Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Death of Moses,” Pages 469-480, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “The Voice of Stern Rebuke,” Pages 129-142; “A Prophet of Peace,” Pages 237-243, in Prophets and Kings; “The Centurion,” Pages 318, 319; “The Touch of Faith,” Pages 342, 343; “Lazarus, Come Forth,” Pages 524-536, in The Desire of Ages.

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“In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. ‘He that hath the Son hath life.’ 1 John 5:12. The divinity of Christ is the believer‘s assurance of eternal life. ‘He that believeth in Me,’ said Jesus, ‘though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?’ Christ here [in John 11:25-26, ] looks forward to the time of His second coming. Then the righteous dead shall be raised incorruptible, and the living righteous shall be translated to heaven without seeing death. The miracle which Christ was about to perform, in raising Lazarus from the dead, would represent the resurrection of all the righteous dead. By His word and His works He declared Himself the Author of the resurrection. He who Himself was soon to die upon the cross stood with the keys of death, a conqueror of the grave, and asserted His right and power to give eternal life.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 530.

Discussion Questions:

<–Thursday

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/friday-further-thought-resurrections-before-cross/

Read John 11:1-44. In what sense was Jesus “glorified” by the sickness and death of Lazarus (John 11:4)?

Here, too, Jesus uses the metaphor for sleep in talking about death. “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up” (John 11:11, NIV). When some thought He was talking about literal sleep (John 11:11-13), Jesus clearly stated what He meant: “Lazarus is dead” (John 11:12-14, NIV). Actually, when Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus already was dead four days; his corpse was already rotting (John 11:17, John 11:39). By the time a body starts decomposing badly enough to smell, there’s no question: the person is dead.

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In this context, when Jesus told Martha, “Your brother will rise from the dead” (John 11:23, NASB), she reaffirmed her belief in the final resurrection. But Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die forever. Do you believe this?” (John 11:23-26, LEB). And Jesus added, “If you believe, you will see the glory of God” (John 11:40, NASB). Martha believed, and she saw the glory of God in the resurrection of her brother.

The Bible says that by God’s word life was created (Genesis 1:20-30, Psalm 33:6), and by His word life can be re-created, as in the case of Lazarus. After a short prayer, Jesus ordered, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43, NKJV). Right then and there these people saw the life-giving power of God, the same power that spoke our world into existence, and the same power that at the end of the age will call the dead back to life in the resurrection.

By raising Lazarus, Jesus proved that He had the power to defeat death, which, for beings like us, who inevitably die — what greater manifestation of God’s glory could there be?

Read John 11:25-26. In one line Jesus talks about believers dying, and in the next He talks about believers never dying. What is Jesus teaching us here, and why is the understanding that death is an unconscious sleep so crucial in understanding Christ’s words? And why do His words offer us, as beings destined to the grave, so much hope?

<–Wednesday Friday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/thursday-lazarus/

You can view an in-depth discussion of Resurrections Before the Cross in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpc3lNSn56Q&w=560&h=315]

With thanks to

Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/5-resurrections-before-the-criss-hopess-video-discussion/

Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dr. Alberto Timm, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson, “Resurrections before the Cross.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNCcU6QMwHg&w=560&h=315]

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/5-resurrections-before-the-cross-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/

I heard a story in a pastor’s meeting a few weeks ago, where a hard-working and dedicated pastor died around the age of 60. Some of the elders were very distraught that this hard-working pastor was gone. They wanted to get together and pray for God to resurrect him and put him back to work. However, according to the story, his wife simply replied, “No. He has earned his rest. Let him rest.” I am not sure if his wife was thinking of this passage or not when she said what she did, but to me it seems to fit: 

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” Revelation 14:13 NKJV 

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While teaching a Bible class years ago, a young student asked me why we don’t see more miracles today like we did in the Bible? He was especially wondering about resurrections. I shared several thought with him. For example if God was going to resurrect someone, why not just heal them and not let them die in the first place? If God was going to resurrect them, why not just prevent them from dying? Also, would modern-day resurrections give the deceiver more ammunition for counterfeit miracles to “prove” the teachings of spiritualism? 

I believe the resurrections in the Bible served a practical purpose. For example the widow’s son continued to live and provide for his mother. Dorcas continued her community services. But beyond serving a practical purpose for that time, these resurrections also give us hope for the resurrection when Jesus returns. 

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4 NKJV

Our hope comes from the Scriptures and not modern-day miracles. Having said that, I do believe if God sees fit, He can work the same miracles through us today that he worked trough Elijah, Elisha and Peter when they raised the dead. While its obvious that you and I cannot raise the dead, it is also obvious that Elijah, Elisha and Peter could not raise the dead.  Jesus in His humanity did not even take credit for raising the dead. He tells us His Father raises the dead.

For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. John 5:21 NKJV

Every miracle Jesus performed He performed by faith in His Father. In His humanity Jesus claims without the Father He was just as helpless as we are in our humanity without the Father. 

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. John 5:19 NKJV 

When Jesus raised the dead His humanity was just as dependent upon the Father as Elijah, Elisha and Peter were. While its obvious we cannot do such miracles on our own, it is also obvious that “with God all things are possible.”  Matthew 19:26 NKJV

Jesus even said,

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:10,12 NKJV

Sure Jesus meant we will take the Gospel farther into the world than He did when he said “greater works” but it also implies that as we rely on the Father the way Jesus, Elijah, Elisha, and Peter relied on the Father, we can do the same miracles Jesus did, if God actually needs the same miracles to be performed. Jesus said,

for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20 NKJV

We need to keep in mind that just because it is possible, does not mean it needs to happen. Jesus doesn’t need us to move every mountain, and He does not need us to resurrect every dead person. After all, there is a reason why mountains are where they are and there is a reason why those who are dead are still asleep. At the same time, I believe God moves mountains today as needed. I also do not doubt that God can still raise the dead through us today as He did through Elijah in his day. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. What the Father did through Elijah, Elisha, Peter and Jesus, He can do through us. 

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/can-god-still-perform-miracles-today/