THE DEAD COME BACK TO LIFE

Not even death can limit God from showing His power and might. Right from the fall of Adam when God reduced man's lifespan, death has been believed to be the final bus stop for man, at least here on earth. But even that does not and can not stop God.

There are various instances in the Bible where the seemingly impossible situation of death, was turned around by God. In 1 Kings 17:17-21, the son of the widow who fed Elijah in the time of famine, took ill suddenly and died. Elijah carried the boy into his room and he cried out to the Lord asking Him to restore life to the boy. Verse 22 says “And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.”

Next, let’s take a look at 2 Kings 4:18-34. The Shunnamite woman who regularly entertained Prophet Elisha suddenly lost her son to the jaws of death. She carried her son’s body to Elisha and when Elisha prayed and laid upon the boy twice, verse 35b said, “and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.”

2 Kings 13:21 is an interesting account. A dead man who was about to be buried was thrown on the bones of Elisha. Immediately his body touched the bones of Elisha, life was restored to him.

Let us journey to the New Testament. In Mark 5:21-34, Jesus was on His way to heal Jairus' daughter who was sick at the time. But in verse 35, He was told not to bother with the girl anymore because she had died. When Jesus arrived at the house, He told the people who were already mourning that the girl was merely asleep. He followed this up by taking her hand in verse 41 and telling her to rise. Verse 42a says, “And straightway the damsel arose, and walked.” In Luke 7:11-15, Jesus intercepted a burial procession. A widow was going to bury her only son but Jesus encountered her. He told her son to arise. Verse 15 says, “And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak...” 

John 11 contains the popular story of Lazarus. What distinguishes this from others is that not only was Lazarus dead, his body had already started decomposing and yet, God could not be stopped. Not only was he brought back to life, the process of decomposition was instantly reversed and he was made whole. 

Moving on to the Acts of the Apostles after Jesus had ascended into Heaven. Acts 9:36-42 tells the story of a certain disciple called Tabitha (Dorcas) who was known for her good deeds. She fell sick and died. The apostle Peter was sent for and he knelt down and prayed for her after which he spoke to the body and said “arise” and she opened her eyes and sat up, life restored.

In Acts 20:7-12, a young man named Eutychus fell asleep and fell down from a third floor window. Death was instantaneous. The apostle Paul was unperturbed. He fell on him and hugged him then got up to eat and preach. After Paul left, it was recorded that the young man was alive.

Matthew 28:1-18, Mark 16:1-14, Luke 24:1-36 and John 20:1-20, all give the glorious account of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. His resurrection greatly displayed the power of God Almighty. There was no need for anyone to pray for Him to be resurrected, there was no laying of hands or fasting. Christ died like He said and He arose on the third day like He said. Death couldn’t withstand Him of course. The grave couldn’t hold Him in. No principality or power could stop Him from coming back to life. 

Interestingly, Matthew 28:50-53 recorded that at the point Christ gave up His spirit on the cross, the tombs were opened and many of the saints who had died came back to life. They came out of their tombs and went into the holy city. 

Personally, I have also experienced this wondrous power of God. A patient of mine who was certified dead and already wrapped up for burial, had life restored to him by God when I touched him. The man who was supposed to be buried is now alive, healthy and a happy family man. What a great God!

Going a step further from life here on earth, the more wondrous fact is that Christ's death brought eternal life to humanity. For by Adam we were all dead in sin. By Adam, mortality was the end for us but through Christ we were made alive. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, to come as the final and ultimate sacrifice that by His blood, man would be fully reconciled to God. That the breach that was created by Adam would be closed permanently. That man would be reversed from his downward spiral to death. Whosoever believeth in Christ will not perish but have eternal life. We who were once dead can now have life.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 KJV “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” (Emphasis added). For all who have accepted Christ as their Lord and who diligently serve Him, death on earth isn’t something to be feared because it is but a means to an end. Eternal life, glory, great reward, joy, crowns, and so much more that we are yet to know, beyond our imaginations. Those whose names are found written in the Book of Life will be called unto eternal life.

For those who refuse to accept Christ, death on earth should be feared, not because it is an end in itself but because it will usher them into a much worse fate. None should even contemplate this. 

I enjoin each and everyone to make the decision to live today. If you want to be among those who will not perish but live eternally with Christ, there is only one way. Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life...” The way to Heaven is Jesus Christ. If you want to enjoy life eternal, choose Christ because He is life.

THE DEAD COME BACK TO LIFE

Not even death can limit God from showing His power and might. Right from the fall of Adam when God reduced man's lifespan, death has been believed to be the final bus stop for man, at least here on earth. But even that does not and can not stop God.

There are various instances in the Bible where the seemingly impossible situation of death, was turned around by God. In 1 Kings 17:17-21, the son of the widow who fed Elijah in the time of famine, took ill suddenly and died. Elijah carried the boy into his room and he cried out to the Lord asking Him to restore life to the boy. Verse 22 says “And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.”

Next, let’s take a look at 2 Kings 4:18-34. The Shunnamite woman who regularly entertained Prophet Elisha suddenly lost her son to the jaws of death. She carried her son’s body to Elisha and when Elisha prayed and laid upon the boy twice, verse 35b said, “and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.”

2 Kings 13:21 is an interesting account. A dead man who was about to be buried was thrown on the bones of Elisha. Immediately his body touched the bones of Elisha, life was restored to him.

Let us journey to the New Testament. In Mark 5:21-34, Jesus was on His way to heal Jairus' daughter who was sick at the time. But in verse 35, He was told not to bother with the girl anymore because she had died. When Jesus arrived at the house, He told the people who were already mourning that the girl was merely asleep. He followed this up by taking her hand in verse 41 and telling her to rise. Verse 42a says, “And straightway the damsel arose, and walked.” In Luke 7:11-15, Jesus intercepted a burial procession. A widow was going to bury her only son but Jesus encountered her. He told her son to arise. Verse 15 says, “And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak...” 

John 11 contains the popular story of Lazarus. What distinguishes this from others is that not only was Lazarus dead, his body had already started decomposing and yet, God could not be stopped. Not only was he brought back to life, the process of decomposition was instantly reversed and he was made whole. 

Moving on to the Acts of the Apostles after Jesus had ascended into Heaven. Acts 9:36-42 tells the story of a certain disciple called Tabitha (Dorcas) who was known for her good deeds. She fell sick and died. The apostle Peter was sent for and he knelt down and prayed for her after which he spoke to the body and said “arise” and she opened her eyes and sat up, life restored.

In Acts 20:7-12, a young man named Eutychus fell asleep and fell down from a third floor window. Death was instantaneous. The apostle Paul was unperturbed. He fell on him and hugged him then got up to eat and preach. After Paul left, it was recorded that the young man was alive.

Matthew 28:1-18, Mark 16:1-14, Luke 24:1-36 and John 20:1-20, all give the glorious account of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. His resurrection greatly displayed the power of God Almighty. There was no need for anyone to pray for Him to be resurrected, there was no laying of hands or fasting. Christ died like He said and He arose on the third day like He said. Death couldn’t withstand Him of course. The grave couldn’t hold Him in. No principality or power could stop Him from coming back to life. 

Interestingly, Matthew 28:50-53 recorded that at the point Christ gave up His spirit on the cross, the tombs were opened and many of the saints who had died came back to life. They came out of their tombs and went into the holy city. 

Personally, I have also experienced this wondrous power of God. A patient of mine who was certified dead and already wrapped up for burial, had life restored to him by God when I touched him. The man who was supposed to be buried is now alive, healthy and a happy family man. What a great God!

Going a step further from life here on earth, the more wondrous fact is that Christ's death brought eternal life to humanity. For by Adam we were all dead in sin. By Adam, mortality was the end for us but through Christ we were made alive. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, to come as the final and ultimate sacrifice that by His blood, man would be fully reconciled to God. That the breach that was created by Adam would be closed permanently. That man would be reversed from his downward spiral to death. Whosoever believeth in Christ will not perish but have eternal life. We who were once dead can now have life.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 KJV “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” (Emphasis added). For all who have accepted Christ as their Lord and who diligently serve Him, death on earth isn’t something to be feared because it is but a means to an end. Eternal life, glory, great reward, joy, crowns, and so much more that we are yet to know, beyond our imaginations. Those whose names are found written in the Book of Life will be called unto eternal life.

For those who refuse to accept Christ, death on earth should be feared, not because it is an end in itself but because it will usher them into a much worse fate. None should even contemplate this. 

I enjoin each and everyone to make the decision to live today. If you want to be among those who will not perish but live eternally with Christ, there is only one way. Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life...” The way to Heaven is Jesus Christ. If you want to enjoy life eternal, choose Christ because He is life.

WHEN MARY VISITED, JESUS HAD GONE FROM THE GRAVE

All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. 

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Matthew 28:6

“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.”

Jesus Christ, having completed His work on the cross, said “It is finished!” He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. The horrors He faced are unimaginable. This Son had never been separated from His Father until He hanged on the cross. As we can see, He was not even expected to have died at the time He did. The soldiers had come to break His legs, with the other two thieves’ so they could die and be buried as their bodies could not be left hanging on the cross till the following day. But Jesus was  found dead already. He had been separated and forsaken by His Father- obviously because of our sins which He was bearing and could therefore not be joined with God whose eyes cannot behold sin- and His death was facilitated by that separation! 

Then Joseph of Arimathae, one of the disciples of Jesus, went secretly to seek permission from Pilate to take the body of Jesus for burial. With Nicodemus, Joseph took the body of Jesus and bound Him according to the jewish burial custom. Close to the place He was crucified in Golgotha was a garden that had a grave that no man had ever been laid. And because the sabbath was drawing on apace, they hastened the interment, took the most opportune  place and laid Him there. Mary with the other women saw the grave and how He was laid and returned home to prepare spices for embalming. Now, the chief priests and the Pharisees having heard Jesus, while He was yet alive, saying that three days after His death He will rise again, went to Pilate to receive orders to not only put some guards at the grave of Jesus but also put a seal on the stone covering it so His disciples, as they supposed, would not come and steal His body away to claim He had truly risen again. So was the grave made secure.  

First thing on the first day of the week, Mary came to the grave, while it was still dark, to see the body of her Master. And she saw the stone already taken away from the grave, although it was extremely large. But we read in Matthew 28:2-5 how a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. Entering into the tomb, Mary could not find the body of her Master. She, supposing the body of Jesus had been stolen, ran and came to inform  Simon Peter and John the beloved. They all returned to the grave, Peter and John saw the grave empty and believed her report but returned home confused since none of them understood yet that the scripture says He must rise again. But there is something worthy of note in the grave . We read in John 20:6-7

“And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.”

The careful arrangement of the materials used for His covering did not suggest that the body of Jesus had been stolen, or hurriedly carried away. Jesus having resurrected, had Himself unbound and, probably, tidily folded the materials, and keeping them in their place walked out of the grave alive. 

But Mary, being left alone, stood outside the tomb, weeping. Although her eyes were filled with tears, she could see two angels sitting where Jesus was laid. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” And when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but did not know that it was Jesus. And Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”  But Mary supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” And Jesus said to her, “Mary!” As soon as she heard her name, she turned and said to Jesus in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher)” (John 20:12-16). Mary who was expecting to meet Jesus lying dead in the grave rather met Him alive outside the grave. Jesus had risen from the grave! 

Contained in the words of Jesus to Mary is a great message and blessing: 

"Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’" (John 20:17). Jesus, Who had always been found calling His disciples ‘friends’ was heard here calling them a more intimate name which was only possible because He had risen. We now see, also from other passages of the Bible, that  the resurrection of Jesus procured us some blessings some of which are listed below:

1. God is now our Father and we are His children (John 20:17).

2. We are now the brethren of Jesus, having the same Father with Him (Hebrews 2:11). 

3. We have now obtained redemption and forgiveness because Jesus would be going to the presence of the Father to present His own blood for us (Hebrews 9:12).

4. We are now justified because He was raised for our justification (Romans 4:25). 

5. We are no longer in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). 

6. A way has been paved into the Holy of Holies, by Jesus as our Forerunner, so we can also have access into the presence of the Father (Hebrews 6:20).

7. Authority over every power of the devil including death and hades (Matthew 28:18; Revelation 1:19). 

8. Possibility and assurance of our resurrection at the last day (1 Corinthians 15:20).