The Resurrection and the Life

I just really like Jesus. I do love Him, but I really am starting to like Him too. Taking a look at His personality and presence while He was physically present on earth.

So much mystery and so much simple transparency all wrapped up together. He speaks like a poet one minute and like a teacher of children the next, putting everything plain and simple.

In the end of John 10 (Jn 10:22-24) Jesus plainly claims diety. But in many other passages, Jesus is more subtle and used the name God used for Himself “I AM” (Exodus 3:14) Whenever Jesus used ‘I Am’ He was not only saying what He was saying (I am the Vine; I am the Door, etc), but He was also saying, “I am God.”

Our text today is John 11. Please read it now and I’ll wait.

See what I mean about how Jesus talks? I noticed it again in verses 11-14. Praise Him for not criticizing our feeble understanding, Amen?

Our key verses are 25-26

John 11:25-26 “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

(Why don’t you fill in your name in place of Martha’s?)

There’s that ‘I Am’ statement again. Don’t you love it? I don’t know about you but I’m glad Jesus is God. Otherwise I think there’d be a lingering doubt that the Sacrifice really wasn’t good enough.

Let’s back up a bit and look at the passage from the beginning. Lazarus was sick and they sent to Jesus for help. His plan was not their plan.

See verse 33. I don’t like the NLT for this one, where it says “a deep anger welled up within him”. Let’s look at either the AMP version, or the NASB

John 11:33b “…He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. [He chafed in spirit and sighed and was disturbed.]” AMP John 11:33b “…He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled.” NASB

I don’t believe Jesus was angry as much as vexed or grief stricken. It grieved Him to see them hurting. I can’t believe Christ was really grieved about the loss of Lazarus, because He knew they’d be together again. Maybe Christ was grieved because just because of death itself – because sin had entered the perfect, God-filled creation. That was never how God had intended for it to be. What a scorching reminder. (I encourage you to share your thoughts on this in the comments. This is just my opinion. What do you think?)

What a man of emotion.

John 11:35 “Then Jesus wept.” NLT

And in His weeping, they recognized His love for Lazarus. That love He holds for each of us.

Death hurts.

Separation hurts.

And it was never part of God’s ideal world.

But we messed it up and as a fallen world, death comes with it.

Praise Jesus that He is Life, and that with Him there is no real death. Just transfer from one life (temporal, earthly) to the next – our eternal, painless one in Heaven.

If God doesn’t like death either, then why did He allow it? The answer is all over our passage – note these verses:

John 11:4b “…it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” NLT

(Note: He is claiming deity again, and claiming glory.  He, Christ, must be recognized as God.)

And verses 40-42; before Lazarus was even raised. Jesus prays His thanks, praising God out loud for testimony, and again to claim sonship. Notice His prayer before Lazarus walks out.

John 11:40-42 “Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” NLT

It worked. People believed, and God got the glory.

John 11:45 “Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen.” NLT

 Now can you see God’s plan in this death? Lazarus’s sisters Mary and Martha, and likely many others there, did not understand why Jesus didn’t come sooner. (See verse 32) But those who believed because of this occurrence wouldn’t have believed otherwise. He does always know best, praise Him.

Let’s take a real quick look before we close at verses 46-57. Because of this act, Jesus became a wanted man. Not for lawlessness, but really for God-ness. The Pharisees did not want to believe His deity, and so sought to kill Him.

Christ, being God, saw everything – so He knew this was to come, did He not?

But did that stop Him? No way.

He trusted in the Father’s plan; He knew this was best. God’s work is always worth the risk.

Always.

In summary I’d like to add one thought.

“I am the resurrection and the life” – Lazarus wasn’t the only life restored that day. Because really, in our sin, we are already dead, so salvation is a form of resurrection, yes?

I love that He doesn’t say, “I give resurrection and life,” or even that “I will resurrect from the dead.” Rather, it is so much a part of His nature that He says, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.”

He is.

Praise Him.

In your prayer time, spend some time thanking Him for what may seem like an unanswered prayer. He may just have a better answer waiting. And thank Him that He is Resurrection, and that He is Life.

Death is not forever. God has a purpose in allowing His children hurt, suffering, loss, and yes even death.

Trust Him, dear ones.

This post is in memory of my friend, a dear sister in Christ who God brought home 6 months ago today, seemingly before her time. God does have a purpose, and may we recognize and bless Him for that.

We will see you again soon.

Bread and Water

Our most basic needs. Hunger and thirst. When we think of needs – actual needs – it always seems to boil down to three: food, clothing, shelter.

But I’d like to argue that there’s really only one basic basic need. Food. Food and water.
Yes, our culture demands clothing, and shelter is optimal, but there is not getting around the need for food.

Jesus knew this. Why else would He claim to be the Bread of Life?

He knows we need Him, and there is just no getting around it.

Our text is John 6.

Jesus had just gotten through feeding the five thousand. Overnight, some of the people stayed. Overnight, there was also a storm, and Jesus walked on water.

Interesting to note verse 20 – He says “Do not be afraid, I am here.” Or, “The I AM is here.” source What a great reason to not be afraid. Because our God, the Beginning and the End, and the Self-Existent One [Who relies on no one else, having no need for help, and is entirely self-capable] is here.

Would that we were just as eager to let Him in, and let Him take the wheel. (John 6:21)

Then, in the morning, many of the people from the 5,000 crowd were still there, and Jesus sees through their eagerness.

Look at verse 26:

John 6:26 “Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth,”

(and doesn’t He always tell the truth?)

“you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.”” NLT

Don’t we often fit that bill?

‘Dear Jesus, please let me score well on my exam today.’

‘Dear Jesus, please help me finish this before deadline.’

‘God, help me arrive safely to work this morning… and on time!’

Please let this or that happen.

We know His power.

And those things are fine and good, but is that it?

John 6:27a “But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you…” NLT emphasis mine

Spend your energy. Not just a quick ‘God is great’ prayer before our meal. Work at it. And if your salvation is already secured, whose life then should we be seeking?

And the people still didn’t get it. Verse 30:

John 6:30 “They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do?” NLT

Give me, and then I’ll believe.

And then Jesus says, “I give.”

Even after that, I’d have wanted to correct their attitude – but He stoops, explains, teaches. "My Father does give you Bread. I am that Bread."

John 6:35 “Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” NLT

John 6:48 “Yes, I am the bread of life!” NLT

John 6:51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” NLT

And they still didn’t get it.

So He explains what He means again. See verses 63-64.

Human effort is us, trying to do, to be enough, to win our way. Humbly just accepting isn’t enough for some of us, is it?

But that’s all He wants.

John 6:29 “Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”” NLT

He is it. He is the sustenance. The bread we need to survive. Believe it. He is the Water, living water.

This passage is sandwiched in between two other times Jesus says He is living water. In John 4:14 and John 7:37-39.

So He meets that primal, basic basic need that we have no way around. For we don’t truly need any other thing.

For any needs we have on earth unmet lead to death and our eternal existence – in which we need Living water and the Bread of Life to enter Heaven.

Do you see it?

Peter had it right this time. See verses 68-69

John 6:68a “Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go?...”” NLT

What else is there?

He is it, and there’s no way around it.

Watch and Invite

The end is not the end.

Look forward. Look up. Be watching.

You’ve heard it, but what does that mean really?

Our text today is Revelation 22. The last of our Bride of Christ series, but by no means the end. Fitting, however, that its ending comes with the last words in the last chapter of the written Word of God.

In our last session, we’ve gotten a taste – just a tease really – of what Heaven will look like, O glorious day!

And now we hear from our Groom.

“I am coming.” (Rev 22:17)

He hasn’t left this time – not like the way we read about in our Painful Lesson segment, where He leaves to punish/teach. This time is a time of preparing. Of working.

Bride, He is preparing a place for you.

John 14:1-4 ““Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”” NLT

When everything is ready.

I will come and get you.

I will.

I love words of certainty, don’t you? When I was a child, my older sister and I would take answers from our parents and interpret them to declare certainty:

“Mom, when you say ‘we’ll see’, you mean ‘no.’ And when you say ‘maybe’, that means ‘yes’.”

We have a need to just know, don’t we?

Well, know this:

He is returning.

And it will be soon. Sister, will you be there? Will you join us there in our Groom’s mansion? I’m so excited to join you. To meet you. It will be glory.

But do you seen Him pleading with you here? Look at verse 10 and I’ll share the Amplified Bible version because it really emphasizes it well.

Revelation 22:10 “And he [further] told me, Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book and make no secret of them, for the time when things are brought to a crisis and the period of their fulfillment is near.” AMP

See it?

Share! Do not seal up the words. Sacred, yes; secret, no. Speak up!

Pass out those wedding invitations! (Or the proposal?) Invite! Dear sisters, He wants everyone there.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” NLT

Speak up! Yes, you are treasured. Yes, you are the special Bride of Christ. But you are not the only one. How selfish would we be (I speak to myself!) to keep to ourselves this invitation?

As His Bride, yes, celebrate Him, and be grateful, but open your eyes. Is that neighbor of yours a believer? Your co-worker? How about your kids? Your spouse?

That Bride we talked about in our last session with her grateful, ever grateful smile, shouldn’t she want that for those around her? Those she loves most?

Our time is short! There is no ‘well, maybe tomorrow.’ Today! What if our Groom came back before lunch time?

Soon. He is coming back soon.

Rev 22:12a “Look, I am coming soon…”

Hear the invitation, but most of all, share His invitation!

Revelation 22:17 “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” NLT

The Spirit and the Bride. There it is.

There have been times when I have fallen into the lazy trap of thinking “well, if the Spirit is going to work to draw someone to Himself, then He will. He’ll find someone to talk to them.”

I know, I know. You can smack me now. I have been guilty. Lazy. But I am calling you with me to change that, because see, the Spirit and the Bride say ‘come.’.

See the Amplified version:

Revelation 22:17 “The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost.” AMP

Do this with me. I’m going to list some words and I would love for you to get paper and pen (Yes, actual paper and pen. Do it- not just in your head. I’ll wait.) and list the names that come to mind with these statements from verse 17 in the Amplified Bible.

thirsty.

needy.

in pain.

needing refreshed.

needing support.

needing strengthened.

desires change.

I know God put someone on your heart just now. If not more than one person.

Why don’t you invite them to the wedding? Her (or his) place has already been paid for.

Pearls and Glitter

 As we wrap up our Bride of Christ series, I’d love to do a short survey. When you hear “Bride” what’s the first thing you think of?

Wedding. Love. Young. Beautiful.

If you’re like many people, these are some of the things you associate with brides.

For me, my first thought is “white” and then my mind starts adding in glitter, flowers, and of course some tulle.

So that was fun. But do you get the idea? This is a momentous occasion that typically even the most rough-and-tumble get cleaned up nice for.

This is where we are at in our text. Please read Revelation 21.

We’re here finally. The dark times are over, all hard lessons learned. The last bit of polishing, smoothing and styling are done. The Bride is ready to present to her (literally) perfect Groom.

It’s been a long time coming.

Revelation 21:5-6 “And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.” NLT

Here is fulfillment. Here is where His promises are fulfilled, and all the faith and blind trust (but not always blind right? Haven’t we seen evidence of Him at work?) comes to fruition and we can actually put our hands on the tantalizing…

Revelation 21:7 “All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings…” NLT

…and the vows are spoken!

Rev 21:7 “…and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” NLT

That’s vow He’s been saying all along. He loves you so much, Dear One.

The bride. Just have a look. This is beauty. True, lasting beauty. Her heart is pure, sweet genuine smile on her face, a smile driven from endless gratefulness for a gift she can never repay. This is it. And an angel presents her.

When the Bride is presented, she shines and sparkles. (I believe God loves glitter and sparkly just as much as our inner Princess does. Don’t you agree?)

And her Groom wipes every tear from her eye (Revelation 21:4) whispering, “I love you more than you will ever know. You were so worth it. I’m glad you’re here. You will never have any more pain or any tears ever again. You are Mine.”

Oh that will be heaven. And it will literally be Heaven.

Are you reading this beautiful account?
It is so beautiful. Read it slowly, and picture in your mind what your Prince has in store for you!

I encourage you to look at verse 19, and then do an image search for each of those precious stones mentioned. And we are those precious stones, yes? See the beauty! And in it, see and feel a bit of God’s heart. He loves you so so much!

One thing too, I’d like to discuss, is the pearl mentioned in verse 21.

Revelation 21:21a “The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl!” NLT

The ‘pearly gates’ are more rightly called the Pearl Gates, for they are not ‘pearl-like’ but each of the twelve gates is an actual pearl.

Go with me for a moment – remember how a pearl is made? Would these large of pearls even be possible without our awesome God?

I love pearls for this reason – they truly are a beauty birthed from discomfort; the waxing beauty out of pain, and the longer the pain, the greater the beauty.

Perhaps why God chose pearl gates? Beauty from pain. Beauty received only at the time of restoration, when God cracks open the shell, and holds the pearl in His loving hand. And the gates are pearl.

Beauty from pain.

Walk through it, Dear One. Walk into His beautiful presence as the pure, beautiful Bride of Christ.