How to Raise the Dead (or at least move mountains)
76The short answer is...
Love.
The long answer is...
Jesus healed many people, and many have healed in his name. But, as for the "bigger" miracles; walking on water, wine from water, raising the dead (not to mention rising from the dead -- see my hub about that with the link on the right); I don't know of anyone else who has done any of these in our day (Eutychus was raised from the dead by Paul, Acts 20), yet Jesus said we would do even greater things than he did! What the deuce? Option one: Jesus was wrong. Well, if you believe that, then there's probably no point in even reading any more, because if Jesus was a liar, we have a whole lot more to worry about than making some wine. So, option two: Jesus was right, and therefore, we gotta be missing something. I believe the answer lies in the definition of "greater". Certainly, to us, walking on water or raising the dead seem to be "greater" than "simply" healing an illness, but to an infinite God, what's really the difference? These are all signs performed out of love, through faith in Jesus as God, given to us by the Holy Spirit.
But, this still raises an issue: how can we ever be greater than Jesus in anything? Jesus was (and is) 100% God. We're 0% God. However, while on Earth, Jesus was also 100% human. We're 100% human. There's a start. The fact that Jesus was completely human did mean he had to set aside some of his heavenly powers. For example, omnipresence. Jesus could only physically be in one place at one time. Well, I can only be in one place at one time, and I hardly ever do a good job at that, anyways. So how can we be greater? The answer is in the question: specificly, the "we" part. Jesus, although God, was, on Earth, "just" one man. After he ascended, he gave us the Holy Spirit, who is God inside of us, as believers. So now, through the Spirit, Jesus lives inside those who answer the knock on their door and let him in. So now, where Jesus was once limited to one human body, he now lives in millions of believers around the world. This is were we can do greater things on Earth than Jesus (as a man) did. Jesus of Nazareth was one man (who also happens to be God) who had one body and 33-40 years (and no cars or internet, although the walking on water thing probably sped up transportation a bit) to spread his (God's) love to people. But, he also made sure he discipled others to continue to spread his love.
Love is the key issue here. God is love. Not someone who teaches love, or knows a lot about love, He IS love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16). Whenever we spread love to others, we are spreading God to others. Imagine if we, as Christians, actually lived out our faith, and spread Love to EVERYONE. Anyone can love those who love them. Even atheists do this. But the "love your enemies" part is really hard. The question posed here mentioned the "tough" things that Jesus did. Truer words are rarely spoken. If we really just let God/Love flow through our lives, we would be amazed at the works of God's hands, through us. I have a couple of times humbled myself enough to really let God shine through, and the things that happened in those times seem more like a dream than reality.
It used to be much easier for me to just let go and trust, when I didn't feel I had much to lose. Now I own a house and have a wonderful wife, and try to deal with life while making sure mortgage payments (not to mention gas, electric, water, etc.) are paid, and trying to take care of my wife (financially, spiritually, emotionally,...), and it's hard to simply trust. Ironically, these are the times I need to trust him the most, and I don't. These are the times I need to love the most, and I let all the other crappy emotions get in the way. I worry, I get upset, but I rarely love. I try to "take care" of my wife, and by doing so, I don't love her enough, and so, fail to take care of her. This got really personal, but I'm trying to show you an example from my life and say it's tough for everybody, but God never promised it would be easy. He only promised great reward for staying true to him when it is tough. In fact, he promised it would be tough if we followed him.
If you're not sure if being a Christian is supposed to be tough, let's look at an example. Who was the best Christian ever? Christ. What happened to him for being a great follower of God? He was tortured and killed by those he came to save. Ouch.
While raising the dead seems really great to us, remember that the true victory is in Jesus' conquering of death. Lazarus, Eutychus, and Jarius' daughter are not still around today. This means, despite being once raised from the dead, their time on Earth still expired anyway. Not that you should be too sad for them. From what the Bible says, it seems their souls are in pretty good shape. And really, this is the true raising from the dead. We were all dead to our sin, but Jesus will save anyone who asks him to from this death. We are now (truly) alive in Christ, and we can continue his work of (truly) raising the dead by doing as he taught: making disciples in all the nations, and telling everyone about, and showing everyone, more importantly, Love's love.
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Thanks for the question and the post. When I was a youngin' and not long out of the house, I started going to a Full Gospel church. I loved the people and the "life" in that church but didnt know what quite to make of speaking in tongues.
I called my dad. He wouldnt say he was for or again in. He explained that to each of us were given a gift of the spirit. His he claimed was a love for the unlovable. He worked in the corrections system and dealt with criminals every day. Love is the answer indeed.
Using the gifts that we have been given in love to help others IS at times as if we raise them from the dead. To allow the love of God to show in our lives is often a cataylst for the Holy Spirit to soften hearts and lead them to choose Life over death.
Yes, I would agree, and I would also say that showing Christ's love to others is not as if we raised them from the dead (in the sense that Lazarus, et al, were), but actually better. When someone looks into the claims of Jesus because of the Love you have shown them, they are being saved from eternal death through Jesus' resurrection. They will, one day, run out of time on Earth, but because you were willing to love because of Love, they will experience eternal life through Christ, and God was able to use you as the catalyst because of your willingness to love.
Yip, I am on the wagon that reveres God as Love. Though you mentioned that it's hard to love our enemies, I think we dont neccisarly have to love them in a sence, but forgive them, Jesus said it is easier to forgive then to make miracles. So forgiveness is Love, and I revere God as the essence of Forgiveness, you can read a hub I wrote about it if you want. it's pretty funny but good I think.
Thinkin bout Jesus and God and Love is always heartwarming to know whether Jesus was man or God, makes no difference, because the Love of Jesus is much, much more than I can imagine. But His love is amplified in my opinion because He was a man, and that is a lot of love and power.
On the note about, we being 0% God, I am inclided to disagree because I believe that we are at least 50% God and 50% Jesus, as God gave us life, without God or the spirit of God, we would have nothing at all and 50% Jesus, because he is our blood of life and the connection to the spirit which makes us 100% of God, like Jesus, not 100% man, but 100% full. So then we become 100% full in God.
Well, we do have to love our enemies, in every sense, if for no other reason that Jesus told us to. I would also say that forgiving is an act of love. When you say Jesus said it's easier to forgive than perform miracles, I think you are referring to the man he healed who he then told to pick up his mat and walk. When Jesus told the man his sins were forgiven, Jesus was accused of blasphemy, as only God can forgive sin (which, I agree, thus also pointing to the Jesus is God belief). Jesus then asked which is easier, to say "your sins are forgiven", or "get up and walk". He never said that one is easier than the other, in fact, I think it's a bit of a "trick" question to catch the Pharisees off guard. Both statements are equally "easy" to say, but without the authority of God behind them, they both mean nothing. Jesus told the man, who had been paralyzed, to get up and walk, and he did. While "Get up and walk" is an easy thing to say, it's a whole other thing to say it to a paralyzed man knowing that he will be able to, through God's healing power. It's also easy to say "your sins are forgiven", but it means nothing if you do not have the power to forgive sin.
I would agree that God is the essence of forgiveness, and I will read your hub and leave you a note when I do. I look forward to it. While I think I know what you mean when you say it makes no difference if Jesus was man or God, in that what matters to you is his amazing Love (and that's a great thing, I agree), I would also argue that is Jesus was only a man, then he did not love, and in fact was a liar, as his entire ministry was based on his Lordship (again, I'll get to that hub very soon), and he asked his disciples to trust him with their lives based on this.
While I agree we become 100% full in God, the reason we need God is because we are not God. God created us, and we were created in his image, but that does not make us any part God on our own. Again, if we allow God (Jesus) into our lives, then we are complete in him. If you created something out of Legos blocks in your image, that would not make the Legos any more human. The Legos might have things that represent humanness, like "legs" or "hands", but the Legos, on their own, would be 100% Lego and 0% human. Now, if you had the power to take over the Legos (if they asked you to) so that they could be more like you (which Jesus can do for us when we allow his Spirit to lead our lives), then the Legos could be human through you, but only because of you. This is a really weird analogy, but we can become more "God-like", the more we humble ourselves and allow God to take control. This is not because we have become part-God, but because in admitting we cannot ever be as good as God, we allow him to be good through us. So, yes, God can, and does, live through us, as much as we set ourselves aside and let him, and surely I agree that without the blood of Jesus and the connection to the spirit we would be nothing. However, this does not make us any more God.
To think of it from a math sense, God is infinite. Something can either be infinite, or finite. No matter how large a finite number is, it is still infinitely far away from infinity. For example, I'll start counting up from 1, and you start counting up from 100 trillion. Who'll reach infinity first? Neither of us, because infinity is unreachable through finite numbers. If you consider the worst human to ever live a 1, or a zero, and the best person to be a 100 trillion, they both fall infinitely short of the glory of God. This is why we need God's forgiveness (which he willingly gives to whomsoever asks), or redemption. To "deem" is to value something, so to "re-deem" is to place new value on something. Christ redeemed us, and took us from our finite value, and allowed us to be counted as infinite. Note that when you redeem, it's not the item that's changing, but your percieved value of it that is. For example, if you redeem a coupon at the grocery store. The can of tomato soup that used to cost $2 has been given a new value of $1.50. It's the same soup, but it's been re-valued. So, we're the same non-God sinners, but we've been re-valued in God to be counted as though we were Godly, even though we are not.
No if Jesus was a man He then demonstrated the best testament of faith, and in that faith, not even death can have you. Because we are people who need something to look forward to, just like Jesus had something to look foward to. If Jesus was already God, then it His testament of faith doesn't mean anything, unless what he has is faith in us. If God has faith in us, then we will always have a chance, and God will know everything about you, and every reason is a reason for God, even Jesus.
If Jesus came for us but not all?
Jesus' love testifies everything, it testifies that no matter what you need God. If Jesus is a man, then Jesus reached the impossible, Jesus reached God, and Jesus is telling us, each indavadually, how to seek God. And Jesus might not be Jesus to someone else, but they have someone and that someone is God. Because God is infinate and everyone will reach God.
The only end to God is when we don't need God, and we will always need God.
I meant if Jesus was a man, then he demonstrated that people are capable of reaching God as well. And that is better to me than saying that God was just messing with us. That we don't mean anything to God without Jesus, or that God doesn't mean anything to us without Jesus.
Know God. both ways bring you back to God. I know there is a Hell, but I don't believe in that. :)
I would agree it is true that we need something to look forward to, but to say that Jesus needed something to look forward to is to presuppose he was only human. I would also agree that Jesus demonstrated the best testament of faith, by showing we should have faith IN HIM. The Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So no mere man can completely demonstrate the way to God. Jesus didn't say he was demonstrating the way. He said he IS the way. "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Jesus later said, "If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." While at quick glance it would seem as if Jesus is seperating himself from the Father, he says that the disciples have SEEN the Father. How can this be true unless Jesus is one and the same as the Father? He later said, "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father" Jesus claims the power to do whatever is asked in his name. This is power that only God can have. Note he doesn't claim that the Father will do it, but HE will, to bring glory to the Father. Of course, that begs the question, doesn't that mean that Jesus is seperate from the Father? Only in how he appears to us. Jesus equates himself with God while claiming there is only one God. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are simply three different forms that the one God shows himself to us as. This is to make it easier for our non-infinite brains to understand some of the infinite glory of God. God appeared on Earth as the Son (who happened to be named Jesus) in order to bring more glory to the Father, who is also God. While I agree Jesus couldn't "show" us faith since he already knew that God is real, being God himself, he could show us where our faith should be placed. Not everything Jesus did is supposed to be exactly copied by us. For example, he claimed to be equal to God. Those of his time who knew the Scripture said that this was blasphemy. They would have been exactly right, had Jesus not happened to actually be God. We should not claim to be equal to God, but Jesus did. So not everything Jesus did was meant to be an exact copy of how we should be (although a lot of it was).
Although everyone CAN reach God, because he is infinite, not everyone will, because he has given us the choice to reach out or not. But to all who ask it will be given, all who seek will find, and to all who knock the door will be opened. God has no end or beginning, but I guess that's what your saying, too. And, yes, we do always need God.
To say that we don't mean anything to God without Jesus is to assume the two are seperate. What I am saying is we don't amonut to anything without God. And Jesus is God. So we don't amount to anything without Jesus. I am not sure how God coming to Earth as a human to die the death we deserve (the Bible says all are sinners, and the wages of sin is death), redeeming us from our debt, and showing it is true by rising from the dead is messing with us.
Yes, I agree one must know God. God is truth. God is the answer. In the end, the rest is just details. However, there are specific details that God chose to use. I believe any other details lead to contradiction, and although God is mysterious and hard to understand at times, he is not contradictory. If I was shown that my view of the details is wrong, and I have been before, I would change my view on what the details are. But, in the end, again, they are just details.
Again, I appreciate your comments and I'm also curious what you mean by "I know there is a Hell, but I don't believe in that."
Great hub Reinreed. Love is the answer, the key as you pointed out very well. I really enjoyed the exchanges between you and Sandra too and thought the last post (before this one) was very well thought out ...I hope she read it.
I do think there are people today who are raising people from the dead in other parts of the world....don't think there is coverage of it here in America - of course the media doesn't seem comfortable even when athletes give God glory - but I've heard testimonies and don't think they are hoaxes.
Thumbs up and blessings to you and your family.
I was looking up "how to raise the dead" and came across testimonies from this other web page.
http://www.etpv.org/1998/hrd.html
It does happen today. We need to get to the point where the Word of God frames our beliefs, rather than coming up with doctrine to fit our experience. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
I was looking up "how to raise the dead" and came across testimonies from this other web page.
http://www.etpv.org/1998/hrd.html
It does happen today. We need to get to the point where the Word of God frames our beliefs, rather than coming up with doctrine to fit our experience. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Wow. A wise, mature take on raising the dead from someone who takes the Biblical mandate for the miraculous seriously. Encouraging and Inspirational. Well done sir! God bless!
I actually found this article because My sister's friend died this morning, and we are going in a couple of hours to pray for her to be raised. I googled "how to raise the dead" and this came up. lol. Y'all pray!
Toaster4JC 4 years ago
Another awesome hub Rein. I thank you for posting this. I really needed to read it this morning when I find it so hard to love certain people. Thank you Rein for posting this.