I AM your Resurrected Lord and God

Text: ESV John 20:18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the LORD.”

Goal: That we live our lives in Resurrection hope.

ESV 1 Timothy 1:2 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia! Today we’re going to take a tour through John’s Gospel. If you’ve been along for the Lenten ride, we’ve gone through the I AM statements of Jesus found in John’s Gospel. When Jesus says “I AM,” it’s time to pay attention. When He says “I AM,” He’s making a powerful statement. When Jesus says, “I AM,” He’s claiming to be God Himself. When Jesus said, “I AM,” the religious leaders threatened to stone Him. The reason goes all the way back to Exodus chapter three. God was sending Moses to Egypt and He was speaking from a burning bush. Moses asked God a question: “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:13&14). When Jesus came, He made the bold and blasphemous claim to be the Great I AM.

We began our Lenten tour in John chapter eleven. In this chapter, Jesus says, “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” (John 11:25&26). And to demonstrate His power and the validity of His claim, Jesus raised Lazarus back to life. It wasn’t the first time that someone had been raised from the dead, but it was the first time that so much time had passed between the death and the resurrection. Four days had already passed by the time that Jesus called for Lazarus to come out of the tomb. But even though Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, this resurrection wasn’t permanent. Lazarus later died. Today we celebrate a permanent resurrection. Jesus is the resurrection and the life and He will never die again. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Our Lenten tour continued with John chapter ten, where Jesus makes another bold claim: “I AM the Good Shepherd.” Jesus is the shepherd who places the needs of His sheep above His own needs. Jesus leads His sheep to green pastures and still waters. He restores their souls. He leads His sheep in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. They fear no evil and the Good Shepherd prepares a table for them in the presence of their enemies. Goodness and mercy follow them all the days of their lives, and they will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Our Lenten journey went on as we looked at John chapter four where Jesus says, “I AM the Living Water.” In John chapter four, Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman at the well. She had come to draw water, during the hottest part of the day, the time of day when no one else would have been at the well. Jesus met her and asked her for a drink. She immediately questioned Jesus concerning His motives and He told her about “Living Water.” As John records the events surrounding Jesus’ death on the cross, he makes an interesting observation. As Jesus’ side is pierced by the spear, blood and water pour out. Jesus is still supplying living water for our salvation. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Next on our tour, Jesus says, “I AM the Vine.” John chapter fifteen tells us that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing. Without the vine, a branch is useless. With the vine, the branch bears fruit. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, we are all bearing the fruit of Christian love. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Our Lenten journey continued as we heard Jesus clearly declare, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). We live in a world that is trying to figure out how to reach God. Some people believe that all religions have elements of truth and that they are simply different paths to the same God. Faith in Jesus Christ as the second person of the Trinity is the only hope for eternal salvation. He declares it Himself, with the Father as His witness. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Next we traveled through John chapter nine where Jesus says, “I AM the Light of the world.” Darkness came into the world through sin. As people born with sin, we desire darkness and not light. Jesus came to shed light on our dark world. He came to show us our sin and to give us His light. When Jesus was lifted up on the cross, darkness covered the land. But death could not hold the Light of the world. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Maundy Thursday we turned to John chapter six where Jesus declares, “I AM the Bread of Life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). And then we consumed Christ’s Body and Blood as He continues to feed our bodies and our souls. Today we continue our celebration as we once again receive forgiveness, life, and eternal salvation through this incredible feast that He has placed before us. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

On Good Friday, we heard Jesus say, “I AM the King of the Jews and Gentiles.” Jesus died on the cross for all the Jews who demanded His life. Jesus died on the cross for all the Gentiles who mocked Him, sentenced Him, and nailed down His hands and feet. Jesus died on the cross for me and for you. His kingdom is not of this world, but it is something so great that we cannot even comprehend what is to come. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Today is Easter. We read from John chapter twenty where we learned that Jesus also declares, “I AM your Resurrected LORD and God.” His tomb is empty. He showed Himself to Mary and she announced to the disciples, “I have seen the LORD” (John 20:18). Then Jesus went to His disciples. He showed them His hands and His side. Jesus gave them His Spirit and He gave them His authority to forgive sins and to withhold forgiveness. His Church is still doing His work. We forgive the sins of those who repent and withhold forgiveness from those unwilling to repent. We proclaim to others, “We have seen the LORD.” We boldly declare: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

ESV Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.