In the Gospel of John, Jesus introduces himself to the world through a variety of metaphors that begin with two words - I am. "I am the true vine... the bread of life... the light of the world...", etc. In his own words, Jesus illuminated his character and truest identity. This week's worship continues our six week series called, Two Words That Change Everything - I Am.

Three important things to remember about the Resurrection:

1. The Resurrection actually happened. The New Testament doesn't treat it like a myth or just a story. It treats it like an actual event in human history.

2. There is mystery to the Resurrection. In scripture, Jesus has a physical, resurrected body that his disciples are able to touch. But, he is also able to appear and disappear in different rooms. There is a lot that we can't explain about the resurrection. Acknowledging that there is mystery with the resurrection doesn't undermine the belief that the resurrection happened. Mystery is a part of life.

3. We can't prove, or disprove, the Resurrection. The resurrection isn't something that we, today, can observe ourselves directly. It happened in history, so we rely on the eyewitness testimony of those who claim to have witnessed the resurrection of Jesus. We see this testimony in the early church. We can see how the early church hoped for a future resurrection when Jesus would return, but how that hope also changed their lives. The early church was defined by the resurrection and it changed how they treated one another and the people around them.

Resurrection

What are we talking about when we talk about "Resurrection?"

New Testament scholar NT Wright has written that the Greek word for "Resurrection" means "life after a period of being dead."

Wright goes on to state that "virtually all Christians claimed that it (resurrection) had happened to Jesus and would happen to them in the future."

(These quotes can be found in "The Resurrection of the Son of God," p. 31)

Jesus' resurrection and the belief that it happened in history is what ties the New Testament together. It is the foundation for Christian faith.

For more information on the Early Church, the plague in Rome and the Church's response, try reading Rodney Stark's "The Ride of Christianity." Stark began his research as a non-believer and a sociologist examining how the Early Church grew so rapidly. His experience of researching the Early Church and seeing how they responded to the plague led him to begin calling himself a Christian. The Early Church's witness still continues to testify to Jesus' resurrection today!

Below is a scripture passage from the Apostle Paul that serves as an example of just how deeply the writers of the New Testament believed that Jesus had truly been physically raised from the dead.

GROWTH GROUP / PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Jesus' question to Martha is "Do you believe this?" He is referring to the fact that he is the resurrection and the life. As Jesus' poses that question to Martha, he also poses that question to you. Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?

2. What is your understanding of Jesus' resurrection? Do you hold it as centrally as the authors of the New Testament held it?

3. Though we hope for the resurrection to come, Jesus' statement that he is the resurrection opens up the possibility that we can see signs of resurrection now. In what areas of your life do you hope to see signs of resurrection?

4. How can belief in the resurrection change your perspective on any challenges you face?

Questions for Families with Children

1. When is a time when you had to say goodbye to someone or something that you loved? How did you feel?

2. When Jesus is talking about resurrection, he is promising us that we don't have to say goodbye to the people we love forever. How excited would you be to be able to see who or what it was you said goodbye to again?

3. Hoping in Jesus means believing that he will reunite us with the people we love and acting as though he will do that. What might be different about your life as you grow up if you believe that Jesus will reunite you with the people you've had to say goodbye to?