Monday Morning Devotion - Resurrection and Life
This is week FIVE in our seven-part devotion series, brought to you by Pastor Ricky Jacob, our Lutheran Indian Ministries Associate Pastor serving the Winnebago people of Nebraska.
When Moses spoke to God, he asked for God’s name. And God replied, “I am that which I am.”
This seven-part devotion series will reflect on Jesus’ “I am” statements in the Gospel.
Skip to a specific week:
Bread of Life
Light of the World
Door of the Sheep
Good Shepherd
Resurrection and Light
Way, Truth, & Life
The Vine
This week's "I am" statement is: I am the Resurrection and the Life.
Do you have a positive outlook on life? As I age and hear of the many conflicts around the world, the natural disasters, the mass murders, I find it more challenging to have a positive outlook on life. And when it comes to the death of a family member, or a dear friend, how devastating that news and the realization of living life without that loved one.
You can go through the five stages of grief: shock, denial, anger and guilt, despair and depression, and finally, acceptance. Each and every person experiences grief; a Christian is not immune to grief. However, the Christian has the blessed assurance that life is not final.
There was a woman named Martha whose brother, Lazarus, had died. Jesus comes to her, apparently too late, and Martha is recorded as saying the following:
"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." (John 11:21-27 ESV)
Each and every Sunday, you are invited to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Again and again, the living are reminded that dying is temporary for the believer in Christ.
Do you believe this? Through faith in Jesus, you do.
I close with these words:
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)