Power of the Resurrection

“I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” — John 11:25  

When I think about someone being resurrected from the dead—especially after their body has decayed, or is beginning to decay after three or four days—it boggles my mind how such a thing can even happen.  It is absolutely a miraculous act of God.

A man in the Bible named Lazarus was a friend of Jesus.  He became sick and died while Jesus was away.  By the time Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had already been placed in a tomb, and he had been dead for four days.

Jesus said to those who were grieving, “I am the resurrection and the life.”  Then, when they reluctantly removed the stone from the entrance of the tomb, Jesus cried out, “Lazarus, come forth!”  Instantly, life returned to Lazarus’s body.

I visualize him coming out of the tomb, still bound in burial cloths, with pieces of linen wrapped around his arms and legs and a cloth covering his face.  I can also imagine the astonishment on everyone’s faces as they witnessed the impossible.

But it happened because the One who has power over death commanded it to happen.  Death had to obey.

Years ago, I heard an evangelist preach a thought that has stayed with me ever since: Had Jesus not specified Lazarus’s name when he commanded, “Lazarus, come forth!” but had simply said, “Come forth!”, perhaps all those who were dead in the area would have risen from the dead.

That thought sounded exciting to my young ears as a new Christian.  Yet, as I listened, I understood the deeper point of his message, and it has remained with me throughout all these years.  What incredible power it took to overcome the finality of death!

That night, I began to understand that God is omnipotent.  He possesses all power—unmatched power—and He can simply speak, and resurrection takes place.

And resurrection is not merely a story from the pages of Scripture.  For those who belong to Christ, it is a promise that includes me and all Christians.

I realized that if I were to die as a believer, going the way of the grave rather than being caught up to meet Christ when He returns for His bride, I too will be raised from the dead.  The Holy Spirit who dwells within us is God’s guarantee that death is not the end.  Because we belong to Christ, we have the promise of seeing God face to face, living with Him throughout eternity, and joining all the saints of God in His presence.  That is the power of the resurrection.

It is the power that called Lazarus out of a tomb after four days.  It is the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  And it is the same resurrection power that will one day call every believer out of the grave.  I can imagine that glorious day.

I can imagine Jesus appearing in the clouds in all His majesty and glory, and His voice calling His people home.  The dead in Christ will rise, and those who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord.  In an instant, we will be transformed and clothed in immortality.  We will ascend to be with Him forever, dressed in robes of purest white, receiving crowns of righteousness and hearing those precious words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  What a day that will be!

The grave will have lost its power.  Death will have lost its sting.  The corruption of these earthly bodies will be replaced with incorruption.  What seems final to us will be temporary in the hands of an omnipotent God.

(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.” (vs 17) “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the lord in the air.  And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.”

And on that day, we will understand in its fullness the promise Jesus made: “I am the resurrection and the life.”

The One who spoke life into Lazarus’s dead body will speak again.  The One who conquered the grave will complete His promise to all who belong to Him.

And when that moment comes, Scripture gives us the triumphant conclusion to the story in 1 Corinthians 15:51-55:

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—” (vs 52) “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (vs 53) “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (vs 54) “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ” (vs 55) “O Death, where is your sting?”

Written by,

Papa Boyd