![]() ![]() This will be the third Passover in John’s Gospel-the first being the time when Jesus cast out the money changers from the temple (John 2:13ff), and the second occurring near the time when Jesus fed the 5,000 (John 6:4ff). The raising to life of His friend Lazarus after being dead for four days caused many who saw this miraculous sign to believe-and left the religious leaders who opposed Him in a state of fear and frustration.Īt the end of John 11, we find that the time of the Passover was drawing near. ![]() This most significant sign that Jesus performed brought out strong reactions from those who experienced it. Rev John Sterrett is the minister of St Andrew’s Church, Golspie.In John 11 we have seen how the Lord Jesus demonstrated-in a profoundly public way-that He truly is “ the resurrection and the life” and that whoever believes in Him, “ though he may die, he shall live” (see John 11:25). Ask yourself, will I be resuscitated to face Him, or will I be resurrected? But the Bible says all will face God someday. Resurrection will only happen to those who believe it will happen. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them… So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them they came to life and stood up on their feet – a vast army.” (Ezekiel 37.7-10). I find it exciting, especially when I walk through the graveyard surrounding St Andrew’s Church in Golspie that I, one day, might hear what Ezekiel heard… “there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. They will be the same person, and yet they’ll be new and will live forever.Įzekiel’s vision is describing the end of the world as we know it. They will be given a new body and new breath. ![]() When someone is resurrected from the dead, however, they will not have to die again. In other words, he would have to die again. Miraculous as this was, even involving reversal of bodily decay, it was only bringing a man back to life, to the life he’d had before. ![]() In the King James Version she says “he stinketh”. Martha even protested when Jesus asked for Lazarus’s tomb to be opened, “But, Lord… by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.” (John 11.39). People were brought back from unconsciousness, or even from death – like Lazarus who was famously brought back to life by Jesus after being dead four days. Both are about bringing someone back to life, but resurrection is being brought back to life when there is no other way but by God’s power. According to all natural, medical processes, there was no way they could be revived, let alone brought back to life. The dead bodies in Ezekiel’s vision were nothing but dry bones. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” (Ezekiel 37.4-6). I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. In a vision, God told the prophet Ezekiel “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. Ironically, an Old Testament passage, written long before Jesus lived on Earth, describes resurrection. However, the truth is that many, maybe most, will be merely “resuscitated” as opposed to “resurrected.” Resurrection only happens when all hope is gone. In fact, Christians believe that all human beings will rise from the dead at some point. Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!Īt first glance, one of the more bizarre beliefs that Christians hold is that Jesus rose from the dead. ![]()
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