Resurrection Power

For those who by faith have put their trust in the resurrected Saviour, and repented of their sins, the bible says will have eternal life. But for those who don’t know the resurrected Saviour, Death remains the eternal enemy. That's why the resurrection of Jesus is so precious to believers. Because the Bible says in:

Rom 8:11  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

In this passage, the resurrection power of Jesus Christ is illustrated in the life of one man named Lazarus, who had been dead for four days. But as amazing as Lazarus's resurrection is, it's not the focus of the story.  There are three important lessons in this account: 

1. The Lord’s Design (v. 1-5)
2. The Lord’s Delay (v. 6-15)
3. The Lord’s Declaration (v. 16-27)

Jesus said (11:4) that this miracle would result in “the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” Jesus revealed His glory both by showing His power in calling Lazarus from the tomb and also by His words to Martha (11:25-26): “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” This is the fifth of Jesus’ “I am” statements in John. It is clearly a claim to deity; no one other than God in human flesh could say what Jesus says here.

Because of Jesus Christ, death has been defeated. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, believers no longer have to be afraid of death. Death only opens up eternal life. This is our hope, it's a hope founded on truth.

Getting Started

1. As a child can you remember your parents telling you to trust them? What were your circumstances around this? Share your story.

• Read John 11:1-27

2. What insight, principle, or observation from Sunday’s sermon did you find to be the most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling?

Digging Deeper

3. According to John 11:14–15, why is Jesus glad that he was not there when Lazarus died? Based on these verses and 11:4, what is the point of John 11 and the miracle Jesus is about to perform?

4. Prior to performing the miracle, with only the simple instruction in 11:25-26, what does Jesus ask Martha in 11:26b? What does this teach us about the nature of faith?

5. What hope is found in John 11:25-26? According to Paul in 1 Cor 15:16-17, what confidence do we have that Jesus's words are true and that he can raise the dead as well as the spiritually dead?

The Heart of the Matter

6. Meditating on the fact that Jesus is the resurrection power and the resurrection life and he dwells within all who believe (Col 2:10; Eph 1:19-20, 3:20), how does this change your perspective in life, suffering, and even death?

7. What do we learn about grief, where we can take it, and who can handle it based on Martha's response?

8. The resurrection power and resurrection life that Jesus offers is not in the distant future but right here and right now within the children of God. How is this reality helpful for your daily life?