Why Miracles series: The Dead Are Raised.
Go Tell John
Then Jesus answering said unto them,
Go your way, and tell John
what things ye have seen and heard;
- how that the blind see,
- the lame walk,
- the lepers are cleansed,
- the deaf hear,
- the dead are raised,
- to the poor the gospel is preached.
Miracles
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are 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 might have life through his name.
(John 20:30-31)
Purpose of Signs and Miracles
Miracles Attesting Jesus The Messiah
1) Miracle of Sight
2) Miracle of Walking Lame
3) Miracle of Cleansed Lepers
4) Miracle of the Deaf Hearing
5) Miracle of Dead Are Raised
6) Sign of Gospel Preaching (to the poor).
THE FIRST THREE SIGNS
The Blind, The Lame, and The Leper
- Prohibited from entering the Temple
- Prohibited from service, worship, or sacrifice.
THE FOURTH AND FIFTH SIGNS
The Deaf and The Dead
- Symbolic of the state of Israel – They are dull of hearing.
- Matthew 13:13 / Mark 4:12 Hearing they do not hear.
- Isaiah 6:9-10. (Quoted by Matthew and Mark)
- Symbolic of the state of Israel –
- Isaiah 59:1,2,10 Blind and Dead
- Matthew 8:22 Let the dead bury their dead
- Luke 15:24 Prodigal was “dead”
- Symbolic of all who have not responded to the gospel
- 1 Peter 4:6 The gospel is preached to the dead, that they might live.
- Romans 8:10-11 Dead because of sin; Alive because of righteousness
- Ephesians 2:1 You were dead in your trespasses and sins.
The First Curse
Genesis 2:17 In the day you eat of it, you will die.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22 Death came by Adam; In Adam all die.
Did Adam Die?
Death was symbolic: Adam died spiritually – being separated from God.
This is true, but only a partial explanation. Adam indeed suffered spiritual death, that is separation from God. Adam was also removed from the garden (real and symbolic separation).
Death was delayed: A substitutionary sacrifice was made for Adam.
God made a blood sacrifice and covered Adam and Eve. This is the first “atonement” or covering of sin. This delayed his death but did not remove his sin.
- It was symbolic: the forgiveness of sin would come through the seed of the woman.
- It was temporary: Adam continued to sacrifice (evident in the sacrifices of his sons).
- It was partial: It was only an atonement (covering). It did not remove the sin.
See the Lepers Are Cleansed for a more detailed explanation.
Death is the curse for disobedience to the Word of God.
Adam eventually died (death is real). Genesis 5 (1 Corinthians 15:22)
Death was Real: All Men Die (Genesis 5)
Two Exceptions: Enoch (Genesis 5:24); and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11).
We inherited the curse of death from Adam. (Ephesians 2:1)
We are “dead in trespasses” because of Adam (Romans 5:12,18,19)
The Curse is Reversed
Romans 8:10
If Christ is in you,
though the body is dead because of sin,
yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
Ephesians 2:5
even when we were dead in our transgressions,
made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Colossians 2:13
When you were dead in your transgressions
and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
He made you alive together with Him,
having forgiven us all our transgressions,
Like Adam, a substitutionary sacrifice has been made for us.
Not like Adam, our sacrifice is neither symbolic, temporary, or incomplete.
Our bodies still die, but not as the unrighteous!
Sleep: The death of the righteous
Isaiah 26:19
Believing Israel will “awake and shout for joy” See John 11
John 11:11
Jesus awakened Lazarus out of sleep
Note: This is before the cross – Lazarus is an OT believer (Israel).
Matthew 22:31-32
Resurrection is promised in the Scriptures (OT)
“God of the Living” – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
1 Thessalonians 4:13
The dead in Christ are “asleep”
The Promise of Resurrection
(both the righteous and the unrighteous)
Isaiah 26:19
“Your dead shall live” (Righteous)
Ezekial 37:1-4,12-13
The valley of the dry bones (Righteous)
Daniel 12:2
Those asleep in the dust of the ground will wake up.
Righteous to life; Unrighteous to disgrace
Hosea 13:14
I will ransom them from the power of the grave.
John 5:28-29
All will hear His voice will arise.
Some to life; Some to judgment
Notice how many Old Testament references there are.
The Desired Response of this sign
Authenticates Jesus as the messenger
Romans 1:4
Jesus declared the Son of God … by the power of the resurrection
Authenticates the message of the Lord Jesus
The promise of resurrection of the righteous.
1 Corinthians 15:12-22
The promise of resurrection to the church
Luke 20:28
Reference to the dead living (OT saints)
John 5:5
The dead will hear His voice and live.
John 11:25
He who believes in Christ will live even if he dies.
Romans 6:5
We will be raised from the dead like Jesus
Jesus raises the dead to life.
The Daughter of Jairus, an official of the synagogue.
This event appears in all three synoptic Gospels!
Matthew 9:18, 23-26
Unnamed Official; Daughter has died (unique to Matthew)
Mark 5:21-23, 35-42
The official is identified as Jairus.
Luke 8:41-42, 49-55
Identified as Jairus; Daughter is age 12 (see Mark 5:25)
Compare to the woman with an issue of blood (12 years)
The Widow’s Son
Luke 7:1-17
The widow’s only son at Nain.
The Friend of Jesus
John 11:1-44
Lazarus, the Lord’s friend.
John provides a detailed narrative of the Lazarus being raised.
This is the longest of the stories, but it provides important details.
John 11 Jesus raises Lazarus
The Lord’s relationship to Lazarus and his family
(v1) Martha: Luke 10:50 Hosted the Lord and served alone.
(v2) Mary: John identifies her as the woman at the home of Simon.
Matthew 26:6-13
A woman anoints Jesus’ head with burial perfume
Luke 7:36-50
A woman washes Jesus’ feet with her tears.
Luke 10:49
Sat at the Lord’s feet as he taught (while Martha served)
(v3) Lazarus: “He whom you love”
(v5) Jesus loved “Martha, her sister, and Lazarus”
Notice the honored position of Mary!
Notice the anonymity of Mary (Matthew 26; Luke 7)
(v6) The Lord delays the journey to Bethany.
(v4) The reason for His delay.
– The sickness is not unto death (v11 “he sleeps”)
– For the glory of God
– That the Son of God may be glorified.
TEACHING MOMENTS
(v7) The journey to Bethany
(v8) The risk – “Jews seek to stone you”
(v9-10) Lesson 1 – Work while there is day
(V11) Lazarus is asleep
(v12) Great News: He is getting better!
(v13) John explains the confusion.
(v14) Lazarus is dead!
THE PURPOSE OF PROPHECY
(V15) “That you might believe”
John 14:29 Upper Room concerning His own death
Martha and Jesus
(v17-24) “I know that he will rise again … in the last day.”
(v25-26) “I am the resurrection and the life”
“He who believe in me will live”
“Do you believe this?
(v27) Mary confesses “I have believed”
“Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God”
“He who comes into the world”
Jesus Weeps
(v28-37) Mary and the Jews respond.
The Raising of Lazarus
(v40) If you believe, you will see the glory of God.
(v43) Only Lazarus is called from the tomb.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 All rise at the shout.
Isaiah 25:8 Curse of death removed.
(v44) Face is wrapped – proof of death.
Responses to the sign “the dead are raised.” John 12:9-11
John 12:9-10
The Jews rejected the sign!
They sought to kill Lazarus along with Jesus.
John 12:11
Many believed on account of Lazarus
Not the religious, but the common and outcast.
Luke 16: 27-31
Compare the rich man and Lazarus the beggar.
“Send Lazarus to my brothers”
If they do not believe Moses,
“they will not believe even if one is raised from the dead”
What is your reaction to the resurrection?
There are three options!
Some of those that heard about the sign denied it (John 9).
Some who hear of the sign today attribute it to something natural.
The Swoon Theory
Both Jesus and Lazarus were buried with their face covered.
Test the theory with a wet cloth on your face.
Some who witnessed the signs of Jesus attributed it to evil spirits.
They apparently believed in supernatural intervention.
It was easier for them to believe a lie than to accept the truth.
Some who witnessed the signs, and others who heard about them believed.
John 20:29 You believed because you saw.
Blessed are those that have not seen but believe!
Therefore, many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
John 20:30-31
Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Galatians 3:2,5 We receive the Spirit of God by “hearing with faith.”
If you have followed this series, you have seen five miraculous signs that Jesus if the Christ, the Son of God. You have seen how He gives sight to the blind, causes the lame to leap and the deaf to hear, and cleansed the leper. Now we have seen how Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Those that believe in Him have the promise of life everlasting.
What keeps you from putting your trust in the Lord Jesus now?
Perhaps you are like the man who brought his son to be healed,
LORD I believe, help thou my unbelief (Mark 9:24).
Jesus promised: Whoever believes in me hath everlasting life! (John 6:47)
You can receive that promise today!
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
And let the one who hears say, “Come.”
And let the one who is thirsty come;
let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
Revelation 22:17