Lazarus had been in the tomb for 4 days. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” . . . Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, . . . Do you believe this?”1
And Paul . . . reasoned with them from Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”2
There is nothing new under the sun, until today many still refute the reality of who Jesus is and wobble in unbelief. Suffice it to say, even science is limited physically and inept to explain the spirit realm; man’s finite mind cannot possibly totally fathom nor comprehend an infinite God. And it takes grace from God himself for us to have our minds able to embrace biblical truth by faith. Prophetically, Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.”3
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. . . . If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, . . . For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead; . . . The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.”. . .4
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with the word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ears to hear as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. . . .5 As though on cue, the angel proclaimed, “. . . to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”6
Having the revelation Paul wrote a doxology, “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages, but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.”7
Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and judgments he uttered, . . .8
Notes:
1. John 11:21-26
2. Acts 17:2-3
3. 1 Samuel 9:24
4. 1 Corinthians 15:17-28
5. Isaiah 50:4-6
6. Luke 1:13-17
7. Romans 16:25-27
8. Psalm 105:1-6
