What other biblical miracles show God's power over life and death? Elisha’s Miracle and the Question of Life and Death “Then Elisha got up and walked once around the room and stretched himself out on him. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.” (2 Kings 4:35) The Shunammite boy’s restoration sets the stage for exploring other moments when God shows absolute control over mortality. Old-Testament Resurrections • 1 Kings 17:17-24 – Elijah raises the widow of Zarephath’s son. • 2 Kings 13:20-21 – A dead man revives when his body touches Elisha’s bones. • Ezekiel 37:1-14 – The valley of dry bones vision prophesies national and bodily resurrection. • Job 19:25-27 – Job’s confession anticipates bodily resurrection: “And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.” • Isaiah 38:1-6 – Hezekiah’s life is extended fifteen years, showing God’s prerogative over death’s timetable. Jesus’ Earthly Ministry: Three Personal Resurrections • Mark 5:35-43 (Jairus’ daughter) – “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” • Luke 7:11-17 (widow of Nain’s son) – “Young man, I say to you, arise!” • John 11:1-44 (Lazarus) – “Lazarus, come out!” The crowd sees that even four-day death is no obstacle. Jesus’ Own Resurrection: The Cornerstone • Matthew 28:5-6 – “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” • Romans 1:4 – Declared Son of God “by His resurrection from the dead.” • 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 – Christ, the “firstfruits” guaranteeing believers’ future resurrection. Acts: Power Continues through the Church • Acts 9:36-42 – Peter raises Tabitha (Dorcas). • Acts 20:7-12 – Paul brings Eutychus back after a fatal fall. • Acts 14:19-20 – Paul, stoned and presumed dead, stands up and walks back into the city, illustrating God’s power to reverse lethal circumstances. Deliverance from Certain Death While not resurrections, these events highlight God’s mastery over death’s threats: • Daniel 3 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survive the furnace. • Daniel 6 – Daniel remains unharmed in the lions’ den. • Jonah 2 – Preserved inside the great fish, foreshadowing resurrection (cf. Matthew 12:40). Why These Miracles Matter • They confirm God’s character: He is “the LORD who heals you” (Exodus 15:26). • They authenticate messengers and message (John 20:30-31). • They foreshadow the universal resurrection promised in John 5:28-29 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-57. • They anchor believers’ hope that “the last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26). From Elisha’s day to the empty tomb and beyond, Scripture consistently displays the Lord’s unquestionable authority over life and death, inviting trust in the God who raises the dead and grants eternal life to all who believe. |
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