Can you explain what Jesus meant when He said, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore?
: The Lord Jesus said those words to the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos. In Revelation 1:11, the Lord refers to Himself as “Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.” In verse 17, He again says, “I am the first and the last.” Then, in Revelation 1:18 the Lord says, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen…” The extent of these words says much about the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I AM HE THAT LIVETH – These words address the Lord’s existence in a past eternity. He has ALWAYS EXISTED! We read in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This is definitely speaking of the Lord Jesus for we read in verse 14, “And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
Genesis 1:1 starts the same way…”In the beginning.” That is speaking of the beginning of God’s creation, the earth, skies, and heavens, etc. John 1:1 predates Genesis 1:1. It speaks of the beginning of anything that ever had a beginning. It speaks of a past eternity. This bears witness to the truth that the Lord Jesus is ‘Alpha and Omege, the first and the last.’ While the Lord Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem, He is the self-existent God who has always been. We even read of that truth in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The Son of God had to already exist for the Father to give Him so that He might suffer death for all.
AND WAS DEAD – The self-existent Son of God was ‘made flesh’ (John 1:14), so that He might have a body and blood to offer to God as a sacrifice for the remission of our sins. We read in Hebrews 2:14, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” We also read in Romans 8:3, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” Christ did not have sinful flesh, but He came in the LIKENESS of sinful flesh. In other words, He looked like any other man while He was on the earth…and He willingly died! He suffered and died for us on the cross of Calvary, that we, through His death, might live. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).
BEHOLD, I AM ALIVE FOR EVERMORE – The Lord said to His disciples after His death and resurrection, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” (Luke 24:39). Here, the Lord Jesus says to John once again, “BEHOLD.” Look at me! He affirms to John that He is alive and will be alive forever!
While still on the earth, the Lord Jesus taught His disciples of His impending death and resurrection. We read in Matthew 16:21, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and BE RAISED AGAIN THE THIRD DAY.” Having risen from the dead, we are guaranteed that Christ will NEVER die again. Romans 6:9 says, “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead DIETH NO MORE; death hath no more dominion over him.” Hebrews 10:12 says, “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” This speaks of the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. Having completed that task, He now sits at His Father’s right hand.
What a precious truth that the Lord Jesus is the One who liveth, who died, and now lived forevermore! What a glorious and loving God we serve. The scriptures also teach us that when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we also shall live forevermore with Him. Romans 6:8 says, “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that WE SHALL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM.” (CC) (509.2)