Embracing Eternal Life Through Christ's Resurrection
Summary
In John chapter 11, we delve into the profound narrative of Lazarus, a story that not only showcases Jesus' miraculous power but also serves as a profound teaching moment about life, death, and resurrection. As we explore this passage, we are invited to reflect on our own mortality and how we perceive it. Jesus uses the death and resurrection of Lazarus to reshape our understanding of life and death, urging us to see beyond the physical realm and into the spiritual reality that He offers.
The story of Lazarus is not just about a physical resurrection but a typology of spiritual awakening. Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life," emphasizing that belief in Him transcends physical death and offers eternal life. This declaration challenges us to move beyond merely believing in Jesus to believing into Him, becoming grafted into the life He offers. This spiritual resurrection is the true victory over death, as it signifies the end of our separation from God.
Death, as Jesus presents it, is the final enemy, a barrier that He has come to conquer. For believers, death marks the end of separation from God, while for non-believers, it signifies the beginning of eternal separation. This dichotomy underscores the urgency of embracing the life that Jesus offers, a life that is abundant and eternal.
The narrative of Lazarus, along with other resurrections performed by Jesus, illustrates His authority over death and His mission to bring spiritually dead people to life. This mission culminates in His own resurrection, the cornerstone of our faith, which assures us of our eternal hope. As believers, our focus should not be on preparing for death but on living a life that glorifies God, looking forward to the eternal life promised through Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding Mortality: Reflect on how you perceive your own mortality. Jesus uses the story of Lazarus to teach us that death is not the end but a transition to eternal life for those who believe in Him. This perspective should shape how we live our lives, focusing on eternal significance rather than temporal concerns. [02:40]
- Spiritual Resurrection: Jesus' declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life," invites us to experience a spiritual resurrection. This means moving beyond mere belief in Jesus to being grafted into Him, finding our life and hope in His eternal promise. [21:28]
- Death as the Final Enemy: Jesus views death as the final enemy, a barrier He has overcome. For believers, death ends our separation from God, while for non-believers, it begins eternal separation. This understanding should motivate us to share the hope of Christ with others. [10:08]
- Living for Eternity: Our earthly existence should be a preparation for eternal life. Instead of accumulating temporal treasures, we should focus on things above, living a life that glorifies God and reflects our eternal hope in Christ. [27:46]
- The Power of Resurrection: The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our faith. It assures us of our spiritual resurrection and eternal life. Without His resurrection, our faith would be in vain, but because He lives, we have the promise of life everlasting. [29:17]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Lazarus' Story
- [00:45] - Jesus Arrives in Bethany
- [01:18] - Jesus' Declaration to Martha
- [02:10] - Reflecting on Mortality
- [02:57] - Jesus' Teaching on Life and Death
- [04:02] - C.S. Lewis on Mortality
- [05:23] - Separation from God
- [06:28] - Hope for Believers
- [07:40] - Living and Dying in Christ
- [09:01] - Spiritual Death and Life
- [10:08] - Death as the Final Enemy
- [11:31] - Layers of Resurrection
- [13:42] - Fulfillment of the Law
- [17:33] - Spiritual Resurrection
- [18:09] - Abundant Life in Christ
- [20:19] - Believing Into Jesus
- [22:20] - Eternal Hope in Christ
- [25:56] - Preparing for Eternal Life
- [29:17] - The Significance of Jesus' Resurrection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Story of Lazarus
Bible Reading:
- John 11:17-27
- Romans 14:8-9
- 1 Corinthians 15:25-26
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Observation Questions:
1. In John 11:17-27, how does Martha express her faith in Jesus despite her grief over Lazarus' death? What does this reveal about her understanding of Jesus' power? [01:18]
2. According to Romans 14:8-9, what does it mean for believers to live and die "to the Lord"? How does this perspective influence a believer's view of life and death? [07:40]
3. In 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, what is described as the "last enemy" to be destroyed? How does this align with Jesus' view of death in the story of Lazarus? [10:23]
4. How does Jesus' declaration "I am the resurrection and the life" in John 11:25-26 challenge the traditional understanding of life and death? [19:42]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Lazarus illustrate the concept of spiritual resurrection, and what implications does this have for believers today? [11:02]
2. What does it mean to "believe into" Jesus, as opposed to merely believing in Him, and how does this affect one's spiritual life? [21:12]
3. How does the sermon describe the difference between preparing for death and preparing for eternal life? What practical steps can believers take to focus on eternal life? [27:28]
4. How does the resurrection of Jesus serve as the cornerstone of Christian faith, and why is it essential for believers to understand its significance? [29:17]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own perception of mortality. How often do you consider your own mortality, and does it align with the perspective Jesus offers in the story of Lazarus? [02:10]
2. Jesus calls believers to experience a spiritual resurrection. What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Jesus and "believe into" Him more fully? [21:12]
3. How can you share the hope of eternal life with others, especially those who may not yet believe in Jesus? What specific actions can you take this week to engage in such conversations? [06:44]
4. Consider the idea that death is the final enemy. How does this understanding motivate you to live a life that glorifies God and reflects your eternal hope in Christ? [10:08]
5. In what ways are you currently preparing for eternal life rather than accumulating temporal treasures? Identify one area of your life where you can shift your focus to things above. [27:46]
6. How does the assurance of Jesus' resurrection impact your daily life and faith journey? What specific changes can you make to live more fully in the light of this truth? [29:17]
7. Reflect on the concept of living "to the Lord" as described in Romans 14:8-9. How can this perspective influence your decisions and priorities in the coming week? [07:40]
Devotional
Day 1: Mortality as a Gateway to Eternity
Reflect on how you perceive your own mortality. Jesus uses the story of Lazarus to teach us that death is not the end but a transition to eternal life for those who believe in Him. This perspective should shape how we live our lives, focusing on eternal significance rather than temporal concerns. Jesus' interaction with Lazarus invites us to see death not as a finality but as a passage into a deeper relationship with God. By understanding mortality through this lens, we are encouraged to live with purpose and intention, prioritizing spiritual growth and eternal values over fleeting worldly pursuits. [02:40]
"For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Corinthians 5:1, ESV)
Reflection: How does your current lifestyle reflect your understanding of mortality as a transition to eternal life? What changes can you make today to align more closely with this perspective?
Day 2: Embracing Spiritual Resurrection
Jesus' declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life," invites us to experience a spiritual resurrection. This means moving beyond mere belief in Jesus to being grafted into Him, finding our life and hope in His eternal promise. Spiritual resurrection is about transformation and renewal, where we are called to live in the fullness of life that Jesus offers. It is an invitation to let go of old patterns and embrace a new identity in Christ, one that is marked by hope, purpose, and a deep connection to God. [21:28]
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world... But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ." (Ephesians 2:1-5, ESV)
Reflection: What areas of your life need a spiritual resurrection? How can you actively seek to be grafted into the life that Jesus offers today?
Day 3: Conquering Death, the Final Enemy
Jesus views death as the final enemy, a barrier He has overcome. For believers, death ends our separation from God, while for non-believers, it begins eternal separation. This understanding should motivate us to share the hope of Christ with others. Recognizing death as a conquered enemy empowers us to live boldly and share the message of eternal life with urgency and compassion. It challenges us to be active participants in God's mission, bringing the light of Christ to those who are still in darkness. [10:08]
"The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:26, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the hope of Christ? How can you share this message with them in a loving and impactful way today?
Day 4: Living with Eternal Perspective
Our earthly existence should be a preparation for eternal life. Instead of accumulating temporal treasures, we should focus on things above, living a life that glorifies God and reflects our eternal hope in Christ. This perspective encourages us to evaluate our priorities and invest in what truly matters. By living with an eternal perspective, we align our actions and decisions with God's purposes, seeking to glorify Him in all that we do. [27:46]
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to shift your focus from temporal concerns to eternal values? How can this change impact your daily life and decisions?
Day 5: The Assurance of Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our faith. It assures us of our spiritual resurrection and eternal life. Without His resurrection, our faith would be in vain, but because He lives, we have the promise of life everlasting. This assurance gives us hope and confidence, enabling us to face life's challenges with courage and trust in God's promises. It reminds us that our faith is not in vain, and that we have a secure future in Christ. [29:17]
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (1 Peter 1:3, ESV)
Reflection: How does the assurance of Jesus' resurrection influence your faith and daily life? In what ways can you live out this hope in your interactions with others today?
Quotes
"When Jesus arrived he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb 4 days bethany was near Jerusalem less than 2 miles away many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother as soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming she went to meet him but Mary remained seated in the house then Martha said to Jesus 'Lord if you had had been here my brother wouldn't have died yet even now I know that whatever you ask from God God will give you.'" [00:41:07]
"Jesus said to her 'I am the resurrection and the life the one who believes in me even if he dies will live everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.' 'Do you believe this?' 'Yes Lord,' she told him 'I believe you are the Messiah the Son of God who comes into the world.'" [01:28:56]
"The reality is is that we're all going to die but the question is how do we think about that and are we thinking about it the right way the way that God intended for us to think about our own mortality and when we look at John 11 we begin to get an idea of Jesus and how he's trying to shape the way that we view life and the way that we view death." [02:37:60]
"Death for the believer is the end of separation from God you see even here on this earth we as believers we follow after God's word we uh we worship him we honor him yet there is still a wall of separation because we are not completely who God has called us to be and we'll never reach that state until we are in heaven with God in our glorified bodies." [05:36:16]
"Most people spend their lives preparing for death and they don't even realize that according to the gospel they are dead already you see when Jesus is talking about death and life what he's trying to get across to us is that if we are not in Christ we are dead we are spiritually dead and we have an eternity of spiritual of spiritually being dead." [08:49:39]
"Jesus saw death as the final enemy in other words death is an enemy not just a an enemy to Christ but it's an enemy to us it's an enemy to those who are alive in Christ it's also a dead end it's a death it's the final enemy it's an enemy to those especially who do not know Christ because there again once you hit that wall of separation that moment of death you have no hope for the future." [09:41:58]
"When we belong to Christ we are alive whether we die or whether we are are alive in the end our eternity says that we will be alive in Christ yet this separation exists to the believer their hope is in Christ and eternity with Christ but to the person who doesn't know Christ there is no hope especially when that final day that they live comes in they will al they will enter into this state of eternal separation from God." [10:48:56]
"Jesus is trying to communicate to us is that even though the world may be dead what Jesus did is he came to raise dead people and bring them to life we are born in this world dead jesus wants to bring us to life and so in this story of Lazarus he's giving us a typology of what this looks like when you begin to look through this story we have the benefit of looking retrospectively into this story of Lazarus." [10:49:28]
"Jesus said that I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly when Jesus is saying that uh he's talking about giving life to people but a lot of times we get excited about that verse I do it's like yeah we are meant to live this life and have life to the full live life you know to the full uh and and and and take on everything that life has to give." [18:04:79]
"Jesus said to Martha he said 'I am the resurrection and the life the one who believes in me even if he dies will live everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.' Jesus said to her 'I am the resurrection i am the life.' Notice what he doesn't say in the midst of the circumstance lazarus is dead and Jesus says 'I am the resurrection.'" [19:42:32]
"Jesus wants us to know is that he came so that you could be who are dead brought to life so when we look at John 11:25-26 that key phrase the one that everybody remembers Jesus said to Martha he said 'I am the resurrection and the life the one who believes in me even if he dies will live everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.'" [19:59:12]
"Our earthly existence as a time of is an is a time of active preparation for the fullness of life that Jesus has promised us colossians 3 1-3 if if then you have been raised with Christ seek the things that are above where Christ is you see that once you become a believer that's your focus that's where you look look to things above don't look at don't don't worry about your 401k." [27:39:12]
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