I Am The Resurrection - Lynda Blanchard

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus is both profoundly human and totally divine.

The story of Lazarus reveals a Jesus who weeps with those who mourn, demonstrating His deep empathy and love for His friends. Yet, this same Jesus holds the ultimate authority over life and death, commanding a man four days in the tomb to come out. This beautiful chapter shows us a Savior who is intimately acquainted with our grief and sorrow, while also being the powerful source of life itself. We can approach Him with our humanity, knowing He understands. [18:40]

Jesus wept.
John 11:35 (NIV)

Reflection: When you consider the humanity of Jesus, weeping with his friends, how does that shape your understanding of His willingness to enter into your own moments of grief or sadness?

Day 2: Jesus makes revolutionary claims about His identity.

Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus makes seven profound "I am" statements, each revealing a different aspect of His divine nature and mission. These declarations would have been deeply significant and revolutionary to a first-century Jewish audience, echoing God's self-revelation to Moses. Jesus claimed to be the essential sustenance, guidance, and life for all people, subverting expectations and challenging the religious institutions of His day. [16:27]

Jesus said to her, “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.”
John 11:25-26 (NIV)

Reflection: Which of Jesus' "I am" statements resonates most deeply with your current spiritual need, and what does it look like to actively rely on Him as that specific provision in your daily life?

Day 3: God’s kingdom subverts our human expectations.

Jesus announced the arrival of God's kingdom in a way that both fulfilled ancient prophecies and radically subverted them. His vision was not for a nationalistic triumph but for a worldwide family where cherished traditions would give way to inclusive grace. This doubly revolutionary message meant that God's action would benefit the Gentiles as well, creating a new community that transcended every human boundary and division. [19:57]

And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
John 10:16 (NIV)

Reflection: In what ways might you, perhaps unconsciously, hold onto a smaller, more exclusive view of God's family than the one Jesus demonstrated through His life and teachings?

Day 4: Jesus willingly faced tribulation on our behalf.

Jesus believed Himself called to go out and meet the coming judgment on behalf of His people. He drew upon the Jewish belief of a great tribulation and chose to face that darkness alone so that we would not have to bear it. His death was a purposeful act, a ransom that would make a way through the exile and distress and into the glorious light of a new day dawning for all humanity. [22:28]

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45 (NIV)

Reflection: As you reflect on Jesus willingly going out to meet the tribulation for you, what is one area of your life where you could extend that same self-giving love towards someone else this week?

Day 5: We honor Christ’s sacrifice through our service.

The ultimate sacrifice Jesus made on the cross invites a response of grateful living. We honor that sacrifice not through grim duty, but through the cheerful and willing offering of our time, talents, and treasures within our community. This practical service, done in partnership with others, becomes an uplifting and joyful way to participate in God's work and point towards the hope of the resurrection. [27:55]

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1 (NIV)

Reflection: What is one act of service or volunteering that doesn't feel like a burden but instead brings you joy and a sense of purpose in honoring Christ's love?

Sermon Summary

Wall Street United Church opens worship with a land acknowledgement and a blessing for the children before turning to John 11. The Gospel’s seven “I am” statements receive attention, with particular focus on “I am the resurrection and the life” as Jesus prepares to raise Lazarus. John 11 unfolds as a clear demonstration of Jesus’ dual identity: profoundly human in grief and fully divine in power. The narrative emphasizes that Lazarus’ return after four days proves resurrection rather than resuscitation, and that this miracle both reveals life’s source and accelerates the plot against Jesus.

Biblical and modern commentaries deepen the picture: Jesus announces a kingdom that fulfills Israel’s hopes while subverting familiar expectations, widening God’s covenant to include the nations and unsettle entrenched religious structures. Historical reflection frames Jesus’ willingness to face suffering as a deliberate path to meet judgment on behalf of the people, moving through tribulation toward a new day. The raising of Lazarus functions as theological proof and political catalyst—compelling belief for some and sealing opposition from religious leaders and collaborators with imperial power.

The theology of sacrifice emerges as central. Jesus’ impending death receives framing as an atoning act that opens a path to resurrection and reunion for “the children of God who were scattered abroad.” The congregation’s life models this sacrificial ethic in smaller, everyday ways: volunteers cook, coordinate outreach, run programs, donate clothing and socks, and steward community ministries. Those acts receive interpretation as ways of honoring the cross and anticipating Easter’s new life. Practical notes and invitations then follow: volunteer opportunities, upcoming events, pastoral care offerings, and a communal dedication of gifts and talents in prayer. The service concludes with a charge to continue practicing sacrificial love and to invite others into lifelong relationship with God, followed by hymn and blessing.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus embodies resurrection and life Jesus claims to be the source of life itself, promising that belief reorients existence beyond biological death. The Lazarus episode demonstrates resurrection in a way that challenges expectations about the finality of death and invites a risky faith that trusts God’s restorative power. The miracle also exposes how acts of grace can provoke political backlash. [23:48]
2. Kingdom both fulfilled and subverted Jesus declares the kingdom as fulfillment of Israel’s hopes while simultaneously undermining nationalistic and ritual expectations. This double move forces a reimagining of covenant identity: belonging will depend on openness to the stranger, not ethnic boundary markers. That paradox explains both the movement’s attraction and the hostility it encountered. [19:57]
3. Willing sacrifice meets judgment Jesus’ path to death reads as a deliberate crossing into judgment on behalf of the people, bearing tribulation to make a way through exile into light. Such costly solidarity reframes suffering as participation in redemption rather than mere victimhood. The moral imagination here asks disciples to accept vulnerability for the sake of communal restoration. [22:28]
4. Local sacrifice honors the cross Everyday acts of service—time, talents, and resources given for neighbors—function as tangible ways to honor the cruciform love at the heart of the gospel. Small, consistent offerings of care accumulate into a communal witness that anticipates resurrection life. Such stewardship trains hearts toward sacrificial courage in more consequential moments. [26:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[08:11] - Land Acknowledgement & Blessing Children
[16:06] - The Seven “I Am” Statements
[18:26] - John 11: Beauty and Humanity
[19:57] - Jesus’ Double Revolutionary Claim
[23:48] - “I Am the Resurrection and the Life”
[24:25] - Raising Lazarus: Proof and Cost
[26:09] - Reflecting on Sacrifice
[27:27] - Volunteer Service as Worship
[43:15] - Announcements and Events
[47:31] - Offering Dedication Prayer
[51:20] - Closing Charge and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
John 11:1-44 (NIV)

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Observation questions

In John 11:25, Jesus makes a profound claim about Himself. What does He say, and how does He immediately demonstrate the truth of this claim?
What details in the story emphasize Jesus' humanity and His divinity? [18:40]
How did the raising of Lazarus function as both a theological proof and a political catalyst? [24:40]
According to the sermon, how did Jesus' announcement of the kingdom both fulfill and subvert Israel's expectations? [19:57]

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Interpretation questions

Why do you think Jesus waited until Lazarus had been dead for four days before He arrived? What significance might this timing hold?
Jesus’ miracle led some to believe and others to plot His death. Why does profound grace sometimes provoke intense opposition?
The idea is presented that Jesus deliberately walked into suffering to meet judgment on behalf of His people. [22:28] How does this reframe the purpose of His death from being a mere tragedy to something strategic?
How does the everyday, sacrificial service of a church community connect to the larger story of Jesus’ sacrifice? [26:53]

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Application questions

Jesus is the resurrection and the life, promising that belief reorients existence beyond biological death. What fears or anxieties about death or the future does this truth address for you personally?
The kingdom of God is here, but not like we thought it would be—it widens to include the stranger and unsettles religious structures. [19:57] Where have you seen God’s kingdom look different than you expected? Is there a person or group you’ve struggled to include that this challenges you to welcome?
Small, consistent offerings of care are a way to honor the cross and anticipate resurrection life. [26:53] What is one practical, "small" act of service—giving time, talent, or treasure—that you can offer this week as a tangible response to Jesus’ love?
Sacrificial love often involves vulnerability and risk for the sake of others. [22:28] Is there a relationship or situation in your life where you are being called to practice costly solidarity, even if it’s uncomfortable?
The miracle of Lazarus provoked both faith and fury. When has living out your faith—whether through an act of service, a word of truth, or a stand for justice—ever led to misunderstanding or pushback? How did you respond?
Volunteering and community service were described as acts of worship that train our hearts for greater courage. [27:27] What is one area in your church or neighborhood where you can consistently contribute, and how might that routine service shape your character over time?
The resurrection is not just a future hope but a present reality that reorients how we live now. What is one way you can live this week with the hope and courage of resurrection, even in a difficult circumstance?

Sermon Clips

However, in this day, they are important in honoring the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. I am sure everyone can think of sacrifices of time, talents, or treasures we have in this congregation. I will not mention any by name as I would most definitely miss many of them. Our church though is mainly volunteer run. It's volunteers that plan, cook, and serve Sunday suppers, Friday breakfasts. It is volunteers that arrange for donations of clothing and boots and run the winter once project. It was volunteers who donated over 1,000 pairs of socks during the sock drive in the fall. All of our committees are run by volunteers, and we all gladly give of our time and talents. [00:26:55] (58 seconds) #ChurchVolunteers

When reverend Donald mentioned looking towards revelation sorry, resurrection, I think we need to also look at the sacrifice that God made in sending Jesus Christ to earth to teach and live as an example of how we need to live and then to let his son be crucified. This sacrifice, I believe, we need to honor. In honoring Jesus' sacrifice, we can work towards having a relationship with God and by working towards our eternal award reward. In this church, we also have many examples of sacrifice. Granted, they're not on the level of sacrificing our lives for the good of the worldwide population, but we're doing our little bit. [00:26:03] (53 seconds) #HonorJesusSacrifice

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I Am The Resurrection - Lynda Blanchard - March 22 2026