John 11:25-26 , “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. Do you believe this?’”
So far we have learned Jesus’ “I AM the bread of life,” “I AM the light of the world,” “I AM the gate for the sheep,” and “I AM the good shepherd.” Today, we will learn the fifth Jesus’ I AM: “I AM the resurrection and the life.” Jesus had a good friend family – Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Jesus loved them very much. One day Lazarus was seriously sick and then died. Then what happened to Lazarus? Well, Commander has a video for you to watch.
(Video play)
Waah, what a miraculous sign Jesus raised up Lazarus from death! Can someone tell commander what is the main purpose that Jesus showed this miracle? Oh, Timothy said This miracle showed that Jesus is really the son of God who is sent by God to the world. Great, good answer! Jesus said, “ 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.” Hmm, what did Jesus mean for this proclamation? Jesus said that He is the resurrection and the life, this means that resurrection and life are all in Jesus. Jesus can give resurrection and life to anyone. Then how to receive the resurrection and life from Jesus? You have to believe in Him. Just like Lazarus’ sisters Martha and Mary, they believed in Jesus and said that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.
We know Lazarus was raised that time, but he still got old and died. How come Jesus said whoever lives by believing in Him will never die? We know Jesus showed the resurrection in Himself who died on the cross and was raised. And His resurrection was real and eternal. Jesus lives in the past, today and forever! Jesus’ resurrection lasts forever. As He promised, if we believe in Him, we will sure have His resurrection, as well. We will have eternal life in Him. Though not right now, but it is for sure when the Lord Jesus returns on earth. All the believers though have been dead will all be raised and be enjoying fellowship with Jesus our Lord forever, and will never die anymore.
Now turn your Bible to 1 Thessalonians. Let’s read chapter 4:14-17 together: “14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”
You see, the Bible clearly told us that the Lord Jesus will return to earth in a God’s timing and He will raise up all the believers who have been dead, so that all Christ followers will all enjoy staying together with our Lord Jesus forever! This is Jesus’ promise and He will make it fulfilled in God’s timing though we don’t know when.
The resurrection in Jesus is not just a temporary living, it is for eternal life. But not everyone can receive it. Only those who believe in Jesus will be able to receive this power of resurrection and to receive the eternal life. Do you know how sad commander will be if I know some of you never want to receive Jesus as their Savior and cannot have the eternal life, and that means commander will not be able to see you again when Jesus returns. Well, I am praying that all our children will believe in Jesus and have an assurance of the resurrection from Jesus. And we should share Jesus and His resurrection with others. Let other people know only in Jesus we have resurrection and eternal life. People cannot earn the resurrection by working hard or by showing good deeds or giving many charities. This is God’s grace in our Lord Jesus – it is God’s free gift we just receive it through faith, just as the Bible Ephesians 2:8-9 says: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Remember, we can be saved is due to God’s grace, we can have the resurrection to the eternal life is given by God as a free gift in Jesus to us.
Boys and girls let’s read the Bible John 11:25-26 together, “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. Do you believe this?’” Boys and girls, commander also like to ask you: do you believe this? If you do, press the button on your screen.