Creator, Father, King #249

I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

JESUS WAS A MASTER wordsmith. If crossword puzzles, Taboo, or Scrabble had existed in first-century Palestine, he would’ve won every time. (Of course, being the eternal, omniscient Son of God might give him a slight advantage over the competition!)

Jesus also loved speaking in paradoxes. A paradox is a statement that seems false or contradictory but actually contains truth.

Some of Jesus’ most well-known paradoxes include the following:

• The last will be first and the first last. (Matthew 20:16, ESV)
• My yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:30, ESV)
• Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. (Luke 9:24, ESV)

In John 11, Jesus declared another beautiful paradox before raising Lazarus from the dead. “I am the resurrection and the life,” Jesus said. “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (today’s verses, NIV).

What’s It Mean?

As we study the topic of resurrection, this story—which happened prior to Jesus’ death—has much to teach us. Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “I can resurrect people and give them life.” He said something far more authoritative: “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25, emphasis added). In other words, all resurrection power and life—both in this world and the one to come—originate with him.

Whoa.

You will die one day, and your physical body will be buried. But your soul will immediately go into God’s presence or into judgment, depending on your faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 16:19-31). Thanks to Jesus’ resurrection power, every Christian has the secure hope that their soul eventually will be united after death with a glorified resurrection body—free from all pain and suffering, perfectly immortal, designed to praise God forever in the new heavens and new earth (1 Corinthians 15:35-57).

This is what Jesus is referring to in today’s verse. Even though we will all experience physical death (until he returns), believers will never experience spiritual death apart from God in hell. All who trust in Christ have resurrection hope because Jesus has resurrection power!

That’s no paradox—it’s just glorious truth!

Now What?

The next time you read through the Gospels, look for the paradoxical truths of Jesus.

Did You Know?

Today’s verse represents the fifth of Jesus’ seven great “I am” statements in the Gospel of John, all of which were references to Exodus 3:14 and clear claims to deity.