As we have noted in other devotionals about the power of Jesus, He has the ultimate power over everything. He is the creator and the owner of all creation. The definition of power is the possession of control, authority, or influence over something else. Jesus possesses this over creation, over evil, over sickness, and over life and death.
In John chapter 11, we see Jesus’ friend Lazarus is sick. His sisters Mary and Martha send for Jesus, but Jesus waits and Lazarus dies. Hope for his healing is lost because Jesus doesn’t come until he has been in the grave for 4 days. However, the one they had called to heal him of his sickness had the power to raise him from the dead. Much to everyone’s surprise Jesus calls Lazarus forth from the grave and Lazarus walks out alive and well.
John 11:43-44 “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Lose him, and let him go.”
In Luke 7:11-15, Jesus brings a young man back to life. He has entered the city of Nain with His disciples and as He was near the gate of the city, He noticed a corpse carried out by probably, members of his family. I’m sure the mother of this young man was following her son to his burial. Scripture tells us she was a widow and that Jesus had compassion for her. The thought of losing a son would be almost unbearable, but losing one after the death of her husband must have caused her to feel hopeless. Jesus tells her to “weep not.” I’m sure she and those with her thought that was a cruel and strange thing to say to a mother who was burying her son, but they didn’t know the one who was saying it. Jesus, as always came through as only He can. He touched the young man and the young man sat up and begin to talk. Jesus proved again he had power over death.
Luke 7:11-15 “And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.”
There are other accounts of Jesus brought back to life, but none of them prove His power over death like the resurrection of His own body. In Luke 24, the chapter begins with Mary, Martha, and several other ladies coming to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ dead body with spices. When they arrive, the tomb is open and Jesus’ body is gone. They believed someone had moved the body, two angels met them and told them Jesus was not there, but He had risen from the dead. He was alive!
Luke 24:1-6 “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,”
The one who has power over the life and death of us all also had the power to raise Himself from the grave.
While each of these accounts of death to life happened to a physical body. I believe the greatest death-to-life experience comes when we come to life spiritually. When we ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins and accept Him as our personal Lord and Savior there is a transformation that takes place that brings life eternal. Jesus said in John 5:24, that when we believe in Him, we have everlasting life. This is the greatest miracle of all that our Savior has afforded to us. Physically, we will one day die, unless Jesus comes first, but spiritually we will never die if our faith is in Him. Not only will our spirit never die, but we will also receive a new body that will be perfect. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
