by Shannon Caughey

This weekend we celebrate Easter Sunday. Beyond bunnies and candy (the egg-shaped Reese’s peanut butter cups are top-notch), the real reason for this holiday is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Three days after he was executed on a Roman cross, Jesus rose bodily from the dead. His tomb was now empty! This is not just an incredible, history-altering event. Jesus makes it clear that the resurrection is central to understanding who he is. 

In this series of devotions, we’re looking at various names and titles of Jesus with the goal of knowing him more fully. The Gospel of John includes seven “I am” statements made by Jesus, such as “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35), “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), and “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). The seven “I am” statements offer insight regarding Jesus’ own understanding of his identity. With Easter just a few days away, let’s focus on the “I am” proclamation Jesus makes in John 11:25—“I am the resurrection and the life.”

Here’s the context: Jesus’ good friend Lazarus gets sick and dies in the town of Bethany. Jesus is traveling far away when he gets word about Lazarus. By the time Jesus and his disciples arrive in Bethany, Lazarus has already been dead for four days. In their grief, Lazarus’ sisters say to Jesus that if only he had been there before Lazarus died, Jesus could have healed him. 

In his response, Jesus makes his “I am” statement (John 11:25-26): “²⁵ Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. ²⁶ Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.’” What a monumental claim! Jesus is saying he is the source of life now and life for all eternity—and not just any life. Because of who he is, through Christ we can have life in relationship with the God who created us and loves us. Jesus is proclaiming his power and authority over death. He gives amazing promises to all who surrender in faith to him: death is not the end because we will have a future resurrection and enjoy a glorious eternity with God when he brings in the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21).

As John 11 continues, we get a glimpse of the truth of who Jesus claims to be. Jesus goes to the cave that serves as Lazarus’ tomb, tells the people to roll aside the stone covering the entrance, prays to his Father, calls out to Lazarus—and Lazarus comes walking out! Jesus truly is “the resurrection and the life”! The promises he gives when we trust him are not merely pipe dreams. Jesus has the power and authority to deliver on these promises.

When we know Jesus as the resurrection and the life, we recognize he calls us to be part of the bigger story he’s unfolding. His bigger story encompasses the present and the future. This is the story of life with Christ at the very center of all we are and all we do. When we live for Jesus, it transforms how we understand our identity and our purpose. It changes how we respond to difficult circumstances. It makes a difference in every area of daily life—including coaching—because we’re pursuing something bigger: the story he desires to write in and through us that reflects him. We’ll have a lasting impact on those around us because it will be for Christ. With Jesus is at the center of who we are, our present is filled with meaning and our future is secure.

As we celebrate Easter, may we consider in fresh ways who Jesus is. He is the resurrection and the life. He desires for us to have this life that is found in him alone—the life that he gives us when we trust and follow him. The more we know Jesus, the more we experience the bigger story of his resurrection life in us and through us. And that transforms our lives today and for all eternity.

For reflection: Praise Jesus that he is the resurrection and the life. Thank him for the eternal life he gives you in relationship with God. Pray that you would live daily for him and engage in the bigger story he is unfolding that matters for all eternity.