I AM - The Resurrection and The Life
Yahoo! It is Sunday again and our fifth Feast Day!! On this Lord’s Day, enjoy worshiping with your church family, through songs and hymns, through the reading and teaching of God’s Word, through giving cheerfully, and enjoying the blessed gift of food, chocolate, social media, or anything you may have set aside for your Lenten promise.
The Seven I AM’s
Each Sunday of #LentenDaily 2026 we have focused on a specific I AM statement made by Jesus to His followers. Jesus’ I AM statements would have particular significance to the first-century Jewish listener. Just as God had revealed Himself to Moses as the “I AM” when calling him to return to Egypt and lead His people out of slavery, Jesus used the same words to describe Himself throughout His ministry, as recorded by John.More specifically, “I AM WHO I AM” (Hebrew: Ehyeh asher ehyeh) is a profound declaration from Exodus 3:14, where God reveals His name to Moses as the self-existent, eternal, and faithful Deliverer. Signifying that God is not dependent on anything else for existence and is present with His people, this name represents an immutable, self-sufficient, and ever-present being. When “God replied to Moses, “‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.’” (Ex 3:14), He was revealing Himself as the eternal, invincible, covenant-keeping God that He was, is and always will be.
Today we will take a look at the fifth of Jesus’ I AM claims, I AM the Resurrection and the Life.
Read John 11:17-27
Now before we reflect on the love of Jesus in this story, it’s important to see the way that the story is working. On the one hand, our expectations are set from the beginning by Jesus’s words, “This sickness will not end in death but it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (11:6) So as readers, we’re ready for something big. We’re ready to be amazed, to see the glory of God. We’re ready for a sign. Remember, in the gospel of John, a sign is a public supernatural act done by Jesus in order to demonstrate his divine identity and awaken faith - Water into wine, healing the official’s son, healing at the pool in Bethesda, feeding the 5,000, healing the blind man - this gospel is filled with signs, so Jesus’ words raise our expectations as readers.
At the same time, the unfolding of the story leads us to identify with the confusion of the disciples and Mary and Martha and the crowds. Because their expectations are not being met. Their hopes are not being fulfilled. Instead, their worst fears are coming true. And so they’re confused and sad and frustrated. When Jesus and His disciples finally reach Bethany, Martha goes out to the town entrance to meet Him. I don’t know about you, but I’m impressed and inspired by Martha’s faith in Jesus’ relationship with God. She is confident that whatever Jesus asks of the Father, He will grant. Martha’s theology is also solid. Her affirmation of end-time resurrection was in keeping with the beliefs of the Pharisees and the majority of first-century Jews, as well as Jesus’ previous teachings. Understandably Martha misunderstood the full importance of Jesus’ promise, “Your brother will rise again.” (v 23), thinking he was merely speaking of the final resurrection, but Jesus meant more. She was about to have her mind blown!
Jesus does not merely say that he will bring about the future resurrection or that he will be the cause of the resurrection (both of which are true), but something much stronger when He proclaims, “I am the resurrection and the life.” (v 25) Jesus is claiming that He is the power of Resurrection - He is deity!
Resurrection from the dead and genuine eternal life in fellowship with God are so closely tied to Jesus that they are embodied in him and can be found only in relationship to him. While Lazarus was raised to life when Jesus called him out of the tomb, he would eventually die again. Jesus would die, be raised to life, ascend to heaven and never taste death again. Spiritually, those who believe in Him shall never die, in that they too will ultimately triumph over death, hell and the grave, and live forever and ever, Amen.
Please enjoy this beautiful Lenten song by Chris Tomlin throughout your Feast Day - “Resurrection Power.”
Chris Tomlin - Resurrection Power (Lyric Video)
You called me from the grave by name
You called me out of all my shame
I see the old has passed away
The new has come
Now I have resurrection power living on the inside
Jesus, You have given us freedom
No longer bound by sin and darkness
Living in the light of Your goodness
You have given us freedom
That I’m dressed in Your royalty
Your Holy Spirit lives in me
And I see my past has been redeemed
The new has come
Now I have resurrection power living on the inside
Jesus, You have given us freedom
I’m no longer bound by sin and darkness
Living in the light of Your goodness
You have given us freedom
Freedom, You have given us freedom
You have given us freedom, my chains are gone
Freedom, You have given us freedom
You have given us freedom, hallelujah
