Insight Ministries: Bible study for perfection and holiness.

Resurrection & Life

by Eli Miller

“I am the resurrection and the life.” These words of Jesus were spoken to Martha, the sister of Lazarus. She was standing in one of life's darkest hours. A feeling of total helplessness and grief had overtaken her since the death of her brother, four days earlier. Word had come to Jesus of the fatal sickness just prior to his death. The Master however, chose to not respond to the plea for help immediately, knowing that His heavenly Father had something else in mind, other than just healing His friend.

When Jesus and the disciples arrived at Bethany, He found many mourners present trying to console the deceased's two sisters. Mary and Martha both expressed their disappointment to the Master that He had not come sooner. To this the Lord replied that their brother would rise again. They affirmed faith in the resurrection but at the last day. This prompted the quoted response from the Lord. He wanted those present to understand that the same divine power that would be capable of raising Lazarus at the last day, was also available for the moment.

The Lord is still attempting to teach Christians the same principles. Too many are relegating the supernatural to the past or the future. They feel all miraculous phenomenon either passed away with the close of first century Christianity, or that it is latent until some future date. To this the Bible states: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) The divine power demonstrated by the early church is available today, and is clearly evident in all expressions of believing Christianity. It is changing the lives of mortals by making regeneration, healing, deliverance, and other divinely originated provisions accessible to them.

The life of the believing Christian is an on-going experience of divine intervention. There is nothing dull or monotonous about fully identifying with Jesus Christ. He delights to assist His present day disciples when they call upon Him in faith. The Lord spoke to this when He said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15:7)

When these words are considered, it is readily seen that a mutual commitment is spoken of. The Master's word must become the life of the disciple in order for the master to be moved by the word of the disciples. There must be full integration of life and purpose.

Most so-called believers do not have enough meaningful evidence of identity with Jesus in their lives to ask anything in His name. There is the inherent knowledge that asking for the supernatural without living the life of faith is futile. In an attempt to cover up their lack of true commitment, the miraculous is passed off as extinct. However, for all true believers, Jesus is still the resurrection and the life.

Returning to our story, we find Jesus bringing His friend Lazarus back to life with a word. The Lord did this to demonstrate the glory of God. This was the reason He had waited before responding to the call for help.

The miraculous raising of Lazarus caused some of the people present to become believers, while others turned away to scoff and deny. Response to the supernatural is still that way.

This article written by:
Eli Miller,
Insight Ministries,
PO Box 8000-474,
Abbotsford, BC V2S 6H1
Canada