Am the Resurrection and the Life

The Resurrection of Our Lord

March 23, 2008

John 11:25

"Jesus said to [Martha], ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.’" Christ is risen . . . Alleluia.

While, on Easter, we especially revel in the resurrection from the dead of our Savior, Jesus Christ, actually, every Christian worship service has this singular fact at the front and center: Jesus Christ, true God and true man, died for the sins of the world and, in triumph over death and devil and damnation, was raised from His grave. Christ is risen . . . Alleluia.

The reason we have something to celebrate is because we have a living Savior. Because He faced the curse of our sin and won—and won!—our worship is nothing less than hero worship.

We know all about hero worship.

In the USA, we love worshiping our heros, of every sort—be they in movies, or music, or politics, or sports—especially sports—or the everyday Joe, who finds himself in a unique situation and comes through to save the day.

None of those, however, who give us day-to-day enjoyment, entertainment, or excitement, can do a thing about getting us over the one hurdle that we all face: death. We can’t do a thing to stop our own death, or the death of our loved ones. But, in the living and resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, we have our Conquering Hero.

Before Jesus went to His own death, He was faced with the death of others. In the death of his friend, Lazarus, we have today’s blessed words of comfort, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."

Lazarus’ death was past the point of no return. It had been four days. Lazarus was, naturally, decomposing. No, let’s be frank: he was rotting; he was stinking.

Jesus had waited for this to be, so that He could show His power—the power of God in the flesh of man—and to show that, where Jesus is, there is life, and power over death.

Before Jesus ever got to Lazarus’ tomb, there are two things that were said, that are noteworthy. First of all, when speaking of Lazarus’ death, Jesus didn’t call it death. He said, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going to there to wake him up."

When the disciples didn’t get it, Jesus put it bluntly, that Lazarus was dead. Then Thomas said to the other disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

You also, as disciples of Jesus, go along with Jesus that you may die—that you may die with Him. Indeed, the first death, you have already died.

When you were baptized into Jesus Christ, you were baptized into His death on the cross, where He paid for your sins. Your sins were drowned in that baptism. They no longer hold you in slavery to death, devil, and damnation. You live, right now, with God’s eternal forgiveness, life, and salvation.

As Jesus Christ was raised from death, in baptism you were raised with Him in His resurrection. As you have already died to sin, you have already been spiritually raised from the dead. With God the Holy Spirit living in you, you are alive in your spirit.

That’s the good news; here’s the bad. You still walk around in a body of death. Even though God has removed you from spiritual death, He has not removed you from physical death. But, for you, your death will be as Jesus spoke of Lazarus’ death: "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep."

Here is where this gets personal. Not a one of us, who has attained at least a few years on this earth, have not been touched by the death of loved ones. And, in too many cases, we have been harmed and horrified at the tragic death of family and friends.

As your pastor of seven years, this is where I am privileged to be with you in your lowest moments. You invite me into your families, and I get to speak to you in the tenderest time of your lives. I see the hurt in your faces. In your words, I hear your loss. I feel with you, because the pain is so intense and so obvious. And, because I feel it, too.

As, last week, I was pondering what to say, today, I was remembering the anniversary of my mom’s death. It’s been twenty-two years. And, with leap years, it fell, this year, on the same day of the week as she died, in 1986.

She went into the hospital on Sunday. Dad’s birthday was on Monday. Mom died on Tuesday.

As I was talking with my dad on his birthday, last Monday, I brought this up. . . . See, here’s the thing. It’s been twenty-two years—almost half of my life ago—yet, it still hurts. I still wish she were with us. I still wish she were here for me to pester, to make her laugh, to call her Sarge, to eat her cooking, to play cards with her, for her to see that I became a minister.

If I may press your good nature toward me, now I am remembering my firstborn child. The day on which you folks called me to be your pastor, January 14, well, that was Johnathan’s birthday, in 1981. So, every year, when I remember with joy that you elected me to serve you, I also recall the pain of Johnathan’s taking ill when he was ten hours old, and then dying the next day.

And, whom are you pondering, right now? For whom does the pain of suffering and loss bite you so hard, you can feel the sting, even as I talk about my loved ones?

I am very purposeful in opening my heart to you, this morning, and I clearly intended to refresh your feelings of loss. If we have no loss, why do we need a Savior?

Do you know that funerals are beginning to become a thing of the past—even among Christians?

One of our local pastors has a Lutheran pastor-friend in California. He reports that this pastor very rarely does a church funeral—very rarely does the family want a funeral.

What’s going on? Americans are denying death. We are a people of the living. We are an eat, drink, and be merry society. Death is a bummer. Death screws up life. Funerals are a drag. Who wants to be sad?

So, what is happening? People aren’t having funerals; they are having celebrations of the person’s life, with a party, and a feast, and a good time. That’s what Americans do—we have a good time!

Yeah, and after the party—after you sober up and go back to your routine—and your husband is not there, or your child, or your co-worker’s spot is taken by some stranger that you aren’t even sure you’re going to like—that’s when death smacks you right in the face. You have a hole in your life that no amount of partying can take away.

You, dear Christians, shall not wink at death. You will face it, straight on, because you have the cure for death—you have the Conquering Hero, Jesus Christ, and He is I Am—God in the flesh—and He is the Resurrection and the Life. Christ is risen . . . Alleluia.

Now, back to why Jesus said that Lazarus was asleep. Because you have already been baptized into the death of Jesus, death no longer has a grip on you. When your body dies, your spirit does not die. Your spirit goes to heaven, to be with the Lord, and the angels, and all of the faithful, who have gone before you.

Your body is planted into the ground—just as Jesus’ body was laid to rest in the grave.

To rest. And then, to awake—to awake from the sleep of death and into the resurrection of eternal life.

When Jesus told Lazarus’ mourning sister that He is I Am, God in the flesh, and the Resurrection and the Life, He continued, "He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

And, then He asked her, "Do you believe this?"

She replied, "Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

And that, my friends, is why you are here. You believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. You believe that He was the One to come into the world to die for your sins, to be raised from the dead as the Conquering Hero over death, over the devil, and over damnation, and that you are baptized into His death, and fed upon His living body and blood, and absolved through His Word of forgiveness, life, and salvation.

And, because Christ is alive from His grave, even though you die, yet shall you live from your own grave, and in your resurrected body, you will live with Christ, and with all believers, forever.

Christ is risen . . . Alleluia. Amen.