“Jesus said unto her, ‘I Am the Resurrection and the Life; he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this’?”
John 11:25-26
Living in this Reality will change our lives forever.
The Apostle Paul understood what Jesus meant in today’s Manna when he wrote I Cor. 15:12-58. His explanation of the implications and impact of Jesus’ Resurrection is truly profound and hard-hitting; yet, even then they are still just theological truths until Jesus’ words come alive in our own lives.
The Greek word “zoe” is used here for “Life” and is always used in the New Testament when referring to the Christ-Life, spiritual life or eternal life. Although it’s the root word from which we get “zoology,” Jesus’ use of it for Himself opens unto us a whole new world of meaning—especially when contrasted with the other two, primary Greek words used for life: “Bios” and “Psuche.”
“Bios,” from which the word “biology” comes, deals primarily with physical life—what it takes for our bodies to function and continue living, if you will. Thus, it’s the basic level of life. Yet, sadly, too often we spend much of our time focusing on those things that will sustain that life (e.g., food, clothing, diet, exercise, healthcare, etc.).
The second level of life—“psuche”—is a higher and nobler one. It’s a moving on from “creature care” to loftier pursuits of dreams, aspirations, goals, etc. It deals more with our views and values in life; yet, even then, it becomes an end in itself as we focus more on our accomplishments and men’s accolades than we do the true meaning of life.
Thus, we shouldn’t be surprised that Jesus called Himself “The Zoe.” When He said “I Am The Way, The Truth and THE LIFE” (Jn. 14:6a), He used “zoe.” He knew this Life moved us beyond being overly-concerned about “what we shall eat, drink or put on” (Mt. 6:25a). He knew our “lives (Grk. ‘psuche’) are more than these things” (Mt. 6:25b) and we’re able to move into the “Zoe-Life” when we know our sparrow-watching, sparrow-feeding God loves us and will supply our needs (Mt. 6:26-30; 10:29-31; Phil. 4:19).
Even this knowledge is “Life-less” until Jesus becomes to/for us “The Resurrection and The Life.” Faith in His Resurrection and promised Return gives hope for the “Afterlife:” “ThoughJanuary 17 “The Secret to True Life”
“Jesus said unto her, ‘I Am the Resurrection and the Life; he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this’?”
John 11:25-26
Living in this Reality will change our lives forever.
The Apostle Paul understood what Jesus meant in today’s Manna when he wrote I Cor. 15:12-58. His explanation of the implications and impact of Jesus’ Resurrection is truly profound and hard-hitting; yet, even then they are still just theological truths until Jesus’ words come alive in our own lives.
The Greek word “zoe” is used here for “Life” and is always used in the New Testament when referring to the Christ-Life, spiritual life or eternal life. Although it’s the root word from which we get “zoology,” Jesus’ use of it for Himself opens unto us a whole new world of meaning—especially when contrasted with the other two, primary Greek words used for life: “Bios” and “Psuche.”
“Bios,” from which the word “biology” comes, deals primarily with physical life—what it takes for our bodies to function and continue living, if you will. Thus, it’s the basic level of life. Yet, sadly, too often we spend much of our time focusing on those things that will sustain that life (e.g., food, clothing, diet, exercise, healthcare, etc.).
The second level of life—“psuche”—is a higher and nobler one. It’s a moving on from “creature care” to loftier pursuits of dreams, aspirations, goals, etc. It deals more with our views and values in life; yet, even then, it becomes an end in itself as we focus more on our accomplishments and men’s accolades than we do the true meaning of life.
Thus, we shouldn’t be surprised that Jesus called Himself “The Zoe.” When He said “I Am The Way, The Truth and THE LIFE” (Jn. 14:6a), He used “zoe.” He knew this Life moved us beyond being overly-concerned about “what we shall eat, drink or put on” (Mt. 6:25a). He knew our “lives (Grk. ‘psuche’) are more than these things” (Mt. 6:25b) and we’re able to move into the “Zoe-Life” when we know our sparrow-watching, sparrow-feeding God loves us and will supply our needs (Mt. 6:26-30; 10:29-31; Phil. 4:19).
Even this knowledge is “Life-less” until Jesus becomes to/for us “The Resurrection and The Life.” Faith in His Resurrection and promised Return gives hope for the “Afterlife:” “Though he were dead, yet shall he live;” yet it’s still a Future Hope and only helps us endure—not excel—when the money runs out before the month does.
No, the key to all of this are Jesus’ words in v.26: “And he who LIVES and believes in Me shall never die.” Do you see the difference, Pilgrim? This is eternal Hope found in the “Abiding Life” (Jn. 15:1-7). That’s why Paul wrote “We are saved from God’s wrath by Jesus’ Blood (from the penalty of sin) and we shall be saved BY HIS LIFE” (Rom. 5:9-10). Hallelujah!! It’s His indwelling, ever-present “Resurrection, Zoe-Life” in us—not a power, but a present-tense Presence—that “makes us more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37). And, this is what frees us from the “bondage of the fear of death” (Heb. 2:14-15; I Cor. 15:55). Glory!!
he were dead, yet shall he live;” yet it’s still a Future Hope and only helps us endure—not excel—when the money runs out before the month does.
No, the key to all of this are Jesus’ words in v.26: “And he who LIVES and believes in Me shall never die.” Do you see the difference, Pilgrim? This is eternal Hope found in the “Abiding Life” (Jn. 15:1-7). That’s why Paul wrote “We are saved from God’s wrath by Jesus’ Blood (from the penalty of sin) and we shall be saved BY HIS LIFE” (Rom. 5:9-10). Hallelujah!! It’s His indwelling, ever-present “Resurrection, Zoe-Life” in us—not a power, but a present-tense Presence—that “makes us more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37). And, this is what frees us from the “bondage of the fear of death” (Heb. 2:14-15; I Cor. 15:55). Glory!!
By Tom Smith Morning Manna January 17, 2010
