Here’s what’s on the brunch “menu” for today:
Scrambled eggs
Bagels and cream cheese
Toast
Bacon
Cinnamon rolls
Coffee
Non-alcoholic champagne punch
Let’s imagine we’ve just finished eating the tasty food listed above before we discuss the following scriptures.
Can you imagine what it would be like if your loved ones were raised from the dead? I wanted to talk about how some of the early Christians raised people from the dead through the power of Jesus. When you read these scriptures, what goes through your mind?
Acts 9:40-42
40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas – Acts 20:9-12
9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
Both Paul and Peter were able to raise someone from the dead through hte power of Jesus! I know we talk about Jesus healing people and raising people from the dead but, I don’t notice much discussion about Paul and Peter doing this. The two above-mentioned scriptures remind me of the scripture in Luke where Jesus raised a girl from the dead.
Luke 8:49-56
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher any more.” 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
It’s important to note that Jesus ordered them not to tell anybody about what had happened. I wonder why? I’m wondering if such miraculous resurrections may occur today, somewhere in the world, and people are keeping silent about it?
It’s almost as if, back then – in the book of Acts, the early saints were closer to Jesus, and could perform miracles that were similiar to what Jesus did while he was on the earth? Yes, I do believe people can be raised from the dead today, but, I feel that such happenings are extremely rare if/when they do occur. As I’ve stated on this blog before, I feel that the early Christians had a closer connection to Jesus than we have today. I think their faith was so strong…so strong that it’s almost hard for us to imagine or understand such a deep faith.
So, when you read these scriptures, what goes through your mind? When I read those scriptures, I’m just awed and amazed by the healing power of Jesus – the most profound power of all!
Leave a comment and share your thoughts!
I do think our faith has diminished. I’ve commented on here before about how the age of reason affected the church. I remember at my old church, a prayer request was shared about a Christian single mom estranged from her family was dying of cancer but was holding on praying someone would take her son so she could die in peace. What stood out was the person in charge or prater requests said, “We know God no longer does miracles so we need to pray for her child and peace, not healing.” I didn’t say anything but I was thinking, “Whoa, where does it say he’s changed?” I think we don’t ask for the big stuff so we don’t get the big stuff, I have a friend at church who was told at her 9 month ultrasound b/c baby was breach, that her baby had no brain. She responded, “I can’t wait to see how God will be glorified in this.” She never worried. The whole church prayed. Her son was born with a water head. The doctors said there was no need to do surgery since the baby had no brain and would pass shortly. But the baby responded to his mom’s voice and could nurse. So they did another scan. There was a brain. They did the surgery to remove the fluid. The mom brought the scans to class. No brain, only fluid in one. Brain in the other scan–same baby. Mistake in technology or God made a brain in an already born baby when this believing mother asked in confidence?
Hey, Missy! I’m glad you commented again! Awesome true healing experience – isn’t God amazing? I think, one reason why I’m so amazed by these scriptures, and about the healing and supernatural aspects of the New Testament, is because, when I was growing up in church, I don’t recall their EVER asking for healing. I was raised Jehovah’s Witness and I don’t remember their dwelling on asking for the healing of their members. I’m NOT implying that they never prayed for healing their members, it’s just not something that I recall. Kind of reminds me of the person in charge of prayer that you just mentioned – the one that said that God no longer does miracles.
I think, as Christians, we need to be reminded more often about the supernatural aspects of the Bible. I know we always focus on Jesus’s healings, which is awesome, but I feel that we need to be reminded about what happened in the church after Jesus was crucified.
The Lord is able to do far more than our human brains can understand.
God is good.
Love,
Molly
Thanks for commenting, Molly! God is good and He can do so many wondrous things, so many things that our limited human brains will never comprehend! Great point!