CHRIST AND THE RESURRECTION by Howard Watson

Jesus lived a life of miracles from His birth to His resurrection. He lived and walked in the hand of His Father, knowing that the cross was His destiny and that the resurrection would be His glory. Then, He would begin His great reign. The picture of things to come is found in the wondrous incident at Bethany (house of affliction) about one and half miles from Jerusalem where Jesus will be crucified. It is the small town where Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha lived.

Jesus had left that area of Judah and was beyond the Jordan where John the Baptist had baptized, having gone there because his enemies had sought again to take him (John 10:39). While there, word came that Lazarus was sick (John 11:3).

Jesus was well known for His healing powers. So, if He cared and came, He could heal Lazarus and Lazarus would live. But, Jesus delayed. Four days after Lazarus was dead and buried, Jesus arrived. Could someone who had been dead four days be restored to healthy life? The world of man says, NO! Having just spoken to Martha who had hurried to meet Him in a glimmer of hope, Jesus weepingly groaned, "...I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he was dead, yet shall he live...." And with a shouting command, "Lazarus come forth," to the dead Lazarus, the living Lazarus came forth. Jesus had shown love for Lazarus and his sisters, in applying His infinite power over earthly death. Jesus loves all of His believing followers who seek Him and the will of Father/God.

Look now at the resurrection of Jesus Himself. He died on the cross and was buried. Then, according to His own prophecies:"... and they shall scourge him, and put him to death; and the third day he shall rise again...." (Luke 18:33) He arose. ..."He is not here; for He is risen...." (Matt. 28:6) In Acts 1:3, according to Doctor Luke's Gospel, "...to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs...," the message is resoundingly validated. Jesus was raised to exaltation and glory to reign over His kingdom and the development of His body the Church. (Acts 5:30f)

And last, consider the resurrecton of the Church, including every true child of the Holy Spirit's birth from above through a personal committing faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. In His great passage of prayerful sharing with His disciples,which is found in John, chapters 14-17, Jesus promises: "...I go to prepare a place for you. And, if I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also...."(KJV) A change or resurrection of his disciples from fleshly bodies to spiritual bodies is implied, even as the apostle Paul clearly affirms in I Cor. 15 and in I Thess. 4:14-18. This promises that dead (believers) will be raised from the earthly grave while those living saints on the earth will be caught/seized up to meet and to join together with Christ the Lord in their new immortal, incorruptible bodies. The Greek text translated here, used the word "harpagesometha" which is future tense, passive voice, indicative mood from "harpazo" - to snatch up, to seize, to carry off by force, to rapture. This is vitally real and certain to happen at a future time from the time of this prophecy. The word "harpazo" is translated by many as rapture. The great power of God working in bringing Lazarus from death and the tomb will in the future bring the true believers in Christ from their present graves, or bodily resting places to immortal new spiritual bodies to be caught up to meet the Lord Jesus in the air/space/clouds; even as the Lord returns for His bride the Church, at the Father's appointed hour. (Rev. 21:2,9f)

When He shall come, we shall see Him in all His glory. We shall reign with Him forever with victory over death, hell and the grave in the blessed rest of His glory and kingdom. Let us labor today in the fullness of His Spirit to bring the presence of His kingdom to the people of the whole world. Let God's people say: Amen, Amen!!