Neville Goddard on John 11:25

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard explains that the statement 'I am the resurrection, and the life' is not about an external savior but an internal power. This power is man's own imagination, which is the 'Pattern Man' or Christ within. By using imagination, an individual can resurrect any desire from a state of mere wish into a living reality. Awakening to this inner power makes one a 'God of the Living,' whose very presence brings life to that which was dead or imperfect.

Key Concepts

• The statement 'I am the resurrection, and the life' refers to the power of human imagination.
• This power is used to make alive any state or experience that a person desires.
• The speaker of this verse is the 'Pattern Man,' an inner pattern called 'Jesus' in scripture, which is the true savior.
• Until this inner pattern unfolds, a person remains in a 'world of death.'
• One who awakens this power becomes a 'God of the Living,' in whose presence nothing can remain dead or imperfect.

Detailed Explanation

According to Neville Goddard, the declaration 'I am the resurrection, and the life' points to a profound psychological truth rather than a historical event. The power to resurrect is identified as the human imagination. It is the faculty within every person that can 'make alive that which man desires to experience.' An individual who learns to call up images at will, embodying the feeling of the wish fulfilled, is using this resurrecting power and becomes the master of their own fate.

The source of this declaration is not an external being, but an internal one called the 'Pattern Man.' This pattern, named 'Jesus' in scripture, is the true savior that resides within every individual. There is no other savior or external system that can grant life; it must come from the unfolding of this pattern within. Until this happens, a person remains in what is described as the 'world of death.' When the pattern awakens, the individual becomes one with it, realizing they are the Lord.

This awakening transforms the individual into a 'God of the Living.' Their consciousness becomes so potent with life that their very presence can animate that which is dead or imperfect. In such a presence, even petrified trees would burst into foliage. This illustrates the ultimate creative and life-giving potential of the awakened imagination, which is the true meaning of being 'the resurrection and the life.'

Important Quotes

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

— Out Of This World

The one speaking in these quotations is the Pattern Man, and until this Pattern unfolds in man, he remains in the world of death.

— The Pattern Man2

“I am the Resurrection and the Life.” [John 11:25] Nothing can remain imperfect in the presence of

— Who Is The Son Of Man

Related Concepts

• I AM: The verse is a direct statement about the power of 'I AM,' or consciousness. It is this 'I AM' within that is the power of resurrection and life, the cause of all experience.
• Imagination: The source material explicitly states that the power to resurrect and make things live is the power of imagination. Mastering one's imagination is mastering this life-giving principle.
• Desire: The purpose of this resurrecting power is to bring one's desires to life. Imagination is the tool used to 'make alive that which man desires to experience.'

Common Misunderstandings

• This teaching is not about a historical savior who performs miracles. The source material identifies the savior as the 'Pattern Man' which is a pattern within every individual.
• The resurrection spoken of is not a physical event after bodily death. It is the psychological act of bringing a desired state from the realm of imagination into experienced reality.

Practical Applications

To apply this teaching, a student must use their imagination to resurrect a desired state. This is done by accustoming oneself to 'call up at will whatever images he pleases' that imply the desire is already fulfilled. By believing in the reality of this imaginal act, one exercises their inherent power as 'the resurrection and the life' to make that state a living fact in their world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the one who says 'I am the resurrection, and the life'?

According to the source material, it is the 'Pattern Man,' a pattern called 'Jesus' in scripture, which exists within every individual. When this pattern unfolds, the individual becomes the speaker.

What does it mean to 'resurrect' something in this context?

It means to use your imagination to make a desired experience come alive. It is the act of taking a desire, which is 'dead' or unrealized, and giving it life and form in your reality through belief in your imaginal act.

Is this teaching about an external savior?

No. The source material is clear that the savior is an internal pattern, not an external person, religion, or '-ism'. The power of resurrection is within you as your own imagination.