The Resurrections During Christ's Ministry

Bible Book: Selected Passages

Subject: Resurrection; Life, New

Introduction

Luke 7:11-17 - The Boy At Nain

Matthew 9:18…, Mark 5:22…, Luke 8:40… - The Daughter Of Jairus At Capernaum

These first two took place during the Galilean ministry of Jesus, in the second full year of His public ministry, perhaps around 28 A.D.

John 11:38-44 - Lazarus At Bethany

This took place during the third full year of His public ministry, perhaps sometime around the winter of 29 A.D.

We’ve been looking at some of the Resurrection Scenes from the Word of God.

As a point of review, as far as I can tell, there are nine situations in the scripture, including the resurrection of Jesus Himself, when an individual who had died is resurrected from a state of death.

We have looked at the first resurrection scene which took place at a place called Zarephath in 1 Kings 17 during the ministry of the prophet Elijah. We looked at 2 Kings 4 at a place called Shunem, where Elisha was involved in the resurrection of the son of the great Shunammite woman.

This past Sunday night, we looked at 2 Kings 13, where after Elisha had died, there was a war taking place in Israel with the Moabites. And the Bible gives the brief record by saying…

(2 Kings 13:20-21) And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. {21} And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

So we have another resurrection scene that, in all likelihood, took place in Samaria, which was the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel.

Tonight, we come to New Testament times, and specifically to the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. And during His earthly ministry, there were three individuals that were raised by Jesus from a state of death.

I’m sure that if I had more time and ability, I would be able to come up with a better way to deal with these three scenes in a single sermon. But if you will bear with me tonight, I want to approach these three resurrection scenes by highlighting some of themes that are common to all three of these situations.

So as we think about these three scenes and situations tonight, let’s first consider that…

I. These Resurrections Highlight The Phases Of Maturity

A. Jesus Raised Up One At An Adorable Age

Mark 5:22-23, “And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, {23} And besought him greatly, saying, ‘My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.’”

It was A. T. Robertson who said of the phrase that Mark uses, “little daughter”…

My little daughter to thugatrion mou. Diminutive of thugateer (“daughter” in Matthew 9:18 – means a female child). “This little endearing touch in the use of the diminutive is peculiar to Mark.”

B. Jesus Raised Up One At An Adolescent Age

Luke 7:12, “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.”

Though it mentions a “dead man,” this is literally a “dead one.” Warren Wiersbe said that on that special day at Nain…

Two only sons met. One was alive but destined to die, the other dead but destined to live.

The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary says of the phrase in Luke 7:12…

“The only son of his mother, and she was a widow,” (that this is) affecting particulars, and told with delightful simplicity.

C. Jesus Raised Up One At An Adult Age

John 11. According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, the name Lazarus is an abbreviated form of the name Eleazer, and it means “God has helped.” The man by this name in John 11 was…

The brother of Mary and Martha. He appears only in the Gospel of John, although Luke mentions his sisters. The family lived in Bethany on the southeast side of the Mt. of Olives, about 3 km. (1 3/4 mi.) from Jerusalem. They were apparently well-to-do, since Lazarus had a private tomb and Mary anointed Jesus with a very expensive ointment.

The fact that he was a friend of Jesus, and the fact that he had a private tomb suggests that he was in his adult years.

II. These Resurrections Highlight The Progression Of Morbidity

A. A Daughter Had Become Recently Dead As Her Father Worried

Mark 5:35-42, “While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, ‘Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?’ {36} As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Be not afraid, only believe.’ {37} And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. {38} And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. {39} And when he was come in, he saith unto them, ‘Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.’ {40} And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. {41} And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, ‘Talitha cumi;’ which is, being interpreted, ‘Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.’ {42} And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.”

Matthew records in 9:18 that when Jairus came, he said, “My daughter is even now dead.” Albert Barnes noted that…

The Greek word, rendered “is even now dead,” does not of necessity mean, as our translation would express, that she had actually expired, but only that she was “dying” or about to die. It is likely that a father, in these circumstances, would use a word as nearly expressing actual death as would be consistent with the fact that she was alive. The passage may be expressed thus: “My daughter was so sick that she must be by this time dead.”

In 1729, a man named Nathaniel Lardner published a short book vindicating these three miracles and responding to the objections of a Mr. Woolston against the legitimacy of these miracles. He said…

Mr. Woolston’s first proposition here appears to me very strange, That supposing she was really dead, yet for the sake of an indisputable miracle—she ought to have been dead much longer. If she was really dead, (as she certainly was) and was restored again to life, it is with all men of sense and reason an indisputable miracle.

B. A Son Had Become “Rigor Mortis Dead” As His Mother Wept

The text says that when Jesus arrived they were carrying the young man out of the city to bury him.

Warren Wiersbe said…

Nain was about twenty-five miles from Capernaum, a good day’s journey away, yet Jesus went there even though He was not requested to come. Since the Jews buried their dead the same day, it is likely that Jesus and His disciples arrived at the city gate late in the afternoon of the day the boy died.

(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. {12} 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. {13} And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. {14} And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. {15} And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

(“Day Old Dead” – Like “Day Old Bread”)

C. A Brother Had Become Real Dead As His Sisters Waited

John 11:38-44

John Gill wrote…

The Jews say, that “for three days the soul goes to the grave, thinking the body may return; but when it sees the figure of the face changed, it goes away, and leaves it…” So of Jonah’s being three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, they say “these are the three days a man is in the grave, and his bowels burst; and after three days that defilement is turned upon his face.” Hence, they do not allow anyone to bear witness of one that is dead or killed, that he is such an one, after three days, because then his countenance is changed, and he cannot be well known.

Arthur Pink said in his Exposition of the Gospel of John…

It is true that Christ had raised the dead before, but even here the climax is again to be seen. Mark records the raising of Jairus’ daughter, but she had only just died. Luke tells of the raising of the widow’s son of Nain, but he had not been buried. But here, in the case of Lazarus, not only had the dead man been placed in the sepulcher, but corruption had already begun to consume the body.

Four Days In The Grave = Graveyard Dead We read from C. H. Spurgeon…

Lazarus had been dead four days. When a man has newly died he might seem to resemble an engine just now in full action, and now though motionless, the valves, wheels, and bands are still there: only rekindle the fire and reapply the motive force and the machinery will work. But when corruption comes, valves displaced, wheels broken, metal eaten away, what can be done now? … There are some who are symbolized by this case, who are altogether abominable. The pure mind desires to have them put out of sight. It does not seem possible to restore them to purity, honesty, or hope. But when the Lord makes them live, the most skeptical are obliged to confess “this is the finger of God.” However far a man may be gone he is not beyond the Lord’s arm of mighty mercy. (From The Biblical Illustrator)

In other words, you can’t be too dead for the Lord to raise you up. And you can’t be too lost for the Lord to save you. And you can’t be too far gone for the Lord to help you.

III. These Resurrections Highlight The Parts Of A Message

(Isaiah 61:1-3) The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; {2} To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; {3} To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Albert Barnes said…

That this refers to the Messiah is abundantly proved by the fact that the Lord Jesus expressly applied it to Himself (see Luke 4:18-21).

God sent His servant and His Son to accomplish the things mentioned in these verses. And in verse 3, the prophet says that God sent Him “to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion.” This word “appoint” has the idea of being set, or put in place, or fixed. In a way, it corresponds to the statement in 1 Peter 5:10 about how God will “stablish, strengthen, and settle” us after we suffer. The idea is that the Messiah would bring a change into the environment of mourning and bereavement and sorrow, which would be the environment where death has come.

“Them that mourn” refers to those who are lamenting and wailing. It has to do with sorrow and grief and tears. There are three aspects of the transformation that Isaiah refers to for the mourners. And I believe that these three aspects can be favorably compared to the three scenes of resurrection in Jesus’ ministry.

A. The Beauty Isaiah Mentions And How It Compares To Nain

(Luke 7:11-16) 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. {12} 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. {13} And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. {14} And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. {15} And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. {16} And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

Nain – here again, there are a few possible meanings including “green pastures,” “lovely,” “beauty,” “pleasantness,” “gracefulness,” “delightful.”

Nain means “beauty.” But because of the death of this son, beauty had turned into ashes. But the Lord can give back the beauty instead of ashes.

(Isaiah 61:3) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

B. The Blessing Isaiah Mentions And How It Compares To Capernaum

(Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:22-43, Luke 8:40-56) Jairus’ daughter raised by Jesus probably at Capernaum

Most resources are agreed that Jairus was a ruler in the synagogue at Capernaum.

Capernaum means town or village of Nahum (meaning compassion, consolation, or comfort); or the field of repentance; or city of comfort

Capernaum means city or village of comfort or consolation. But because of the death of this daughter, Capernaum had lost all of its joy for Jairus. “Jairus” means “enlightener,” but the light was going out in his heart, and he is entering a place of mourning. But Jesus can replace the mourning with the oil of joy so that Capernaum becomes a village of comfort and consolation and compassion again.

C. The Burden Isaiah Mentions And How It Compares To Bethany

(John 11:38-44) Lazarus raised at Bethany after 4 days by Jesus

(John 11:43-44) And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. {44} 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, Loose him, and let him go.

Bethany – there are a few possible meanings including the house of dates; the house of song; the house of affliction; or the house of depression

At times, Bethany was like a house of dates, which was the sweet fruit of the date palm. And at times, Bethany was like a house of song. But with the death of Lazarus, Bethany had become for Mary and Martha a house of affliction and a house of depression. But when Jesus comes to town, He can restore the house of affliction and depression to the house of dates and song. He can put the spirit of heaviness back in the closet and enrobe us again in the garment of praise.