“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

(John 11:25)

One of the great questions of life that everyone eventually asks is, “where are we going when we die?”

We all recognize that we will die physically, and many hope that there’s something more spiritually.

“It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.” (Ecc 7:2)

Jesus statement to Mary, “I am the resurrection and the life,” occurred at the mourning of her brother Lazarus. These become a source of comfort for the living. 

Jesus is LIFE. We’ll examine just a few ways in which He is the LIFE and the comfort that brings to His church.

Jesus is the LIGHT & LIFE.

The Gospel of John opens with this description of Jesus. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:3-5).

This statement made by the inspired Apostle demonstrates that Jesus is the origin of LIFE and Light. The Apostle Paul will make a similar statement to the epicurean and stoic philosophers in Athens.

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring” (Acts 17:28).

Since He is the LIGHT & LIFE, all other religions must be Darkness & Death. Jesus is the LIGHT & LIFE

Jesus is the life because He is the IMAGE of the INVISIBLE God.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Col 1:14-17).

Jesus is God. His presence on earth represented the fulness of the Godhead. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col 2:9)

Jesus is the IMAGE of the INVISIBLE God.

Jesus is the life because He is FAITHFUL to Forgive.

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

He is faithful to forgive, but this same audience was told at Pentecost… “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? [38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:37-38). What we learn is that Jesus, at the point of His sacrifice, was making available the forgiveness of sins.

Part of the purpose of His miracles of healing was to show that He has the power to FORGIVE. “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house” (Mark 2:10-11).

Jesus is faithful to FORGIVE those that are in Christ. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9).

Jesus is FAITHFUL to FORGIVE.

Finally, Jesus is the author of ETERNAL LIFE.

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb 5:9). “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

What did Jesus Himself say about salvation and eternal life?

(HEAR) Matthew 7:24

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

(BELIEVE) John 8:24

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

(REPENT) Luke 13:3,5

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. [5] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

(CONFESS) Matthew 10:32 JV

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

(BAPTIZED) Mark 16:16

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

(FAITHFULNESS) Matthew 28:20

Teaching them (baptized disciples) to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus has the words of ETERNAL Life.

–Spencer