“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” [John 11:25-26 NKJV]
“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” [Rev 1:17-18 NIV]
The Apostle John was with Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus when He heard Jesus first claim to be the resurrection and life. It was to the Apostle John that the Glorified Christ Jesus uttered the declaration that He once was dead but is now alive for ever and ever, and that He holds the keys of death and Hades.
I can imagine that John was confused outside the tomb of Lazarus. Lazarus had been dead for four days and was already putrefying when Jesus declared that He was the resurrection and life. He might have wondered why they waited so long to go to Lazarus after they first heard he was sick. I’m sure he was stunned when Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb and saw Lazarus do just that.
John, however, was even more stunned when the Glorified Christ appeared to him on the aisle of Patmos. John recounts that he fell on his face as though dead when He saw Jesus in His Glorified Nature. I am sure he believed the words Jesus spoke this time … I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Father, thank you for sending Your Son to be The Resurrection and Life. Amen.
