Showing posts with label Raised from the dead. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Raised from the dead. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

PEOPLE RAISED FROM THE DEAD IN THE BIBLE - Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection are the focal point of Scripture and the most important events in the history of the world. The resurrection of Jesus is different from the Bible’s other resurrections in a very notable way: Jesus’ resurrection is the first “permanent” resurrection; all the other resurrections in the Bible were “temporary” in that those raised to life died again. Lazarus died twice; Jesus rose, nevermore to die. He is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Jesus’ resurrection justifies us and ensures our eternal life: “Because I live, you also will live.” - The Bible records several accounts of resurrection. Every time a person is raised from the dead, it is a stupendous miracle, showing that the God who is Himself the Source of Life has the ability to give life to whom He will — even after death. The following people were raised from the dead in the Bible: The widow of Zarephath’s son. Elijah the prophet raised the widow of Zarephath’s son from the dead. Elijah was staying in an upper room of the widow’s house during a severe drought in the land. While he was there, the widow’s son became ill and died. In her grief, the woman brought the body of her son to Elijah with the assumption that his presence in her household had brought about the death of her boy as a judgment on her past sin. Elijah took the dead boy from her arms, went to the upper room, and prayed, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”

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How many people were raised from the dead in the Bible?

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Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection are the focal point of Scripture and the most important events in the history of the world. 

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The resurrection of Jesus is different from the Bible’s other resurrections in a very notable way: Jesus’ resurrection is the first “permanent” resurrection; all the other resurrections in the Bible were “temporary” in that those raised to life died again. Lazarus died twice; Jesus rose, nevermore to die. In this way, He is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Jesus’ resurrection justifies us and ensures our eternal life: “Because I live, you also will live.”

Got Questions Ministries


 

The Bible records several accounts of resurrection.

Every time a person is raised from the dead, it is a stupendous miracle, showing that the God who is Himself the Source of Life has the ability to give life to whom He will — even after death.

The following people were raised from the dead in the Bible:

The widow of Zarephath’s son (1 Kings 17:17–24). Elijah the prophet raised the widow of Zarephath’s son from the dead.

Elijah was staying in an upper room of the widow’s house during a severe drought in the land. While he was there, the widow’s son became ill and died.

In her grief, the woman brought the body of her son to Elijah with the assumption that his presence in her household had brought about the death of her boy as a judgment on her past sin.

Elijah took the dead boy from her arms, went to the upper room, and prayed, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” (verse 21).

Elijah stretched himself out on the boy three times as he prayed, and “the Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived” (verse 22).

The prophet brought the boy to his mother, who was filled with faith in the power of God through Elijah: “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth” (verse 24).

The Shunammite woman’s son (2 Kings 4:18–37). The prophet Elisha raised the Shunammite woman’s son from the dead.

Elisha regularly stayed in Shunem in an upper room prepared for him by this woman and her husband.

One day, while Elisha was at Mount Carmel, the couple’s young son died. The woman carried the body of her son to Elisha’s room and laid it on the bed (verse 21).

Then, without even telling her husband the news, she departed for Carmel to find Elisha (verses 22–25).

When she found Elisha, she pleaded with him to come to Shunem. Elisha sent his servant, Gehazi, ahead of them with instructions to lay Elisha’s staff on the boy’s face (verse 31).

As soon as Elisha and the Shunammite woman arrived back home, Elisha went to the upper room, shut the door, and prayed.

Then he stretched out on top of the boy’s body, and the body began to warm (verse 34).

Elisha arose, walked about the room, and stretched himself out on the body again. The boy then sneezed seven times and awoke from death (verse 35).

Elisha then delivered the boy, alive again, to his grateful mother (verses 36–37).

The man raised out of Elisha’s grave (2 Kings 13:20–21). Elisha is connected with another resurrection that occurred after his death.

Sometime after Elisha had died and was buried, some men were burying another body in the same area.

The grave diggers saw a band of Moabite raiders approaching, and, rather than risk an encounter with the Moabites, they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s grave.

Scripture records that, “when the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet” (verse 21).

The widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7:11–17). This is the first of the resurrections that Jesus performed.

As the Lord approached the town of Nain, He met a funeral procession leaving the city. In the coffin was a young man, the only son of a widow.

When Jesus saw the procession, “his heart went out to [the woman] and he said, ‘Don’t cry’” (verse 13).

Jesus came close and touched the coffin and spoke to the dead man: “Young man, I say to you, get up!” (verse 14).

Obeying the divine order, “the dead man sat up and began to talk” (verse 15).

And thus Jesus turned the funeral into a praise and worship service: “God has come to help his people,” the people said (verse 16).

Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:52–56). Jesus also showed His power over death by raising the young daughter of Jairus, a synagogue leader.

The Lord was surrounded by crowds when Jairus came to Him, begging Him to visit his house and heal his dying twelve-year-old daughter (verses 41–42).

Jesus began to follow Jarius home, but on the way a member of Jarius’ household approached them with the sad news that Jairus’ daughter had died.

Jesus turned to Jarius with words of hope: “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed” (verse 50).

Upon arriving at Jarius’ house, Jesus took the girl’s parents, Peter, James, and John and entered the room where the body lay.

There, “he took her by the hand and said, ‘My child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up” (verses 54–55).

Jesus and His disciples then left the resurrected girl with her astonished parents.

Lazarus of Bethany (John 11). The third person that Jesus raised from the dead was His friend Lazarus.

Word had come to Jesus that Lazarus was ill, but Jesus did not go to Bethany to heal him. Instead, He told His disciples, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (verse 4).

A couple days later, Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus had died, but He promised a resurrection: “I am going there to wake him up” (verse 11).

When Jesus reached Bethany, four days after Lazarus’ death, Lazarus’ grieving sisters both greeted Jesus with the same words: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (verses 21 and 32).

Jesus, speaking to Martha, promised to raise Lazarus from the dead (verse 23) and proclaimed Himself to be “the resurrection and the life” (verse 25).

Jesus asked to see the grave. When He got to the place, He commanded the stone to be rolled away from the tomb (verse 39), and He prayed (verses 41–42) and “called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’” (verse 43).

Just as Jesus had promised, “the dead man came out” (verse 44).

The result of this miracle was that God was glorified and “many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him” (verse 45).

Others, however, refused to believe in Jesus and plotted to destroy both Jesus and Lazarus (John 11:53; 12:10).

Various saints in Jerusalem (Matthew 27:50–53).

The Bible mentions some resurrections that occurred en masse at the resurrection of Christ.

When Jesus died, “the earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open” (verses 51–52).

Those open tombs remained open until the third day.

At that time, “the bodies of many holy people . . . were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people” (verses 52–53).

On the day that Jesus was raised to life, these saints were also raised and became witnesses in Jerusalem of the life that only Jesus can give.

Tabitha (Acts 9:36–43).

Tabitha, whose Greek name was Dorcas, was a believer who lived in the coastal city of Joppa. Her resurrection was performed by the apostle Peter.

Dorcas was known for always doing good and helping the poor” (verse 36).

When she died, the believers in Joppa were filled with sadness. They laid the body in an upper room and sent for Peter, who was in the nearby town of Lydda (verses 37–38).

Peter came at once and met with the disciples in Joppa, who showed him the clothing that Dorcas had made for the widows there (verse 39).

Peter sent them all out of the room and prayed.

Then “turning toward the dead woman, he said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet” (verses 40–41).

The overjoyed believers received their resurrected friend, and the news spread quickly throughout the city.

“Many people believed in the Lord” as a result (verse 42).

Eutychus (Acts 20:7–12).

Eutychus was a young man who lived (and died and lived again) in Troas. He was raised from the dead by the apostle Paul.

The believers in Troas were gathered in an upper room to hear the apostle speak. Since Paul was leaving town the next day, he spoke late into the night.

One of his audience members was Eutychus, who sat in a window and, unfortunately, fell asleep. Eutychus slipped out of the window and fell three stories to his death (verse 9).

Paul went down and “threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him” (verse 10).

Eutychus came back to life, went upstairs, and ate a meal with the others.

When the meeting finally broke up at daylight, “the people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted” (verse 12).

Jesus (Mark 16:1–8).

Of course, any list of resurrections in the Bible must include the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

His death and resurrection are the focal point of Scripture and the most important events in the history of the world.

The resurrection of Jesus is different from the Bible’s other resurrections in a very notable way: Jesus’ resurrection is the first “permanent” resurrection; all the other resurrections in the Bible were “temporary” in that those raised to life died again.

Lazarus died twice; Jesus rose, nevermore to die.

In this way, He is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Jesus’ resurrection justifies us (Romans 4:25) and ensures our eternal life: “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19).

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Monday, July 27, 2020

DORCAS - The Woman Whose Dressmaking Made Her Famous - Dorcas certainly lived a lovely life, and had eyes reflecting the compassion of the Master whom she so faithfully served. As a disciple she certainly had faith in the One who had called her, but she came to see that faith without works is dead. She also knew that works without faith gained no merit with God, and so the hands that dispensed alms and made garments were inwardly inspired by Him whose hands were nailed to a tree. Dorcas did not aspire to be a leader, but was content to stay in her own home and try to do all she could in all the ways she could. Dorcas implies “the female of a roebuck,” “a gazelle” — an emblem of beauty. Dorcas is the first Greek name of a female in the New Testament, its Hebrew equivalent being Tabitha which is the Syro-Chaldaic form of the Hebrew Zibiah, or Tsibiah, the name of the mother of King Joash. In the seaport town of Joppa she became known for her acts of charity and is the namesake for a charitable group named the Dorcas Society. Where did she learn to sew, make garments for the poor and become notable for her charitable works? It could possibly have been in a godly home that she was taught how to use her fingers and her funds for the comfort and relief of the needy. Dorcas must have been a woman of means to serve humanity as freely as she did. She is called, “a certain disciple,” and is thus included among the numerous disciples mentioned in the New Testament.

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DORCAS

The Woman Whose Dressmaking Made Her Famous
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Dorcas certainly lived a lovely life, and had eyes reflecting the compassion of the Master whom she so faithfully served. As a disciple she certainly had faith in the One who had called her, but she came to see that faith without works is dead. She also knew that works without faith gained no merit with God, and so the hands that dispensed alms and made garments were inwardly inspired by Him whose hands were nailed to a tree. Dorcas did not aspire to be a leader, but was content to stay in her own home and try to do all she could in all the ways she could.
All the Women of the Bible
Herbert Lockyer




Scripture Reference Acts 9:36-43
Name Meaning — Dorcas implies “the female of a roebuck,” “a gazelle” — an emblem of beauty.
Dorcas is the first Greek name of a female in the New Testament, its Hebrew equivalent being Tabitha which is the Syro-Chaldaic form of the Hebrew Zibiah, or Tsibiah, the name of a princess of Judah, the mother of King Joash.
Wilkinson says that “the Greek equivalent for her Syriac name may be accounted for by her residence at Joppa, a seaport much frequented, and no doubt partially inhabited by foreigners speaking chiefly the Greek language.”
Family Connections — The Bible is silent concerning the parentage and genealogy of Dorcas.
In the seaport town of Joppa she became known for her acts of charity and is the namesake for a charitable group named the Dorcas Society.
Here was a woman “who with her needle embroidered her name ineffaceably into the beneficence of the world.”
Image result for images of dorcas in the bibleWhere did she learn to sew, make garments for the poor and become notable for her charitable works?
It could possibly have been in a godly home that she was taught how to use her fingers and her funds for the comfort and relief of the needy.
Dorcas must have been a woman of means to serve humanity as freely as she did. We have five glimpses of her witness and work in the historical account Luke gives us.
She Was a Christian
She is called, “a certain disciple,” and is thus included among the numerous disciples mentioned in the New Testament.
Through the Spirit-empowered ministry of Philip the evangelist, a Christian Church was established at Joppa — now known as Jaffa — and from an early date the church was not only a center of fervent evangelism but also of a well-organized social service.
Possibly Dorcas came to know Christ as her Saviour in this church, and there caught the vision of how she could serve Christ with her money and her needle.
Dorcas knew what it was to have a regenerated heart and this was the source of her unselfish life and charitable acts.
Behind her sewing of garments was a saved soul.
Giving of alms, and the making of garments in themselves gain no merit with God who, first of all, claims our hearts before our talents.
Image result for images of dorcas in the bibleIt was only when Mary Magdalene was recovered from her stained past, that Christ accepted her desire to minister to His wants.
In our churches and also in commendable societies there are many public-spirited women who, with humanitarian ideals, are engaged in various relief activities, and whose sole object is to do good. But they are not actuated by Christ.
Trying to emulate Dorcas, they lack her Christian discipleship, forgetting that caring for widows and others in need springs from “pure religion” which also reveals itself in keeping oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:26, 27).
When Luke says that Dorcas was full of good works, he meant the word “full” to refer primarily to her inward grace, which prompted the outward deeds.
“Good works are only genuine and Christian when the soul of the performer is imbued with them.”
The cup of cold water to be acceptable must be given in His name.
With Dorcas, then, being good meant doing good. Her manifold good works flowed from a heart grateful to God for His saving grace.
Lange the commentator says that “The gazelle is distinguished for its slender and beautiful form, its graceful movements and its soft but brilliant eyes; it is frequently introduced by the Hebrews and other Oriental nations as an image of female loveliness, and the name was often employed as a proper name, in the case of females.”
Whether Dorcas, whose name means “gazelle,” was a beautiful woman or not we are not told.
Image result for images of dorcas in the bibleShe certainly lived a lovely life, and had eyes reflecting the compassion of the Master whom she so faithfully served.
All whom she influenced and helped saw in her the beauty of Jesus.
As a disciple she certainly had faith in the One who had called her, but she came to see that faith without works is dead.
She also knew that works without faith gained no merit with God, and so the hands that dispensed alms and made garments were inwardly inspired by Him whose hands were nailed to a tree.
She Was a Philanthropist
Dorcas the believer was likewise Dorcas the benefactress. “This woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.”
How significant are these last three words!
Too many well-meaning people sit around and talk about charitable works they never do. Sometimes they propose these works and leave others to execute them.
Dorcas not only thought up ways of relieving the needy, but she also carried out her plans. 
Which she did! She knew what she could do, and did it.
Studying the female characters of Scripture, it is interesting to discover how several of them are conspicuous for one grace or work of mercy, or for another.
o  Rizpah we remember because of her loving care of the dead.
o  The widow of Zarephath for giving bread to the hungry.
o  Anna the prophetess for her fastings and prayers day and night.
o  Martha, as the queen of gracious hospitality.
o  Mary for her box of fragrant ointment.
o  Joanna, and her ministering unto Jesus.
o  Dorcas, for her care of widows and clothing the poor.
o  Further, a few Bible characters have inspired profitable institutions for the welfare of human society—
o  Mary Magdalene — home for wayward and lost girls.
o  Lazarus — whose name has been given to hospitals caring for the sick and poor.
o  Dorcas — source and inspiration of Dorcas Societies all over the world.
Among her good works was that of fashioning coats and garments for widows and the needy of her church and community with her own loving hands.
The practical, unselfish service of this Christian philanthropist has filled the world with fragrance, for there flowed out of that little city of Joppa a multitude of benevolent and charitable organizations in which women have been prominent.
The question came to Dorcas as it did to Moses when he felt he was not the man to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage, “What is that in thine hand?”
And Moses answered, “A rod” (Exodus 4:2).
And that rod became the symbol of delegated divine power.
“What is that in thine hand?” the Lord asked Dorcas.
She said, “A needle,” and He took what she had and she stitched for Christ’s sake.
All praise, then, to the needle that represented practical benevolence among the needy. The garments Dorcas cut out and sewed represented Christian faith in action.
“I was naked and ye clothed me,” said Jesus of those who clothed His poor and destitute children.
She Was Mourned and Missed
It was a sad day for the church at Joppa when one of its most beloved and devoted members died in the midst of her works of charity.
Image result for images of dorcas in the bible“Death loves a shining mark, a signal blow,” and death certainly found such a mark in the bountiful Dorcas whose passing was a blow to the community.
The vessel containing the costly ointment was broken, and the odor filled the house as never before.
Kind hands washed the corpse and placed it in the upper chamber, with feelings expressed by the poet—
Sister, thou wast mild and lovely,
Gentle as the summer breeze,
Pleasant as the air of morning
When it floats among the trees.
While Dorcas doubtless owned her home, she seemed to have no relatives to mourn her going.
The widows she had clothed and to whom she had been a friend laid her out; and great grief prevailed.
Although so diligent on behalf of others, Dorcas died in the midst of a useful life.
The writer had a preacher-friend who always said that he would like to die with his boots on — and he did, one Sunday morning, while preaching the Gospel.
Is it possible that Dorcas had a sudden call with her needle in hand? What a grand way to go!
She Was Raised From the Dead
Her fellow disciples at the church where she had worshiped, learning that Peter was nearby, sent two members to beseech the apostle to visit the grief-stricken company.
They knew that he had exercised supernatural power, and doubtless entertained the hope that their greatly-loved benefactress might live again.
Like the faithful minister that he was, Peter did not delay in accompanying the two men to the death chamber at Joppa where the weeping widows were assembled.
The apostle must have been moved as they reverently exhibited the coats and garments Dorcas had made for them.
Then after Christ’s example at the raising of Jairus' daughter, “Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed” (see John 11:41, 42).
When he felt his request had been received, Peter spake the word of power and authority, “Tabitha, arise,” and life returned.
Dorcas sat up, and Peter presented her alive to the saints and widows (compare Matthew 9:25; Mark 5:40, 41).
What a moving scene that must have been!
What joy must have prevailed among her fellow-saints and the widows, now that their much-loved Dorcas was alive again, and in her resurrected life, with fuller dedication to the service of the Master, was willing to take up her needle again.
Her return from death must have been a great gain to her church.
Her only pang was that she would have to sicken again and for the second time enter the gates of death.
She Was the Cause of Revival
The resurrection of Dorcas had a twofold effect.
First of all, the miracle comforted the mourners for she had returned to her life of good works and almsdeeds.
This miracle was thus like our Lord’s miracles — one of mercy.
The second effect was to convince all of the truth of the Christian faith attested as it was by miraculous power.
Throughout Joppa the message rang, “Dorcas is alive again,” and “many believed in the Lord.”
The miracle in that upper chamber, then, was not a miracle for the sake of a miracle.
Dorcas raised from physical death became the cause of the resurrection of many from their graves of sin and unbelief.
How the church at Joppa must have increased its membership through the many who were saved as the result of the return of Dorcas from the realm of death.
After the resurrection of Lazarus, we read that many of the Jews believed on Jesus.
Is not the same true in a spiritual resurrection?
A transformed life attracts others to the Saviour.
We read that after the miracle, Peter stayed in Joppa for many days, and we can assume that his ministry greatly helped the church there in the establishment of the new converts.
Peter stayed with Simon the tanner, a saint who prepared skins for leather to the glory of God, just as Dorcas made up her garments with consecrated hands.
A lesson to bear in mind as we part with our saintly benefactress is that she was unconscious of the magnificent work she was doing and of its far-reaching consequences.
Dorcas did not aspire to be a leader, but was content to stay in her own home and try to do all she could in all the ways she could.
Thus, in spite of herself, she became a great leader in an almost universal philanthropic cause, just as “The Lady of the Lamp,” Florence Nightingale, did when she went to Crimea to care for the wounded, dying soldiers on the field of battle.
May grace be ours to do whatever our hands find to do, as unto the Lord!

Devotional content drawn from All the Women of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer.

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