Day #78 - I AM the Resurrection and the Life

The Presence - A Devotional for Living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Photo by Mohamed Nohassi on Unsplash

Have you ever heard a story of someone who came back from the dead?

Did you believe it? I believe it. I have never met someone in person that came back from the dead. I’ve yet to raise someone from the dead myself. I’ve read accounts and seen videos of people testifying that they came back from death. Where I can’t verify each of the accounts I’ve heard, I believe many of them to be credible. The whole idea of resurrection is pretty amazing and for many seems totally unbelievable.

Jesus makes a better claim than being able to raise the dead, which he did many times in his ministry. He says “I AM the resurrection and the life.” He doesn’t just do resurrections, he is the resurrection. He doesn’t only have life, he is the life.

Maybe this is the most important self revelation that Jesus makes. This is why knowing Jesus matters. If you have Jesus, you have life. If you don’t have Jesus, you don’t have life. If you believe in Jesus, meaning that you make him the Lord God of your life, you have eternal life and will not face the second death in the age to come.

The meaning to life is to know the one who is life. An invitation to know Life himself is what being in the presence of God is all about. You and I, we can live in the presence of Life.

If you have something dead, bring it before the one who is resurrection.

If you have something impossible, go fellowship with one who is the power to do impossible things.

If you are hopeless, spend time before the one who raises hope from the dead.

If you lack meaning in your life, go behold the one who is life.

If you are afraid of facing death, get alone with the one who grants you victory over the grave.

In Jesus, we are given true life in this life and true life after death. He is worthy of our belief, our devotion and our worship. The meaning to life is found in him.

Religion can improve your life, resurrection gets you a new life.

Religion can help you, resurrection remakes you.

Religion is on you, resurrection is on him.

Jesus, you are the resurrection and the life. I renounce my own religious efforts to find life in myself or my own ability. I ask you to forgive my sin and the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Jesus. I come into your presence to experience your life today. Empower me to come to you over and over with every impossible situation. You are amazing, my God victorious over the grave! In your name, amen!