What Old Testament events foreshadow the miracle in John 11:38? John 11:38—A Quick Snapshot “Jesus, once again deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.” Here the stage is set for Jesus to call Lazarus out of the grave, revealing His authority over death. Old Testament Scenes That Anticipate This Moment • Elijah and the Widow’s Son – 1 Kings 17:17-24 – The child “stopped breathing” (v.17). – Elijah stretches himself over the boy and prays; “the life of the child returned to him, and he revived.” (v.22). – Foreshadow: A man of God confronts death directly and the breath of life is restored by divine power. • Elisha and the Shunammite’s Son – 2 Kings 4:32-37 – The boy is found dead on a bed (v.32). – Elisha prays and lies on the child; “the flesh of the child became warm.” (v.34). – Foreshadow: Persistent intercession and physical nearness precede a dramatic resurrection. • The Man Raised in Elisha’s Tomb – 2 Kings 13:20-21 – A corpse touches Elisha’s bones and “came to life and stood on his feet.” – Foreshadow: Contact with the prophet of God dispels death, hinting that a greater Prophet will conquer the grave. • Isaac on Mount Moriah – Genesis 22; cf. Hebrews 11:19 – Abraham is ready to sacrifice Isaac yet believes “God could raise him from the dead.” – Foreshadow: A beloved son delivered from the brink of death, prefiguring both Lazarus and ultimately Jesus’ own resurrection. • Jonah in the Great Fish – Jonah 1:17; 2:10 – “Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” – Foreshadow: Entombment and release after three days picture victory over death (cf. Matthew 12:40). • Valley of Dry Bones – Ezekiel 37:1-14 – “Breath entered them; they came to life and stood on their feet.” (v.10). – Foreshadow: God’s spoken word summons the dead to life, paralleling Jesus’ loud command, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43). Shared Threads That Tie Them Together • A hopeless scene of death—tombs, beds, or bones. • A mediator (prophet, patriarch, Jesus) standing between life and death. • Prayer or spoken word as the channel of divine power. • Physical signs (warmth returning, breath entering, stones moved) confirming real, bodily life. • Purpose: to reveal God’s glory and strengthen faith (cf. John 11:4, 40). Why These Foreshadows Matter • They establish a biblical pattern: God can and does reverse death. • Each story builds anticipation for the Messiah who will not merely pray for life but command it. • The Old Testament witnesses affirm that Jesus’ miracle in John 11 is the consistent, unfolding plan of the same covenant-keeping God. |
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