How the Resurrection Sets Us Free

John 10:10, NLT

"The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."

With these words from Jesus, we get clarity on this cosmic tug-of-war we are in. At the center of this tug-of-war is our identity and our destiny.

"If my purpose is to give you a rich and satisfying life," Jesus says, "what do you think the thief is intent on doing with you?"

Jesus gives, but our enemy takes.

Here at the Easter season, with our focus on the cross and the empty tomb, we can answer the question, what does the resurrection mean to me?

Let's start with the account of Lazarus.

John 11:1-7,14-15, NLT

"A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. [2] This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord's feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. [3] So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, "Lord, your dear friend is very sick." [4] But when Jesus heard about it he said, "Lazarus's sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this." [5] So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, [6] he stayed where he was for the next two days. [7] Finally, he said to his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea."

"[14] So he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. [15] And for your sakes, I'm glad I wasn't there, for now you will really believe. Come, let's go see him."

If you get a little whiplash after reading this passage, you're not alone. First Jesus says Lazarus will not die, then He says Lazarus is dead.

But read more carefully. Jesus says that Lazarus' sickness will not end in death.

Keep reading.

John 11:17-26, NLT

"When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. [18] Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, [19] and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. [20] When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. [21] Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. [22] But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask."

"[23] Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again." [24] "Yes," Martha said, "he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day." [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. Do you believe this, Martha?"

Jesus explains to Martha exactly why the resurrection matters. When we believe in Jesus, we shall live even after dying. In fact, we never really die.

The anti-aging industry is expected to exceed $90 billion by 2030. Can you imagine how big an industry it would be if it was labeled anti-death?

Next, Jesus demonstrates why the resurrection matters.

John 11:33-34,38-44, NLT

"When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. [34] "Where have you put him?" he asked them. They told him, "Lord, come and see."

"[38] Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. [39] "Roll the stone aside," Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man's sister, protested, "Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible." [40] Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?" [41] So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me. [42] You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me."

"[43] Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" [44] And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!"

There was an ancient Hebrew belief that a person's soul hovered near the body for three days, hoping to return. For Lazarus to be in the tomb four days would dispel any notion that Lazarus came back on his own. Jesus fully demonstrated his authority over death.

Jesus spoke his authority over death, and Lazarus was raised to life and released from the tomb.

Next, flip over to John 12. Not only was Lazarus raised to life and released from death, but Lazarus partied!

John 12:1-2, NLT

"Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus-the man he had raised from the dead. [2] A dinner was prepared in Jesus' honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him."

A short time before this dinner party, Lazarus was bound in grave clothes and his body placed in a dark tomb. But here he is, eating at the same table with Jesus with his family.

I see a beautiful picture of resurrection life in this.

Revelation 19:9, NLT

"And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he added, "These are true words that come from God."

When we believe in Jesus, we have our invitation to the wedding feast of the Lamb. This occurs in Heaven.

The resurrection matters because Jesus has set us free.

But free from what?

The resurrection shows us that we are set free from death, sin, and the grave.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57, NLT

"But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! [52] It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. [53] For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. [54] Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? " [56] For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. [57] But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."

The resurrection is proof of our freedom from sin, death, and the grave.

Thank God! He gives us victory!