The Volunteer
By Jeff Cranston
“Why do you seek the living One among the dead?”
This is one of the most shocking questions found in the entire Bible, and it was asked by two angels to the women who had come to Jesus’ tomb to anoint His dead body. No one goes to a grave looking to find one who is alive, which is exactly the point the angels were making. “He is not here, but He has risen,” they declared. (Luke 24:6a, NASB).
The angels also reminded the women that, when in Galilee, the Lord had told them, “ … the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful man, and be crucified, and the third day rise again” (Luke 24:7, NASB).
This is the greatest good news in all of human history! The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is not just a historic truth, is not just the miracle of all miracles, it is the very promise of salvation to all who believe and repent of their sins.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
The reality of the resurrection reminds us of something Jesus said earlier in John’s gospel, when He declared, “I am the resurrection and the life … ” (John 11:25a, NASB) Why did He say that?
Jesus said this after His good friend, Lazarus, had died. Then He followed it up with a call to faith: “He who believes in me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die” (John 11:25-26, NASB).
Jesus showed up at the tomb of Lazarus and proved that neither death nor time is an obstacle to Him. Standing outside of the tomb, which was just a simple cave in a hillside with a slab of stone laid against the opening, Jesus instructed those standing around to remove the stone. He prayed, and then He shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And out he came! A cadaver, wrapped up from head to toe, with a handkerchief over his face. Jesus said, “Unwrap him and let him loose” (John 11:38-44).
Death is not all there is!
It’s one thing to claim to be the resurrection and the life, but Jesus proved it by raising Lazarus, who was four days dead. Truly, with Christ, death is not all there is! Death has no dominion over Him who is Life itself, nor does death have dominion over those who belong to Him.
People believed that the resurrection was an event; Jesus showed us that the resurrection is a Person.
People’s knowledge of eternal life was an abstract idea; Jesus proved that knowledge of eternal life is a personal relationship.
People thought victory over death was a future expectation; Jesus corrected that, showing that victory is a present reality.
After presenting Himself as the resurrection and the life, Jesus asked Martha an all-important question: “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26b, NASB). May Martha’s answer be our answer as well: “Yes, Lord, I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world” (John 11:27, CSB).
In raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus performed the ultimate sign to tell everyone His identity—He showed His divinity. He had power over life and death.
Jesus Christ was the Someone who did something for the first time.
Jesus Christ was the Someone who did something that needed to be done.
Jesus Christ was the Someone who did something that no one else was willing and able to do.
Jesus Christ was the Someone who shocked the world.
Jesus Christ was the Someone who benefitted all of humanity.
Jesus Christ was the Someone who willingly gave His all so that you and I might live.
By Jesus rising from the dead, He is telling you that God loves you and has a plan and purpose for your life. The Bible says, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, [Jesus Christ], that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and that Jesus gives us abundant life—complete and full of purpose(John 10:10).
But here’s the problem: We are sinful and therefore separated from God.
We have all done, thought or said bad things, which the Bible calls “sin.” The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The result of sin is death, spiritual separation from God (Romans 6:23). But, because of the resurrection, there is good news! God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for your sins!
Jesus voluntarily died in our place so we could have a relationship with God and be with Him forever. “Christ died for our sins … He was buried … He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Jesus is the only way to God. He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6).
So, I ask you the same question Jesus asked of Martha: “Do you believe this?” And, “Would you like to receive God’s forgiveness?”
You can’t earn salvation; you are saved by God’s grace when you have faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. All you have to do is believe you are a sinner, that Christ died for your sins, and ask His forgiveness. Then turn from your sins—that’s called repentance. Jesus Christ knows you and loves you. What matters to Him is the attitude of your heart, your honesty. Pray this prayer today and invite Him into your heart:
“Dear God,
I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I turn from my sins and turn completely to You. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”
Jeff Cranston is the lead pastor at LowCountry Community Church in Bluffton, South Carolina.