John 11:25 I AM

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 

Observation:

It is always significant to me when God makes an "I Am" statement. He said these words first in Exodus 3:14 "I AM WHO I AM". When I first read these words long ago, I sat there waiting for God to finish the sentence. What does I AM WHO I AM really even mean. I think for me God adds to that statement throughout the rest of the bible and so I consider His I AM statements treasures. In fact, just a chapter back in John 10, He say's I AM the Good Shepherd. 

These words had significant meaning to Martha in whom they were spoken too. Martha's brother Lazarus had been dead for four days. A Jewish superstition at the time was that the spirit of a man lingered around his dead body for three days, so four days was a day too long for Jesus to raise Lazarus. When Jesus tells Martha that He is the resurrection and the life, He is saying there is no limit to the life He can bring to someone. He is not bound by our superstitions, our expectations, or our knowledge. He is God and will do as He chooses.

Application

"I am the resurrection" and the life means to me that, bringing life is not something that I can do on my own. It goes back to a relationship with Christ based on works versus one based on grace. But the life He is talking about is not just eternal life in heaven, but a new life right here and now. I could not make myself kind, gentle, faithful, and loving. Everything I could do was temporary performance, and I always failed. But He gave me new life, and He is the one who sustains that spiritual life everyday.

Jesus is also enlightening me on His authority. The Jews wanted a king to free them from their Oppressors, but God wanted to give them something even better, eternal life. Many times I would like to settle for what I think is best for me, but God always has something better if I am willing to submit myself to God and wait for Him.

Prayer:

Father, You are the Good Shepherd, You are the Resurrection and the Life, You are the Way. I am so grateful for who You are.