Steven
Introduction
In their book How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart start by discussing an argument which is common to them. It is an argument about Bible interpretation verses just reading and doing what the Bible says. Fee and Stuart readily agree with the line of reasoning regarding doing what is read. However, they conclude, this also brings with it a whole new set of issues if interpretation is not involved. One of which is the inability of the reader of modern English Bibles to understand what is meant by certain words or statement.[1]
The same concern can be made regarding the statement from the Lord Jesus Christ in John 11:25b, “…I am the resurrection and the life.” In the English what is said is not as apparent as it is in the Greek. It is the Greek word ἀνάστασις which is of interest; it is this word which is rendered resurrection.[2] ἀνάστασις is a noun. Nouns in Greek mean the same as they do in English, person, place or thing.[3] However it is also in the nominative case meaning it is designating or naming something or someone.[4] As will be seen in this discussion this word unpacks something which cannot be observed immediately in the English. This is not to say that it cannot be understood, but it is difficult to see up front. A simple reading of the English translations will not bring this out.
Anyone who is reading the book of John will arrive at chapter 11 having seen several things which have already occurred. John has declared the divinity of Jesus Christ immediately in chapter 1:1-18. This is an important establishment especially for chapter 11. In chapter 1:19-28 John the Baptist is introduced, in verses 29-34 Jesus is baptized and once again his deity is affirmed (v. 32) while in the remaining passage Jesus chooses his disciples (vv. 35-51). Chapter 2 has Jesus performing his first miracle (vv. 1-12), another confirmation of his deity and He cleanses the temple (vv. 13-25). Chapter 3 has the discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus, in chapter 4 he talks to the woman of Samaria and heals the official’s son. In chapter 5 he heals the man at the pool on the Sabbath, equates himself with God (v. 17), and has his second dialogue with the Jewish authorities. Jesus in chapter 6 feeds the five thousand, walks on water, and in verse 22 makes the first of seven “I AM” declarations, “I am the bread of life…” (v. 35). [6] Jesus dialogue turns to disagreement with the Jewish officials in chapter 7, resulting in the people being divided. In chapter 8 Jesus is set up and deals with the adulterous woman. He also makes his second “I AM” declaration, “I am the light of the world…” (v. 12), which leads to the third “I AM” declaration, where he just simply states that “…before Abraham was, I am.” (v. 58). This almost leads to him being stoned. Chapter 9 has the Lord healing the blind man. In chapter 10 he makes his fourth and fifth “I AM” declaration, “…I am the door of the sheep.” (v. 7) and “I am the good Shepherd…” (v. 11).
In chapter 11 both sorrow and befuddlement occur. Sorrow because the Lord has received the news that his closet friend Lazarus is on his death bed (vv. 1-4). The befuddlement comes in verse 6 where it states, “So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” “Why?!” might be the question most people would ask and was possibly in the minds of both Mary and Martha when Jesus finally arrives. After all the healings, all the miracles, all the declarations of deity, all the dialogue, discussions and disagreements regarding his person, why didn’t he go to help his best friend.
Martha is the first out to greet the Lord when he arrived, while Mary stayed behind to console her loss (v. 20). The exchange between Martha and Jesus is the center of the moment. In verse 23 Jesus states to her, “… ‘Your bother will rise again (Ἀναστήσεται).’” Martha evidently attempting to show faith says, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection (ἀναστήσεται ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει) on the last day.” It is in verse 25 where Jesus makes his sixth “I AM” declaration, “…I am the resurrection (ἀνάστασις) and the life…” When he makes this statement he is saying for more than he has at any other point during his earthly ministry, and saying something greater than he does with any of the other “I AM” declarations. J. H. Bernard states in his commentary this stresses that the Lord Jesus Christ is not only the “… ‘quickener’ of the dead…” but he himself really is the resurrection.[7] He is the embodiment of the title which is being given. Bernard brings out the fact that while the other “I AM” declarations are “…similitudes by which Jesus describes Himself…which marks the style of Deity…” this “…differs from the other pronouncements in this respect, that it is not a similitude.” (Italicize belongs to Bernard)[8] William Hendriksen also affirms this thought by stating, “Jesus is the resurrection and the life; the resurrection and the life, that is Jesus….Jesus is the resurrection and the life in person…” (Italicize belongs to Hendriksen)[9] Gary Burge in, The NIV Application Commentary, John, shows the importance of this statement. While Mary may have handled the resurrection as a future event, Jesus wanted her to know that it was not just an event but a person and that person was standing there in front of her.[10] At the moment of her deepest grief a future occasion could not consul her but the very Resurrection and Life himself could.
As Easter approaches, many Christians and non-Christians will make their way to church, even though those numbers are falling every year. It has become a time for Easter egg hunts and family gatherings. If they do go to church they do so out of obligation, a time of reflection on what Jesus has done for everyone through his suffering of the cross and his bodily resurrection. And it has become a time for dressing up in the spring clothing and styles. It has become a Martha, a simple statement of thought or reverence. What is lacking? Why are the numbers falling on Easter services? Why are churches losing thousands every year to the organized cults and the cultic activity of self based religions? Why is it that Christians seem to be so less effective in society and seem almost powerless in regards to self control? Why? Could it be that Christianity has fallen into the Martha syndrome, the resurrection is viewed as an event? The resurrection is something which Jesus did, something which happened to him, and something which will happen to all believers one day. Maybe what Christians need to do is stop just reading the Bible and doing it. Maybe what is needed is a deeper understanding that the Lord which is being served has not only been raised from the dead and will one day raise all believers from the dead, but is the very Resurrection and Life himself. Living in light of his presence will change lives and affect those who need the Savior.
[1] Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to read the Bible for All Its Worth. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1993, 13-27.
[3] William D. Mounce, Basics of Biblical Greek. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003, 25.
[4] H. E. Dana and Julius R. Mantey. A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament. Toronto, Ontario: The Macmillian Company, 1955, 68-69.
[5] William Mounce, The Analytical Lexicon To The Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1993, 72.
[6] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker. New Testament Commentary, John. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, Reprint 2007, 149.
[7] J. H. Bernard, The Internatinal Critical Commentary: John, Volume II. Edinburgh, NY: T&T Clark, 386.
[8] Ibid, 387
[9] Hendriksen, 150
[10] Gary Burge, The NIV Application Commentary: John. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2000, 316.
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