Does Jesus Raise the Dead Today?

Does Jesus raise the dead today?

Holidays – Jesus birth = world stops

1. Family travel to be together, eat, celebrate, laugh, make memories
2. Miss departed family members
3. Often the relational dynamics are hard/complicated

=What if what everyone wants for the holidays is really found in the Kingdom?

            MIRACLES – SIGNS POINTING TO KINGDOM

Jesus’ 33 Miracles [1 slide]

1. Removing demons

2. Ruling over nature

3. Restoring health

4. Raising the dead [3 people]

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son Luke 7:11-17 [1 slide]

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 the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

• Technically revived NOT resurrected
• Nain – only time in Bible, ½ days walk, middle nowhere to serve grieving single mom
• She does not ask for Jesus. Jesus finds her.
• Single Mom – beloved by town/crowd, buried husband, burying son
• Emotional and Financial catastrophe
• “compassion” – Jesus #1 emotion
• “Bier” – open coffin carried on plank.
• Touching = Jesus touches sin/defilement/death & it makes it clean not Him unclean)

=Joyful reunion celebration. Kingdom sign

Jesus’ Raises Jairus’ Daughter (Matthew 9:18–26; Mark 5:21–43; Luke 8:41–56) [1 slide]

Mark 5:21-24, 35-43 – And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him… While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

• Some miracles more meaningful & memorable – Alexie little
• Jairus = powerful religious leader – broken/humbled/feel feet
• Dead12 yr old little girl = family/friends wrecked/mourning
• “sleep” – metaphor for deceased believer
• Jesus 1. Comes to bedside 2. Takes her hand

=JOYFUL REUNION! Kingdom sign

Jesus Raises Lazarus (John 11:1–46) [1 slide]

John 11:23-27 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

• Jesus close friends – Mary, Martha, Lazarus
• 2 sisters process grief differently
• Martha (doer) goes to meet Jesus & process what could have been done
• Mary (feeler) stays home when she sees Jesus falls @ feet weeping
• Jesus process grief knowing rising. Lazarus dead days, Jesus arrived, “Jesus wept”

=JOYFUL REUNION! Kingdom sign

1. Who needs to be there not on the guest list yet. 2. Who looking forward seeing?

Jesus’ resurrection = history’s most incredible miracle #1 (firstfruits)

According to a Rasmussen National poll, conducted March 2024, 68% of people believe Jesus physically rose from the dead, versus 13% who do not believe. [1 slide]

8 Lessons from Jesus’ Miracles [lower 1/3]

1. God is sovereign, free, and does not owe us.
2. Miracles are signs pointing to the Kingdom of God and 2^nd Coming of Jesus.
3. Your greatest miracle is salvation.
4. The Kingdom of God is a return to Genesis 1-2 and God’s perfect original plan.
5. Faith is trusting God’s sovereign process to get us into His Kingdom.
6. Isaiah 53:5 promises, “he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” This promise is fulfilled in the Kingdom.
7. Romans 8:28 promises, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” This promise is fulfilled in the Kingdom.
8. Our prayers will be answered, but on God’s timing, not ours.

?XMAS. – Look back to Jesus’ 1^st Coming. Look forward to Jesus’ 2^nd Coming!

Wise men – 1). From East             2). #? 3?                    3). House not manger

1. Myrrh (death Jn. 19:39)

2. Frankincense (intercession)

3. Gold (King Coming)

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