“And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.” Job 19:26
“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written*: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’” 1 Corinthians 15:54
Resurrection
Cultivating Awe and Reverence for God, Day 21
Walk his Way revisited —First posted in January, 2017
Recently, my grown son overheard me talking to a Christian man who does not have long to live. The man and I were speaking matter-of-factly about going to be with Jesus, and my son was annoyed at what he took as a flippant, almost joking, disrespect for the value of life. I am secure in the hope of eternal life, but my son is not.
No question about it, our God has done great and mighty things that cannot be replicated by anyone or anything, but I can think of no greater single work of God that should produce awe and reverence in us than that He raised Jesus from the dead. We can’t help but bow before a God powerful enough to bring a dead person back to life. “…buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). God blew the breath of life back into the lifeless body of His Son, thus forever accomplishing victory over death—and securing our victory over death as well. “…knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus…” (2 Corinthians 4:14).
Of course, this wasn’t the only awakening from the dead. Men, women, and children were raised up from death to life all throughout Scripture. Though miraculous, all these then had to die again after a time. But the resurrection that beat the power of death for all time was Jesus. His was the resurrection that resulted in a life that would never die again.
Job, the author of the very first book ever written in the Bible, knew that when he died, he would be changed. He looked forward to it with great anticipation, for he had seen severe grief and affliction in his days. “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes” (Job 14:14).
Perhaps the most peculiar biblical telling of a resurrection from the dead is found in Ezekiel 37. Dead bones came back together and were given sinews, flesh, and breath again, and then began to cry out, “Our hope is lost, we are cut off!”Listen to what God answered in verses 13-14: “Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live…. I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it…”
This foretells the spiritual re-birth we experience when we repent of our sins and ask God to forgive us. God puts His Spirit in us at that point, and our old life passes away. This is truly the beginning of our lives.
Be in awe that the God we serve is able and willing to not only restore physical life, but spiritual life also. We should be careful not to take this great miracle lightly just because it is so well-known, being the bedrock of our faith. Let’s take another look at what God has done, and reverence Him for this mighty work.
Blessed are You, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, according to Your abundant mercy, have begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead**. Amen.