Page 20 - January 2023 - Truth & Tidings

timated His death, the Feast of Firstfruits, Peter commanded Tabitha (or Dorcas) to
on the first day of the week, anticipated rise from the dead, which she did (Act
His resurrection. Paul taught that “Christ 9:36-41), and Paul, like the prophets before
has been raised from the dead, the first- him, stretched himself on the broken body
fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For of Eutychus and returned him alive to the
as by a man came death, by a man has assembly in Troas (20:7-12).
come also the resurrection of the dead. The Exception to Resurrection
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ It is significant that all persons, once
shall all be made alive. But each in his resurrected, also died again. God’s verdict,
own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at “It is appointed for man to die once” (Heb
his coming those who belong to Christ” 9:27), establishes the minimum sentence;
(1Co 15:20-23). it does not contradict the possibility of
The Demonstration of Resurrection dying twice, as resurrected people in the
Both the OT and NT contain wonder- Bible actually did. Nor does it deny the
ful stories of God’s power in raising the horrid reality of a “second death” for the
dead. The brief allusion to “women [who] Christ rejecter.
received back their dead by resurrection” But there was a resurrection that was
in Hebrews 11:35 pointed backward to unlike all others. Paul wrote, “We know
events in the life of the prophets Elijah (1Ki that Christ, being raised from the dead,
17:17-24) and Elisha (2Ki 4:32-37). Added will never die again; death no longer has
to these stories is the colorful narrative of dominion over him. For the death he died
a dead man that was hastily thrown into he died to sin, once for all, but the life he
Elisha’s tomb and was miraculously resur- lives he lives to God” (Rom 6:9-10). And
rected upon contact with his bones (13:21). now, for those who look for His coming,
The NT record of Christ’s life also con- there is the real possibility that we, too,
tains three resurrections. In the city of will never die. Looking toward His com-
Nain, Jesus commanded a widow’s son ing, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and
to rise, and “the dead man sat up and the life. Whoever believes in me, though
began to speak” (Luk 7:15). On another he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who
day, He raised a Jewish maiden, Jairus’ lives and believes in me shall never die”
daughter (8:40-56). Later still, when sad (Joh 11:25-26). Paul wrote, “The dead in
news from Bethany reached Him, He said, Christ will rise first. Then we who are
“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but alive, who are left, will be caught up to-
I go to awaken him” (Joh 11:11). Upon gether with them” (1Th 4:16-17).
proclaiming “I am the resurrection and The Description of Resurrection
the life. Whoever believes in me, though The death of Jesus Christ is indisput-
he die, yet shall he live” (v25), Jesus issued able; thinking of the spear and the blood,
a loud command, and Lazarus walked out Spurgeon said, “No man in this world was
of the tomb, alive! ever more surely dead than he.” So, too,
Following Christ’s own death, three His resurrection was certain. The Romans
further resurrections are recorded; after might set a seal on a closed tomb, but we
the earthquake there were “many bodies set our hope on an open one! Like the
of the saints who had fallen asleep [that] earliest visitors, we hear the sweet angelic
were raised” (Mat 27:50-54). In Joppa, word, “He has risen,” and then, like Mary,

20 TRUTH kTidings January 2023