Can the dead rise again from the grave?
Our pop culture likes to entertain this idea in the form of zombie movies, games, and tv shows. But this isn't the kind of resurrection Jesus Christ is talking about.
In Ezekiel 37 God shows the prophet a vast valley of very dry bones and asks him this one question: "Can these bones live?" Ezekiel didn't know the answer to this so he spoke wisely when he said "O Lord God, thou knowest." Then God performs what seems to be an impossible miracle: He brings flesh on these bones and breathes life into them by a word.
This miracle demonstrated God's plans for Israel, how he would bring them back again and restore them even from their captivity in Babylon. It seemed impossible though. Jerusalem was utterly destroyed. The temple of God was destroyed and all the furniture was plundered.
But wasn't Lazarus' resurrection impossible too? He was dead for three days when the Lord came to him. Surely a paramedic can resuscitate a man or woman who has slipped into death for only a couple minutes, but Jesus was attempting the impossible. But regardless of the disbelief of those who surrounded him, he did raise Lazarus from the grave. And he will come again for us and call us out of the grave to be made alive with him forever.
So whats the point? It doesn't matter how far away you feel from God; he can rescue you from even the most impossible situations. This rescue does not depend on your effort, your strength, or your will. It depends solely on the grace and mercy and strength of Jesus Christ.
Just as a drowning man can not reach up into a rescue helicopter to save himself, neither can man lift himself up to heaven. Jesus has to dive in as our rescue swimmer and pull us up out of the water and into safety.
Looking forward to future glory,
Jay Silvas
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