Trinity 16 RAISING THE DEAD One of the greatest concerns of all mankind is the preservation of life and the delaying of the day of death. Much of man’s time, energy, and money has been spent to provide food, clothing, and shelter in order that life might be preserved. The medical profession is dedicated to the extension and preservation of life. In view of all of the efforts that are put forth to preserve life, it seems a bit strange that we hear almost nothing of raising the dead. The reason, however, is a very simple one. Bringing the dead back to life, once they are dead, is futile. No man can do it. Even those who claim to be modern day miracle workers never attempt the resurrection of the dead. However, in the long ago Christ did it, on at least three occasions. In raising the dead he proved himself to be unmistakably divine. In death we hear of Jarius’ daughter being raised from the dead, by faith in Jesus,. The eleventh chapter of John tells the story of the raising of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha. In the beginning of history when God created man, he endowed him with two kinds of life--physical and spiritual life. This fact implies that man can also know physical death and spiritual death. The physical part of man can be resurrected after once being dead. Also that the spiritual life, once dead, can also be revitalized and made alive. As a result of the sin of Adam and Eve it was then certain that they would die physically. As a result of this sin they were also estranged from God spiritually, hence, spiritually dead. From this time forth all human beings were destined to die physically, with only slight exception. Enoch did not die, but was translated to be with God. Elijah did not die, but was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. After Jesus’ resurrection he ascended into heaven never to die again, thus conquering death on behalf of mankind. It is here that we read from the fifteenth chapter of I Corinthians. “But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the first fruits of them that are asleep. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” (I Cor 15:20-24). This does not necessarily mean that all will share the joys of heaven, but, rather that all men who have lived will eventually be raised to live throughout the eternity to come. Those that have become Christians will share eternity with God, Christ, and the righteous of all ages in heaven; those who have rejected God’s way will exist eternally with Satan and his fallen angels in hell. Christ overcomes both these conditions, giving man back his existence and giving man back his chance of spiritual existence with God. The eternal kingdom belongs to children, as pure, innocent beings, when they come from God’s creation. Paul further explained the situation in Romans 6:23 where he said, “For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Here we also might remember Christ’s statement, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). When we look at Christ’s raising of the dead while on earth, we realize immediately that the physical resurrection of the body, as in the case of the widow’s son, the daughter of Jairus, and Lazarus, was not his primary purpose in coming to the world. After all, he raised only a relatively few people, and even they died again. It takes little insight on our part to realize that he came with a far more noble purpose in mind--the resurrection of the spiritually dead. This bringing of life to the spiritually dead is reflected in the summation passage at the end of the gospel of John in these words, “Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the Disciples, which a re not written in this book, but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31). All of us are physically alive and therefore have the great privilege of yet determining our ultimate destiny. Some of us may have been made spiritually alive in time past, but after becoming Christians have begun to ebb until we are now almost dead through our lack of concern for the Lord and his Cause. If such is the case, then we need to come to the Lord and be restored, taking on again the spiritual life which is so necessary for salvation.
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 04:19:54 +0000
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