Welcome back, Spiritual Explorers! I know raising the dead may seem impossible, weird, a little spooky, or like something straight out of a horror film, but let’s delve into this subject anyway!
Raising the Dead: Elijah
Raising the dead may sound both impossible and yet, somehow fascinating. No doubt, many of us wish Jesus were around to bring a loved one back to life. But death is a part of life, and eventually, we will all go that way. What about people who died before the time God has determined? When that happens, it’s time for a good old-fashioned resurrection!
Jesus wasn’t the first person in the Bible to raise the dead. The Old Testament book of 1 Kings 17: 17-24 tells the story of the prophet Elijah raising a widow’s son to life. Times were difficult, and drought and famine were ravaging the land. God instructed Elijah to go to the widow of Zarephath, who would feed him. Sometime later, the woman’s son died, and while the loss of a child was devastating, things were different then. In Biblical times, women did not inherit property upon their husbands’ death. When a husband died, the widow went to live with their father, if he was alive, or with an adult son. Without a husband, father, or son, a widow was left with no resources. Thankfully, Elijah was on the scene!
1Kings 17: 19-23:
19 “Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with by causing her son to die?” 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”
22 The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!” (NIV)
Dead raising number one!
Elisha Raises the Dead
Elisha was the successor to Elijah. When Elijah was taken away, his anointing fell on Elisha, who received a double portion of Elijah’s gifting. When Elisha passed through the town of Shunem, a woman who was well off always offered him a meal. Eventually, she prepared an upper room for him in her house. Although she was married, her husband was old and they lacked a son. Because of her kindness, Elisha wanted to do something for her. When he finds out that she has no son, he tells her that she will indeed be holding her infant son within a year – because that’s what prophets do! Sure enough, she had a son, but the boy died a few years later. The woman went out and found Elisha, who returned home with her.
2 Kings 4:32-35:
32 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. 33 He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm. 35 Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.
Dead raising number two!
Elisha Take Two
Elisha died and was buried in a tomb, but he is not finished! In 2 Kings 13:20-21, he raised the dead the second time – even though he was dead!
20 Elisha died and was buried.
Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. (NIV)
Yup! The bones of Elisha had enough power to raise the dead!
Jesus Raises the Deadeading Text Here
During the time of his earthly ministry, Jesus brought three people back to life. Lazarus is usually the most talked-about, along with the twelve-year-old daughter of Jarius, a ruler in the synagogue at Capernaum. The third is the son of a widow.
Luke 7:11-17:
11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Again we see a widow who loses her only son. Jesus understood the magnitude of the woman’s loss, and his heart went out to her. Because he loved her, he gave her back her son.
Jesus Brings Life with Death
Just as the bones of Elisha released resurrection power, so did the death and resurrection of Jesus.
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. (Matt. 27: 50-51 NIV)
Can you imagine? You’re enjoying a quiet dinner at home when suddenly Uncle Bob shows up. Usually, that wouldn’t be an issue, but Uncle Bob died a few years back! So it had to be crazy! Once dead, the old saints were now alive and roaming the town! No, it is not the zombie apocalypse, it’s just Jesus. He’s doing what he does best; bringing life to the spiritually and physically dead!
The scriptures don’t tie this to the idea of love, but Jesus died for us because he loved us. Once Jesus came back to life, so did they. Wow!
Until next time under the palm, be blessed!
