Unveiling the Truth: I Am the Resurrection and the Life

I Am the Resurrection and the Life Easter sermon video audio notes. Jesus said this, and he proved it. God gives us a picture of what will take place for you and me. We have a window for all to see what will happen one day if you love Jesus, and Jesus loves you. Indeed, we see God’s ultimate love for you. Moreover, we see the glory of God. God’s ultimate love is not God healing you. God’s ultimate love is showing you his glory and the glory of his Son – your resurrection. “Do you believe this?”

EASTER SERMON

Unveiling the Truth: I Am the Resurrection and the Life

by Delbert Young

I am the resurrection and the life

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I Am the Resurrection and the Life Easter sermon video audio notes

Scriptures: Exodus 3:13-14, John 6:35, John 8:12, John 10:9, John 10:11, John 11:25, John 14:6, John 15:5, John 11:1-3, John 11:4-6, John 11:14, John 11:20-22, John 11:23-26, John 11:25-26, John 11:32-33, John 11:35, John 11:38-40, John 11:43-44

It’s Easter Sunday! Traditionally, I speak concerning something surrounding the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This year we are taking a look at one of the seven “I Am” statements made by Jesus in the Gospel According to John concerning our resurrection. What is an “I Am” statement?  “I Am” goes way back about 3,500 years ago when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush.

Exodus 3:13-14 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.'”

I Am the Resurrection and the Life Easter sermon video audio notes

God said “I Am” whomever I need to be whenever I need to be it for my people. “I Am” whoever you need whenever you need me. Jesus expanded and explained what God/he said to Moses using seven “I Am” statements. He added a metaphor to each giving clarity to the “I Am” character of God.

John 6:35, 8:12, 10:19, 11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:5

35 Then Jesus declared, “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE.

8:12 “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

10:9 I AM THE GATE

10:11 “I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

11:25 Jesus said to her, “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;

14:6 “I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.

15:5 “I AM THE VINE; you are the branches.

The seven “I AM” statements tell us who Jesus himself said he is for us. Jesus is everything you or I need in life. And the only thing we need after this life.

The “I Am the resurrection and the life” statement of Jesus came a short time before the crucifixion of Jesus and he rose from the dead. While awaiting the time he would go to Jerusalem and be executed, he received news of the severe illness of a very close friend he loved dearly named Lazarus.

I Am the Resurrection and the Life Easter sermon video audio notes

John 11:1-3 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. So the sisters SENT WORD TO JESUS, “LORD, THE ONE YOU LOVE IS SICK.”

Mary had not yet perfumed the Lord or wiped his feet with her hair. The verse is showing us the intense relationship Jesus enjoyed with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. So, it was not strangers requesting Jesus’ help. They were extremely close friends and supporters. They expected Jesus to come immediately. Have you ever prayed, or had someone pray for you sending word to Jesus to come? You thought my sickness or my dilemma would be over soon. Jesus will come. Have you ever prayed for someone else expecting Jesus to come? You loved Jesus and knew he loved you. You supported his ministry as did Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. I’m certain Mary and Martha told their brother Lazarus they had sent for Jesus, and he would be there soon.

John 11:4-6 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in DEATH. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” JESUS LOVED Martha and her sister and Lazarus. YET when he heard that Lazarus was sick, HE STAYED WHERE HE WAS TWO MORE DAYS.

But, this sickness did end in death.  Lazarus died! Jesus said, “I love you Lazarus, but I’m going to let you die. I love you, Martha. I love you Mary, but I’m going to let your brother die.” Lazarus died, and Jesus could have stopped it but didn’t. Is this how God’s love looks to you? God’s glory? Glorify the Son? Is death supposed to bring God glory? How? A point is we are supposed to ask these questions. Have you asked? I have.

Death is no easy thing. Death is terrible. I’ve watched it happen on too many occasions. The toughest ones were my mother and my sister. I didn’t see anything glorious about it. Martha and Mary watched their brother die. Was it glorious? As far as Lazarus knew, Jesus never came. His close friend lets him die. Lazarus took his last breath thinking Jesus didn’t come. Is this love? Is this God’s glory? No.

I Am the Resurrection and the Life Easter sermon video audio notes

One day you and I will be Lazarus. A day is on its way when Jesus will not show up for me. A day is on its way when he will not come for you, or for people you love and ask him to come help – your mom, dad, brother, sister, or someone you love. So how is Lazareth’s death love? How is Lazarus’ death God’s glory?

God is giving you a picture of your resurrection.

Nothing pictures God’s and Christ’s glory more or reveals God’s love more, than your resurrection. God knew you would be here today listening to me talk. He knew you would be fixed on what I’ve said and am about to say. See, Lazarus’ death is God’s love for you. God’s love allowed Lazarus to die to help those there two thousand years ago and we today see God’s and Christ’s ultimate glory and ultimate love. It was at great cost to Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, Martha, but God used them to show others his ultimate love and glory.

John 11:14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, AND FOR YOUR SAKE I AM GLAD I was not there, SO THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE. But let us go to him.”

What? Was Jesus glad he was not there? But, Jesus loved Lazarus. Do not measure the love of God for you by the health, wealth, and comfort he brings to you. If those are the measure of God’s love, he hated the apostle Paul. Paul was beaten, imprisoned, stoned, shipwrecked, went hungry, suffered bandits, etc. (2Co 11:23-27). And, oh how he must have hated Jesus his son if comfort is the measure. God loves you immensely. He will use your life to bring his glory to others and cause them to believe, but he will also use your death as well.

I Am the Resurrection and the Life Easter sermon video audio notes

Jesus arrived at Bethany four days late.

John 11:20-22 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE, MY BROTHER WOULD NOT HAVE DIED.  But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

“Why didn’t you come? Had you come my brother would not have died.” Martha and Mary were suspicious of Jesus’ love. Have you ever been? “Where’s God?” we ask. “I thought you loved me.”Why didn’t he do what you asked, even begged, him to do? In there somewhere, God is using you to show others his glory. At the time, we didn’t get it, and we couldn’t care less about God’s glory. But one day, I promise and God promises you, it will all make sense and we’ll say, “Yes! Thank you, Jesus!” What day is that? There will be two days: 1) the day your body dies: and 2) your resurrection day.

John 11:23-26 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?”

There is the “I Am” statement. Jesus asked, “Do you believe this?” Do you? Do you believe at the end of this age, on the last day, Jesus Christ will raise millions of people from the dead? They will rise in resurrected glorified bodies – maybe about thirty to thirty 33 years of age, strong, beautiful, and perfect body? Do you believe the Lord Jesus is the resurrection and the life? Do you believe this?

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME WILL LIVE, EVEN THOUGH HE DIES; AND WHOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME WILL NEVER DIE. Do you believe this?”

I Am the Resurrection and the Life Easter sermon video audio notes

Not one millisecond will pass from the time you give up your last breath until you are in eternity in the presence of God. If you are a Christ follower, you will never taste death. It will look like death. It will not be pleasant for those watching. They will cry and weep as I did when my mother and my sister passed, but the believer never dies. Life is never interrupted. Do you believe this?

Martha went back to the house to get her sister Mary. They came back followed by many mourning friends.

John 11:32-33 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “LORD, IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE, MY BROTHER WOULD NOT HAVE DIED.” When Jesus saw HER WEEPING, and THE JEWS WHO HAD COME ALONG WITH HER ALSO WEEPING, He was DEEPLY MOVED IN SPIRIT AND TROUBLED.

Notice something was happening inside Jesus. Everyone was broken and weeping, sobs were everywhere. Mary said, “Where were you? Why didn’t you come?” I want us to see a picture of Jesus’ reaction when he doesn’t come when we’ve begged him to come, and we don’t understand why. The King James Version writes it this way:

 (KJV) John 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, HE GROANED IN THE SPIRIT, AND WAS TROUBLED.

All the weeping caused Jesus to become extremely emotional (Psa 116:15). We’ve all experienced these emotions. Something inside groaned and stirred. Something troubled us. What is happening? Emotions. Emotions are erratic. There are three Greek words attempting to express the Lord’s feelings and emotions. 1) groanedembrimaomai {em-brim-ah’-om-ahee}- to snort with anger. 2) spiritpneuma {pnyoo’-mah} – the deepest part of his being. 3) troubled – tarasso {tar-as’-so} to agitate, trouble a thing by the movement of its parts to and fro, take away calmness of mind, to render anxious or distressed. Jesus was emotionally upset. Emotions are powerful! Indeed, emotions move us. Moreover, emotions control us. Next verse:

John 11:35 Jesus wept.

I Am the Resurrection and the Life Easter sermon video audio notes

The resurrection and the life were amazingly human. The shortest verse in the Bible undoubtedly displays one of the most emotional times of Jesus. What does it take to make God cry? You weeping! You hurting! When he can’t come when you asked him to come!

There was this little girl who came home late one day from school. Her mother was extremely upset about it and began correcting the girl for being so late. Finally, Mom settled down and asked her daughter why she was so late. The girl told her mother how today was show-and-tell at school. Her best friend, Sarah, had brought a china doll her grandmother gave her. After school, Sarah dropped and broke the China doll, and she stayed to help Sarah. Her mother’s tone began to change. She told her daughter she was proud of her for helping Sarah fix her china doll. The daughter replied, “No Mommy. The doll was too broken to fix, I just stayed to help Sarah cry.” Sometimes all you can do is help your friends cry. Jesus was helping his friends cry.

I’ve gotten to help many of you cry.

Maybe a parent died. Maybe it was a brother or a sister who died. I got to help my dad cry when my mom died. My sister battled cancer for many years. I stayed with my sis several days asking Jesus to come and heal her. If he had come, my sister would not die. But, Jesus didn’t come. The family was called in. We all, her children, her husband, Judy, and I kissed her bye, told her we loved her, and watched the life leave my sister’s body, but she never died. We all helped each other cry. My wife Judy helped me cry, and Jesus wept. Jesus helped us all cry. When you wept, Jesus wept and helped you cry. The Resurrection and the Life cries.

John 11:38-40 JESUS, ONCE MORE DEEPLY MOVED, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

I Am the Resurrection and the Life Easter sermon video audio notes

Martha, Mary, the twelve disciples including Judas, and all the Jews there were about to witness “the trailer” of what would happen on the last day. Doubt came from Martha once again. “It’s going to smell Jesus. It’s been four days. I don’t want people to smell my brother’s decaying body.” She believed in the last day resurrection but wasn’t certain about a four-day resurrection. Jesus looked up and prayed to Father in front of everyone showing he was connected directly with God.

John 11:43-44 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Jesus said he is The Resurrection and the Life, and he proved it. God gives us a picture of what will take place for you and me. We have a window for all to see what will happen one day if you love Jesus, and Jesus loves you, We see God’s ultimate love for you, We see the glory of God. God’s ultimate love is not God healing you. God’s ultimate love is showing you his glory and the glory of his Son – your resurrection. “Do you believe this?” Jesus said, I Am the Resurrection and the Life.

I Am the Resurrection and the Life Easter sermon video audio notes

I Am the Resurrection and the Life Easter sermon video audio notes

I Am the Resurrection and the Life Easter sermon video audio notes

Other Easter Sermons:

Resurrection Power Easter Sermon Audio

Martha Only One Thing is Needed Luke 10:38-42

Rich man and Lazarus, Appearances Are Deceiving – video audio notes Luke 16:19-31

Pharisees Today – audio

Easter Sermons Page videos audios notes

Also see:

Sermons Change The World

Delbert Young Sermons YouTube