Jesus raised Jesus from the dead. How is that even possible? Jesus is God. God is the God of the impossible (to us); the One with the power and authority to do so.
Take a look at the many accounts in the Bible where people, God's creatures, were raised from the dead. It's exciting. Maybe even unnerving to those living folks who maybe think they are seeing a "ghost". Creepy. Wow! Think of it: your grandma, cousin, friend, whom you knew very well that were no more cuz you even attended their funeral years ago, suddenly turns up on your doorstep, knocking and wanting in! How would you all feel about that!?
Well, when Jesus was resurrected - none of those He appeared to knew who He was at first. Some thought He was a ghost. That would indeed have been out of this world!
What a joy it must have been for some who had their loved ones raised from the dead, though. The widow of Zaraphath was overjoyed to have her son raised from the dead, thanks to Elijah; so too, the Shuenamite woman to have her son back, this time thanks to Elisha, the prophets of God's interventions (1 Kings 17:17-22 and 2 Kings 4:32-35).
Elisha wasn't done yet. He was dead but just the touching of his bones was enough to raise another fellar up who'd gotten unceremoniously thrown into the same tomb. The dead soldier's buddies were in a hurry, "Sorry". The dude got up and said, "Hey, wait for me." (Well, not exactly, but...[2Kings 13:20, 21]). Think of it. The awesome, almighty power of God, at work again, through His prophets; alive or dead.
Jesus raised three others from the dead; at least three recorded incidents thereof: Lazarus, His good friend; then, another widow's son - the widow of Naan. Imagine that funeral! Stopped mid-procession. "Young man, get up!" Easy as anything. All in a day's work for Jesus. They were public events too. These were not necessarily because someone had faith for it to happen either. This was likely out of compassion for the dear widow-lady.
There's the young damsel whose parent's were privy to the raising. Jesus had put everyone else out except for the girl's parents and some of the disciples. Those put out people hadn't had faith. They were laughing in derision. "Get up!" The girl arose - life restored. "Give her something to eat". It wasn't her ghost either. Ghosts can't eat. At least, so I'm told.
We believe it because Jesus, who is God, did it. We even believe Jesus' was self-rising! Yes, He did it because He is God.
Elijah and Elisha both had the power and authority from God which allowed them to raise people from the dead. Have you noticed that the twelve disciples were given that same power and authority? Look at what Jesus told them just before they went out two by two to preach the gospel of the Kingdom in all the villages. Matthew 10:5-8, especially verse 8, instructs,
"As you go, preach this message, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons" (NIV).
Say what? Sounds so "routine" in God's Kingdom. I'm trying to get my head around it. Never noticed it before, until a couple of days ago, that that little wee phrase, "...raise the dead" is snuck in there. Say "what?," again. Oh, you heard me. You read it yourself! "...raise the dead".
Jesus is actually telling the disciples to go out there and do that (along with the other ministrations on the list). Some of those things were just not done by the "ordinary" people like those disciples, either. Things like healing leprosy cases. "Jesus, did we hear You correctly?"
Seemed like "no sweat" to the disciples. Out they trotted. We don't really read of their "successes" though until we hit Acts 9:37 over there in Joppa town. Peter was fetched from Lydda, expressly for the "raising" ceremony of a well-loved sister, Dorcas, who'd cared for the well-being of others most devotedly. She'd died. It was a tremendous loss. The folks couldn't do withour her, so she got "recalled" by Peter.
They didn't take "No" for answer. Oh the faith, the expectant faith they had, not so much in Peter, I'd say, but in the power and authority of God within him.
You might ask, "Why Doris?' We'll never know. No doubt we all have like-minded, caring people we can't live without, but who have passed on and no amount of praying or urgings of, "Get Up", bring them back to us on earth.
God's ways are sovereign.
Oh did I mention all those "many others" who were raised at the time of Jesus' resurrection (Matthew 27:50-53)? They were seen in the city -- maybe one of those who'd shown up on the doorstep, knocking.
Some of you might be wondering where all this is leading. Are you afraid I'm going "off base"? I can tell you, my mind's been doing some radical callisthenics.
We kind of take it for granted that, yes, that was then; back there in Bible times. Nah da! Not nowadays! You know that verse,
"It was appointed unto men, ONCE, to die..." (Hebrews 9:27, emphaisis, mine).
People die, and stay dead. We don't have walking ex-dead. Due to that verse we say, people have "near death experiences" and I've even written adamantly about it before in my On the Doorstep but Don't Get to Enter blog series (25 Parts). Well,
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever..." (Hebrews 13:8).
So He can still use His power and authority to raise the dead in our times if He so wishes. He can also give this "gift" to His faithful followers if He so choses. Granted, we do not hear much about it but I fully believe, that to accomplish His purposes, God can do it again, and again, no matter the millenium, century, decade, or day and age.
Yes, there are televised events and even videos on YouTube that show these things with great fanfare. Whether they have been staged or not, God will be the Judge. God's arm is not shortened that He cannot save (Isaiah 59:1). His purposes will be accomplished as He sees fit. May any who have such gifts use them for HIS glory and honor and to further HIS Kingdom and not to line their own pockets.
All this leads to yet another case as recorded in the Bible. The book of Acts. It's about the Apostle Paul. He was stoned to death, dragged outside the city of Lystra and left for dead (Acts 14:19-20). The NIV states they left Paul there,
"...thinking he was dead."
Now one commentary asserts, those "stoners" would have been experienced persons who knew how to stone a person to death and tell if victim was dead. Some say Paul was definitely dead, and others, say they only "thought" he was dead; this could cause great disagreement. Whether Paul was actually dead or not, doesn't really matter. God's resurrection power is not going to suffer a bad reputation. He's still as almighty as ever. Praise God!
As the disciples mournfully gathered around Paul's "supposed" corpse, Paul "got up" and as Luke records, went back into the city but left the next day for Derbe. He carried on as if nothing had happened. He went steadfastly on with the mission God had called him to do.
You'd a thought he'd be black and blue and aching, even yelping, or at least, moaning, in pain at every slight move of the body. I think God's healing power must have been at work. However, Luke the physician and writer of Acts does not elaborate. A big lesson for us to learn today. Paul obviously realized his time on earth was not quite over yet, so he'd best be about his Father's business. So should we, whatever that might be. Get up, and go!
God wasn't finished yet either. In Revelation we read about two of God's witnesses who were slain and left for dead in the middle of the road! No doubt the passersby had a good laugh when they saw the witnesses lying there all battered and broken; three days worth of that. What a shock when the witnesses rose up (Revelation 11:1-14).
It gives me good cheer that God in His great love, mercy and grace, would give us so many examples of being raised from the dead. Jesus' own resurrection should not have been so difficult to understand. That sort of thing had happened before. Of course, Jesus' rising from the dead was vastly different than all the others because He raised Himself. Also, He is still living . We serve a living God.
The others, with the exception of the Revelation two witnesses, have all died again. They are awaiting the Rapure. The two witnesses were taken up, back into heaven (read the Revelation account for yourself).
What about all those who've died and are creamated or buried? We take comfort from what God's Word says in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The Lord Himself, not one of His prophets or apostles, but Himself, in all His power, majesty and authority, will call up all who are "asleep" in Jesus (dead), and those of us who are His followers, still alive at the time, to be with Him in the air, and so be with Him forever".
That will be our "Get up" and "Come up" call.
Do you agree?
I do.
~ERC January 2021~
Sing, When the Trumpet of the Lord Will Resound, with the Celebration Choir
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