This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to preach from John 11 where Jesus stated that he is the resurrection and the life. The scene was the raising of his friend Lazarus from the dead, but Jesus used this miracle as an illustration of a universal truth about himself. The physical resurrection he offered to Lazarus, he also offers to all who will believe.
But before we can be resurrected, we must first die. While Jesus was teaching that we would all be resurrected at some point from a physical death, he was teaching a deeper truth. He was teaching us that the life he offers is a new life – a resurrected life. But in order to receive that life, we must first die to ourselves.
in order to live a resurrected life, we have to first die to our own desires, our own drives, our own egos. We must fully submit our lives to Jesus and his will for us. And then through that submission, live for him each and every day – following his teaching and plan for us. This is a daily commitment. It is not a one time decision and then go and live the way we want.
The bigger issue at work here is the distinction between seeing Jesus as Savior and Jesus as Lord. The truth is, he is unequivocally both. But we have a real tendency to focus on Jesus as Savior and put less emphasis on Jesus as Lord. Yes he saves us, but he must also be the Lord of our lives. If our faith in the risen savior does not result in a resurrected, transformed lifestyle, then James 2 would call into question whether or not it is legitimate faith.
Jesus offers a new life.
Are you living that resurrected life today?
Clay in the Hands 
Leave a Reply