Lesson 6: Jesus Is the Resurrection and the Life

In our lessons, we have painted the portrait of Jesus with ways He described Himself to those listening to Him. Remember these truths about who Jesus Christ is and what He does for you.

• Jesus is the “I Am.” He is the answer to the spiritual needs of every person.
• Jesus is the Bread of Life. His abundant love satisfies our hunger for a relationship with God.
• Jesus is the Light of the World. His light directs us to follow Him.
• Jesus is the Gate for the Sheep. There is safety in following Jesus and doing life His way.
• Jesus is the Good Shepherd. You can enjoy a forever relationship with Him.

In today’s lesson, we will paint Jesus as the resurrection and the life.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 NET)

Paint Color #6: Blue

Our color for this lesson is blue. When you think of things that are blue, what comes to mind?

Blue sometimes refers to a feeling of sadness. Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m feeling blue today?” The phrase “feeling blue” goes back to a custom on sailing ships. When a captain or other important crewmember died during the ocean voyage, the ship would fly blue flags and paint a blue stripe along the outside wall of the ship as it sailed home. When the families on the shore saw that blue flag on the ship entering the harbor, many wondered if it was their loved one who died.

Blue has a happier meaning, though. In the Bible, the color blue is a heavenly color. God told His people to make the curtains in the Tabernacle and the Temple out of fabric woven with blue, purple and scarlet yarn (Exodus 26; 2 Chronicles 3). When the prophet Ezekiel had a vision of God in heaven (Ezekiel 1:26), he saw God sitting on a blue colored throne. So, blue reminds us of being with God in heaven. As we have already learned, our life with God is called eternal life.

So, the color blue will represent for us “the hope of eternal life.”

1. If someone very close to you became sick and died, how did that make you feel?

2. When you hear about someone dying, does that make you afraid about what might happen to you when you die?

Jesus understands the hurt we feel when someone close to us dies. He also understands our fears about death itself. He makes a wonderful promise to His followers about life and death. Let’s find out what that is.

Jesus had 3 special friends—Lazarus and his two sisters, Martha and Mary. One day Lazarus became sick. By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been dead and in the tomb for four days. He was very definitely dead, not just sleeping.

3. Read John 11:17-27.

• When Martha discovered that Jesus was close by, what did she initially do and say (verses 20-22)?
• How did Jesus answer her?
• How did Martha answer Jesus' question, “Do you believe this?”

4. Read John 11:28-35.

• What happened next?
• How did Jesus respond when he saw how sad Mary felt?

Death of someone you love is usually a very sad thing. Jesus cried alongside His friends Mary & Martha. He understands how much that hurts, doesn’t He?

5. Read John 11:38-44.

• Mary and Martha took Jesus to Lazarus’s tomb. What did Jesus do and say?
• What happened to Lazarus?
• Imagine the joy that followed that event. How do you think Mary and Martha felt?
• How do you think Lazarus felt?

One thing we know, everyone in that town was talking about it. As a result of this incredible miracle, many people started believing in Jesus.

What Happens at the Death of a Believer

Let’s go back to what Jesus told Martha about Himself. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

6. What does He promise to anyone who believes in Him?

When Jesus promised life, He was referring to eternal life. The Bible tells us that your soul goes to heaven to live with Jesus instantly after your body dies. That’s what Jesus means. Who you are on the inside will continue to live on with God in heaven. When you as a Christian die, it will be as though you go to sleep in this body and wake up in heaven with Jesus.

7. Do you feel confident that death for a believer is like going to sleep on earth and waking up in heaven with Jesus nearby?

8. Read Psalm 30:11-12. How do these verses relate to our hope of heaven?

The word “resurrection” always refers to a dead person receiving a new physical body that will never die again. Lazarus was not resurrected. He was given a healed body but not a new body that would never die again. Lazarus’ body died later on, just like everyone else who has lived on the earth.

Jesus was the first person ever resurrected from the dead. On the third day after His body died, God raised Him up from the dead and gave Him a brand new body that would never die again. His new body was the same in many ways as His old body—it was human, could be seen and touched, could walk and talk, and could eat food.

Jesus’ body was also different in that He didn’t look exactly the same, He could appear and disappear in rooms without going through the doors, and He could not be hurt or sick anymore.

After Jesus spent 40 days on earth in His new resurrected human body, He left the earth to live in heaven. Today, He is sitting in heaven next to God the Father in His perfect human body. When you go to heaven and see Jesus, He will be human just like you and I are. He has two arms to hold you. He has two eyes to see you. Isn’t that delightful?

Jesus goes on to say that after your body dies you will be very much alive and can never die again. That’s because God will give you a new resurrected body just like Jesus’ resurrected body that can never ever die again. It’s a promise.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He gives to His followers eternal spiritual life now and eternal physical life in a new resurrected body after death.

Eternal life begins the moment we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and trust in Him to take away our sins. It’s yours now. It’s eternal because it is God’s life living in you. Forever.

This is our hope. All humans need hope. You should feel confident in your spiritual life now and your future eternal physical life in a new resurrected body.

9. What do you think it will be like to have a resurrected body like Jesus’ body?

This is the hope of our future. Isn’t that a wonderful promise? Nothing is too difficult for God to do!

Following Jesus

1) Bible verse to learn:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 NET)

2) Response in prayer & praise:

We can be joyful now about this hope. We can look forward to dancing with joy one day in heaven. Thank Jesus for His wonderful plan that takes away the fear of death.

3) Filling in the portrait of Jesus:

Christianity is Christ so spend a few minutes each day reading the verses and reflecting on Jesus—His life, His relationships, and His teaching. Get to know Him well—this One who loves you dearly.

• Read John 11:1-16. Reflect on what you read.
• Read John 11:17-57. Reflect on what you read.
• Read John 12:1-19. Reflect on what you read.
• Read John 12:20-50. Reflect on what you read.