1. Name two people in the Bible who never died. (Genesis 5:24 and 2 Kings 2:1-18)
2. The Bible records miracles of people raised from the dead in both the Old and New Testaments. Who raised each of the following from the dead?
- The widow of Zarephath’s son? (1 Kings 17:17–24)
- The Shunammite woman’s son? (2 Kings 4:18–37)
- A curious resurrection after the prophet had died? (2 Kings 13:20–21)
- The widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7:11–17)
- Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:40–56)
- Lazarus of Bethany (John 11)
- Various saints in Jerusalem (Matthew 27:50–53)
- Tabitha (Acts 9:36–43)
- Eutychus (Acts 20:7–12)
3. How was Jesus’ resurrection different?
The resurrections listed above were temporary. All these people died again. Jesus’ resurrection is different because He lives today. It is permanent.
- “In fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).
What does Jesus’ resurrection mean to us? One day we who believe in God’s Son will have
a permanent resurrection!
- “Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19)
- And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. … For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13,16-18, NLT)
Who is Jesus?
At the transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36; Mark 8:27-30), Peter, James, and John saw Jesus with Moses and Elijah. “And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son: hear him.’” Who is He, then? The Son of God! The maker of miracles.