📖 Biblical Definition
Christ's fifth I-AM predicate-statement, spoken to Martha at Lazarus's tomb: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die" (John 11:25-26). Christ does not say He gives resurrection or has the power of resurrection — He says He IS the resurrection. Resurrection is Person, not just future event.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
John 11:25 fifth I-AM: spoken at Lazarus's tomb; resurrection is Person.
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Christ's fifth I-AM predicate-statement (John 11:25), spoken to Martha at Lazarus's tomb: "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." The claim is striking: Christ does not say He gives resurrection or has the power of resurrection — He says He is the resurrection. Resurrection is Person, not just future event. Followed immediately by the raising of Lazarus, which performs what He has just declared. The promise is two-tiered: (1) those who believed and have died will be raised; (2) those who live and believe will never (ultimately) die.
📖 Key Scripture
John 11:25-26 — "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
John 5:21 — "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will."
1 Corinthians 15:20 — "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Treated only as future-resurrection promise; "I AM" makes it present-Person reality.
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Modern reading often treats resurrection as future event Christ will accomplish. John 11:25 makes it Person Christ already is. Resurrection is not just something Christ does; resurrection is who Christ is. The believer who has Christ has the resurrection, in seed-form already, in fullness at the consummation.
Recover the present-tense Person: Christ IS resurrection. To have Christ is to have resurrection — not just promised but presently.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek egō eimi hē anastasis kai hē zōē.
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['Greek', 'G386', 'anastasis', 'resurrection']
['Greek', 'G2222', 'zōē', 'life']
Usage
"Resurrection is Person, not just event."
"Spoken at Lazarus's tomb; performed."
"To have Christ is to have resurrection."