The Life that is Raised

Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this report about him spread through all of Judea and all the surrounding country (Luke 7:11-17).

Jesus was busy proclaiming the gospel of His kingdom through word and deed… “Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction” (Matthew 9:35). He was also preparing His disciples to confront the world and establish God’s kingdom on earth after He returned to the Father… “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Jesus taught His disciples the secret to building the kingdom lies in confronting and transforming hearts with truth from God’s word and power from God’s throne. Today, the Virgin’s Son meets the widow’s son, the Author of life confounds the consequences of death, and Jesus gives truth seekers a glimpse of the life that is raised.

In Christ we are raised from physical death. All death is a consequence of sin… “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The Spirit reveals the truth that there are two deaths… “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:11). The Spirit teaches further that the first death is a physical death that everyone born in the flesh must face… “Just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). But notice that physical death is not terminal. There is something that follows. It is called judgment. Jesus taught that there is life after death and that God has given Him authority to judge in that resurrection… “And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:27-29). Jesus exhorted His disciples to have no fear of the first death… “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Jesus does not want His disciples to live in the shadow of death, but in the light of eternal life… “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

In Christ we are raised from spiritual death. The Spirit teaches that because we are born in sin, we are spiritually dead… “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world” (Ephesians 2:1-2). God graciously resurrects our spirit that we might be saved through faith in Christ… “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

In Christ we are raised from temporal death. I speak here of a kind of death that is acquainted only with this temporary world. From time to time we all face the death of dreams, relationships, and more. Just like physical death, this kind of death is caused by sin… “Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). Jesus Christ offers new life to those who’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, divorce, a broken relationship, a failed business or ministry, and all kinds of death… “For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many” (Romans 5:15).

As we grow up into Christ we enjoy now and anticipate forever…

The Life that is Raised.