I AM: Discovering the Nature of Jesus!

Wednesday, March 24, 2004

My Prayer Today

Dear Jesus, I thank you that you are the "resurrection and the life!" Because I have put my faith and trust in you, I have the promise of eternal life. No longer do I have to fear death, and I know that I will get to be with you in heaven for all eternity. I thank you for the hope that I have in you. I ask that you would help me to be able to share this hope with people in my life who need to know you. Help me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit this day in how I can be a witness for you. I ask this in Your name, Amen.

God's Word Today

John 11:20-27

"When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.' Jesus told her, 'Your brother will rise again.' 'Yes,' Martha said, 'when everyone else rises, on resurrection day.' Jesus told her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish. Do you believe this, Martha?' 'Yes, Lord,' she told him. 'I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.'"

Reflecting on God's Word

When Jesus says "I am the resurrection and the life," was he giving any reference to time in this statement?

In verse 25, what does Jesus say will happen to those who die, but believe in him?

What kind of life does Jesus offer to those who believe?

A Deeper Exploration of God's Word

What does it mean to have "eternal life"?

If it is possible to have eternal life, is it possible not to have it? How?

Who does not have eternal life?

Understanding God's Purpose

Is there any life apart from God? Why?

According to Jesus' statements in John 11:25-26, is death final for those who believe in him? Why or why not?

Will those who do not believe in Jesus have eternal life? Why?

Applying God's Word to Our Lives

Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior? When did you make this commitment?

What hope does knowing Jesus give you?

Make a list of 3 people you will meet today that need to know this hope.

Thoughts

All of us will die, but not all of us will truly live. It was once stated that "for Christians this world is the only hell we will ever really know. But for non-Christians, this world is the only heaven they will know." Where we spend eternity after we die is the biggest question we will ever face. Eternity is hanging in the balance, and is determined by how we lived our lives and who we lived it for. If we put our faith in Jesus Christ and live for him, we have the hope of eternal life. If we live for ourselves, we will spend eternity apart from God.

In John 11:25-26 Jesus states, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish." Jesus is saying that all of will die, but only those who believe in him will truly live and have eternal life. He is our resurrection and life. Just as Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, so one day he will also raise our mortal bodies from the dead. What a hope we have in him! Every day we come into contact with people who will spend eternity apart from God in hell. As Christians, we need to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in sharing our hope with them. We need to share today the new life of Jesus Christ with one person at a time.

Back to the I AM Bible studies