy about men, “who have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred.” 2 Tim. 2:18

Jesus and Paul did not merely teach life after death, or going to a better place, or even when you die you go to heaven. They taught the resurrection of the saints, “in new bodies, in new world, in God’s immediate presence”. That’s the NT understanding of Eternal Life.

Eternal Life IS a spiritual life, knowing God, enjoying God, being in the presence of God. But the framework for eternal life is being raised up at the last day, then God coming to dwell with us, AS people with resurrected bodies, on the new earth, forever and ever. We experience EL (and we’ll know God) as real people in real bodies. 

The idea of ONLY a spiritual existence after death came from the idea that the human body is bad. So the ultimate answer is to escape our body and go into a disembodied spiritual existence. Early in the 2nd century Marcion taught that matter was bad. He taught that Jesus' body was only an imitation of a material body, and consequently denied Jesus' physical and bodily birth, death, and resurrection.  But Genesis teaches that God created the human body and said it was good.  Jesus had a human body.  Indeed He has a human body.  

The book of John emphasizes over and over the reality, the physicality of Jesus resurrection body. Jesus told Thomas “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side”. John 20:27  

Jesus emphasized that His resurrection body was NOT just a spirit or ghost. He said to them, “Touch me and see; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Luke 24:39 And He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”  So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it right in front of them”. 42,43.

Jesus’ resurrection was first, and ours will be next AND BE LIKE HIS. Paul said, “We eagerly await a Savior from heaven, “who will transform our lowly body to be LIKE his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”  Philippians 3:21

1 Cor. 15:23“All in Christ WILL be made alive!  But each in his own turn; Christ the first-fruits; then at His coming, all those who belong to Him.”  What God did for Christ’s body He will do for your body and for all who have died in Him. 

A guy named John Phelan wrote, “Something significant to Christian faith and practice is lost when the concreteness of God’s promised future is lost. If the church spiritualizes such expectations, or projects them (only) onto the heavenly realm, life on this earth is robbed of hope.”  Though we don’t know everything, we are promised the resurrection of the dead and the direct rule of Jesus over all the earth, in an eternal kingdom that has no end.

*Of course there IS a present day foretaste of our future physical resurrection that IS spiritual.  Paul said we are to serve God “AS those who have been brought from death to life.” Rom. 6:13 So in that sense we are to think of ourselves as raised now with Jesus.

Ephesians 1 Paul prays that we would know (right now) the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.” He said it’s “the same power that raised Christ from the dead.”  He prays that we would know that we have resurrection power to live the new life. We could make the whole message about THAT! But in John, Jesus is clearly talking about physical future resurrection of our body!  So that’s our emphasis this morning. 

*So what is your ultimate hope in life? Or what is our ultimate Christian hope?  Or what is the ultimate unshakable promise of God to us? This morning we sang Blessed Be the Lord with those words, “You give and take away”.  That is true of certain thinks in this life! There are a lot things that we can have, and then not have. We’ve all experienced that. BUT, there ARE things God gives that He will NEVER take away!  Those are the things we are talking about this morning.

So what is your ultimate hope in? What is the unshakable promise of God to us? What is 100% sure, 100% of the time to 100% of us? What will never NOT happen?  What is that hope?

Is it a safe life, or  a trouble free life? It is wealth and success? Is it a better self image? The gospel I hear a lot today seems to mainly mean you can to stop feeling bad about yourself and start feeling awesome about yourself.  Well, God does many wonderful things for us in this life. 

But the hope Jesus Christ gives us is far beyond any of these things. It’s beyond the fluctuations of our thoughts and emotions, how we feel or don’t feel about ourselves. It’s a hope that survives suffering, grief, loss and even death. Our ultimate hope is living in glorified resurrected bodies, in a renewed creation, in the immediate presence of God. 

Paul said, in Romans 8:23 We wait eagerly for the redemption of our bodies. For in THIS HOPE we were saved.  Any hope you have placed in anything less than this can disappoint. But THIS hope will NOT disappoint.

The loud voice from the throne in Revelation 21 puts it so well! “Behold the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have passed away. 

And He who was seated on the throne said, “See I am making all things new!  It is done!  I am the alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer WILL inherit these things, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” Rev. 21:5-7  Our sure hope is being resurrected people, in a renewed creation, in the immediate presence of God. 

*There IS a waiting for the resurrection. The scripture is quite clear that our resurrection will happen all together, when Christ returns.  So what about the time between death and resurrection. The intermediate state.  

There will be a time of conscious enjoyment in heaven or what Jesus called Paradise, as we wait the day of resurrection. Paradise means garden, or botanical park. In Revelation 2:7, Jesus tells the church in Ephesus that they will be granted to “eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God”. It’s a  way of describing a wonderful and beautiful place. 

The idea is that immediately when we die we will go to a place of beauty, joy and rest in the presence of Jesus and the saints.  But that is only the opening chapter or more like a prelude to the resurrection. The big story, is that our bodies will be raised like the body of Jesus, Heaven comes down to the new earth and God dwells here with us forever. Revelation 21,22.

How does this truth affect our lives??

*Resurrection increases our hope and minimizes our grief.  Life doesn’t end in death and the grave. It looks like it. And it can feel like it. But life for us does not end in the grave. Life doesn’t end on a downer. Our future is glorious and full of joy and amazing experiences and active service. So even in the face of death, we don’t grieve like those who have no hope! And we could also say, we don’t LIVE like people who have no hope!  

The resurrection makes us hopeful, optimistic people. We live with the sense that great things are out in front of us. The resurrection removes the heaviness of life and helps us see we are bound for glory. Jesus won’t leave us in the grave.  He will raise us up at the last day.  

1 Thess. 4:14 “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, and the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ WILL be the first to rise!” Therefore encourage one another with these words”.  The resurrection is the ultimate source of hope and encouragement, because of our glorious future together with Christ. 

*The resurrection gives us courage in danger and opposition and threats to our life.  The early Christians remained calm and courageous in martyrdom, because they knew nothing could ultimately harm them.  Esther said, I’m going to do this thing God has put before me to do, even with great risk to myself.  And, “If I perish, I perish”. Everything really will be alright because, we are ultimately indestructible in Christ. He who believes in me will live even if he dies. 

*The resurrection drives our discipleship.  It motivates  faithful obedience to Jesus.  At the resurrection there will be reward for good works, for pleasing the Lord, and for whatever price we have paid to follow Him. The application Paul makes for the resurrection is “Therefore, always be abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Whatever you do for Jesus matters! 

The hope of resurrection does not mean we should just watch the news, and wait for Jesus to come get us. It gives us a reason for zealous service!

*The resurrection gives us peace in the midst of the apparent victory of evil. We know at the resurrection all things will be set right. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail.  The meek will inherit the earth.  Abusive, wicked people will not rule the universe, in the end!  The Lord Jesus and His people will! The Lord will bring about justice. He will restore all things. The Lord Jesus will rule the world and He will raise us up to reign and rule with Him. 

*The resurrection gives us contentment to be nobodies now, because we know someday we will be conformed to His glorious body.  The world tells us to be somebody! And we live under the pressure of that. It’s hard not to!  I think we struggle with our insignificance. But because of the resurrection, we can be just fine with being small, powerless people. We can be okay even with shamed in the eyes of the world. We can “Go to Jesus outside the camp to bear His reproach”. We can go outside the place of acceptance, outside the place where people think we’re awesome and bear HIS reproach...because our significance, is derived NOT from being somebody in this world. Our significance but from our future glory, reward and resurrection. It gives us a deep contentedness to be who WE are, to be WHO God made us, to be doing the things God told US to do.  And to have a sense of restfulness and calm and peace about doing that. Glory is coming for the least of us!  Amen. 

What is your hope in today? Is it in something you can lose, or can be taken from you?  In THIS hope you were saved!  What hope is that? The redemption of our bodies.  Redeemed bodies, in a redeemed creation, in the immediate presence of God!