Resurrection

REVIEW:
I AM: Identity
VINE: Purpose
BREAD: Everyday
SHEPHERD: Care
RESURRECTION: Restoration

In order to talk about Resurrection you have to talk about Death

what are some themes associated with Death?
- fear, darkness, ending, pain...

The context of Jesus saying that He is the Resurrection and the Life is the story of Lazarus
John 11:1-4, 21-27, 32-35, 43-44

Jesus address Death from 3 sides:
1 Spiritual Death
2 Physical Death
3 Emotional (Soul) Death
- we see the fullness of Jesus' ministry

1. "do you Believe this?"
- our understanding of Resurrection begins in the Heart
- the issue people have isn't "good or bad" it's "dead or alive"
- Ephesians 2:5

2. "live even if he dies"
- Spiritual Life (Belief) precedes Physical Life
- the promise of Eternal life means the Physical continues after Death
- when we understand Eternal Life, the fear associated with pain, darkness, and ending is put into perspective
- not easy, but our foundation determines our response to Death
- think about it now, not easy when you are in the middle of it

3. "Jesus wept"
- Jesus wept because of the soul-crushing reality of death
- His friends were hurting and He hurt with them
- the promise of Resurrection doesn't mean Death isn't Hard, in that moment the Pain was real
- Romans 12:15
- Psalm 27 and 63 talk of the darkness that can happen in the soul, but also the Life that God can bring from it
- Paul felt the sentence of death as he came face to face with despair
- Jesus can bring hope, peace, and Life even in desperate circumstances


Everyone faces Death regularly: either they walk in spiritual death, they are facing a loved one's death, or they are tempted to despair in the challenges of Life

The good news is that in Christ, that which is Dead can be brought to Life as we keep our eyes on Him and follow His example