The Lord gave sign gifts to two of the Old Testament prophets and to two of the Apostles to raise someone from the dead. The Lord himself during his personal ministry in the flesh on earth raised three persons from the dead. Finally, the Lord himself arose from the dead. The Lord willing we will look at some of the lessons taught us in the resurrections aforementioned. The power of the resurrection rests solely with the Lord. Even when the Prophets and Apostles raised someone from the dead the power was of God. Man does not have the power to raise anyone from the dead.

The first one to be raised from the dead was a young lad raised from the dead at the hands of the prophet Elijah: 1 Kings 17:17 "And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? 19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. 20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? 21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. 22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. 24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth."

There are several points we make from the above lesson:

1. The prophet did not know that the Lord would raise up the child at the first, but he trusted that the Lord was able and prayed that the Lord would raise up the child.
2. At death, the soul departs the body. When the child was raised up, the soul returned to the child.
3. The Lord heard the voice of Elijah. The Lord hears us when we pray as well. While we do not have any promise that we can pray that our dead be raised back to natural life, yet we know that the Lord hears our prayers and many times grants our requests.
4. The raising of the boy from the dead was not for the sake of the boy, but was for compassion for the widow: "O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?" When a child of God passes from this life, they are better off as their soul and spirit go immediately into heaven's glory world. Those left behind sorrow for their loss of fellowship with the departed.
5. The raising of the dead was evidence that Elijah was a "man of God" to the widow woman. Yet to many of the Jews, when Jesus raised three from the dead, they still did not believe that he was a "man of God."

The second occasion of an Old Testament prophet raising someone from the dead, involved the Prophet Elisha: In the book of 2 Kings we read of a Shunemite woman, whom the scriptures describe as a "great woman." This woman saw that the man of God passed by her house on a regular basis and she had her husband build a little chamber with a bed, stool, table, and candlestick so that the man of God could rest and study when he passed by. Subsequently, the man of God (Elisha) told the Shunemite that she and her husband would have a child in their old age: 2 Kings 4:16 "And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. 17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life."

Later when the child was grown, it fell and subsequently died. The dead child was laid upon his bed and the mother fetched the man of God who came to the house where the dead child lay. 2 Kings 4:32 "And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. 33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. 34 And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. 35 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. 37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out."

We make the following points from this lesson:

1. Both the birth of this child and the raising up of this child were miraculous. This child was born of parents that were past the age of childbearing. God restored them to the time of life and gave them a son at God's appointed time. This is similar to the spiritual birth of a child of God. We are born spiritually contrary to nature and at God's appointed time. Within the experiences of God's children they will be born of the Spirit of God at God's appointed time and their mortal bodies will be raised up in the resurrection and changed like unto Jesus' glorious body.
2. The prophet prayed unto God that the child would be raised up. The prophet knew that he had no power to raise the child, but that God was able.
3. This raising of the dead body of the child was one of the fifteen signs and wonders God blessed to be done by the prophet Elijah.

Next, the Lord raised three persons from the dead while he walked on the earth:
1. The daughter of Jairus.
2. The son of the widow woman of Nain.
3. Lazarus.
Jairus first besought the Lord that he would come and heal his sick daughter while she was still alive: Mark 5:22 "And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live." While the Lord journeyed to where the child lay word came that the child had died: Mark 5:25 "While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?" The Lord responded saying, "As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe."
When the Lord came into the house he said: Mark 5:38 "And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying." Finally, the Lord raised up the young child: Mark 5:41 "And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment."

There are several lessons taught us in this account of the raising up of the daughter of Jairus:
1. Certainly, the Lord could have healed the child so that she dies not. Many today question why the Lord does not heal all those that they want to see healed. However, which is greater and more important: The healing of the sick or the raising of the dead? The raising of the dead is far more important.
2. Moreover, the child died outside the presence of the Lord. In the New Testament we do not have a single account of anyone ever dieing in the Lord's presence.
3. The Lord called the death of the child, but sleep. In the eyes of God, the death of his children is simply that they are asleep until the resurrection. In the morning of the resurrection the Lord will raise those who are asleep in the dust: 1 Thes. 4:13 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep."
4. The Lord did not have to pray to the Father that he raise the dead child, for he had the power himself as the Son of God to raise the dead.
5. Though the people laughed him to scorn, the Lord encouraged the father and mother to believe. There is a practical lesson to us today that we believe even when all about us the people are laughing Jesus to scorn.

In Luke chapter seven we read of the raising up of the son of the widow woman of Nain: 12 "Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people."

There are several lessons taught us about the raising up of the son of the widow woman:
1. The Lord had compassion on the widow woman. Notice the Lord's compassion is directed to those who are left behind. He knows that those of his children which have died are in a better place.
2. The power of Jesus' voice is manifest in the words, "Young man, I say unto thee arise." This is the same God who spoke the world into existence in the first chapter of Genesis. The power of Jesus' voice is also illustrated in two verses in the book of John:
a. John 5:25: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live."
b. John 5:28, 29: "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." The Lord need only speak and it is done. Likewise, so shall it be in the resurrection of the dead when Jesus shall speak with the voice of the archangel and the dead shall arise from the graves.
3. Glory was given to God for the raising from the dead. Likewise, we should be instant in our praise and glory to God as we look forward to the morning of the resurrection.
4. The people believed that a great prophet had arisen among them. Jesus is that prophet that Moses spoke of: Deu. 18:15 "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;" Just as God used Moses to usher in the Law Covenant, so Jesus ushered in the Covenant of Grace.

We read of the resurrection of Lazarus in John chapter 11. While the quote of this entire chapter is too long for this writing, the reader is encouraged to go and read this chapter. We make the following observations from John chapter 11 concerning the resurrection of Lazarus:

1. Lazarus died while the Lord tarried behind. The Lord had something greater to manifest than the healing of the sick.
2. Again, the Lord referred to death as sleep.
3. The Lord was not afraid of those who sought to stone him to death.
4. The raising of Lazarus from the dead would be to the praise and glory of God.
5. When Jesus arrived on the scene Lazarus had lain in the grave for four days, thus decay of the body had already started.
6. The Lord said that he is the resurrection and the life. Only the Lord can give life and only the Lord can raise the dead.
7. Those who believe on the Lord shall never die. That is, the soul and the spirit of those whose bodies lie in the grave live on in heaven's glory world awaiting the great day of the resurrection.
8. The Lord spake unto Lazarus and he came forth from the grave.
9. After that Lazarus was arisen, the Lord commanded the disciples to loose him and let him go. The resurrection of Lazarus shows forth both the raising up of those who are without spiritual life in the new birth as well as those who will be raised from the dead at the resurrection of the body.

The manner in which one is born of the Spirit as set forth in Eph. 2:1-3: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." It is only after one is born of the Spirit that the gospel ministers can loose him and let him go.

After the Lord's ascension back into heaven we have two apostles who were blessed of God to raise individuals from the dead. These two were Peter and Paul. Peter was called the apostle to the Jews and Paul was called the apostle to the Gentiles. Through the miracles of the resurrection of the dead, the work of these two apostles was manifest to be of God.

Peter was blessed of God in the raising of a certain disciple named Tabitha from the dead. We read of Tabitha in Acts 9:36 "Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber."

Next, we read where the disciples called for Peter who came and was blessed of God in the raising up of Tabitha from the dead: 38 "And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive."

We make the following observations concerning Tabitha being raised from the dead:
1. First Peter prayed. He knew that it would take the power of God to raise the dead.
2. Peter had assurance from the Lord that Tabitha would be raised up: for he said "Tabitha, arise." Without that assurance he would never have said that.
3. Many things could be said about Tabitha's life and good works, but that will be saved for another time.

Paul was preaching at Troas in a barn where there were many lights and a young man named Eutychus who because Paul was long preaching fell asleep and fell out of the third loft unto his death. Acts 20:10 "And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. 12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted." Again, the power of God was present for this miracle of raising the dead to take place.

All seven of the above miracles of raising the dead had one characteristic in common. The seven were raised back up unto mortal lives on earth to later die again. We look for a better resurrection based on the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ from the dead. He arose from the dead through his own power. (The seven were not raised by their own power but by the power of God). He arose never to die again. Both the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was by his own power as we read the words of Jesus in John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

Because Jesus raised up from the dead by his own power never to die again, so we look forward to rising up from the dead never to die again as we read in 1 Cor. 15:51 "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

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