(a) Narrate the event that portrayed Jesus as the "Resurrection and the life". (b) What two lessons can be drawn from this declaration?

Answer Details

(a) The event portraying Jesus as the "Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:1-44, the raising of Lazarus)

• Lazarus of Bethany, brother of Mary and Martha, fell sick, and the sisters sent word to Jesus that the one He loved was ill.
• Jesus deliberately stayed two more days where He was, saying the sickness was for the glory of God, and by the time He set out Lazarus had died.
• On arriving, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.
• Martha met Him and said that if He had been there her brother would not have died, yet she believed God would grant whatever He asked.
• Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live," and asked whether she believed; she confessed Him as the Christ, the Son of God.
• Deeply moved and weeping, Jesus came to the tomb, a cave with a stone across it, and ordered the stone taken away, despite Martha's warning of the odour after four days.
• He lifted His eyes, thanked the Father, then cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"
• The dead man came out, bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and Jesus told them to unbind him and let him go; many who saw it believed.

(b) Two lessons that can be drawn

• Jesus has power over death: He is the giver of life and can raise the dead, so death is not the end for those in Him.
• Faith in Christ brings eternal life: whoever believes in Him, though he die physically, will live forever, giving believers hope and comfort in bereavement.