There are 8 recorded cases in the Bible – in addition to the resurrection of Christ – where a person is raised from the dead.

I always thought these stories were intriguing before. But now, since May 13th, I think afresh of how the families must’ve felt when their loved one was brought back to life. For instance, i think of Jesus walking up to the funeral procession in the city of Nain (Luke 7:14-15) and telling that grieving mom, “Do not weep,” then telling her dead son, “Young man, I say to you, ‘arise.” Luke writes that the young man “sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.”

In my mind’s eye, I think of what would have happened had a man named Jesus walked into Lakeridge Chapel on May 15th, placed his hand on Jordan, and said, “Young man, I say to you, ‘arise.” As Michelle and I were greeting guests, I can imagine the commotion that would’ve began erupting as witnesses would’ve seen Jordan sit up in that casket, step out of it, and make his way into the main greeting room – fully alive.

Am I sad this didn’t happen? Yes. And no. What Scripture gives us from the example mentioned in Luke’s gospel, as well as the other 7 biblical occurrences, is a preview of eternal life made possible by Jesus Christ, giving us the ultimate preview in the bodily resurrection of Christ, Himself. Would i love to have Jordan back? I can’t articulate how much. But, today, according to Scripture, he’s more alive than we are. He is a holy citizen of Paradise, free from depression, suffering, disease, sadness,…. But, more than anything, he’s in the arms of the Lion who is the Lamb, Jesus Christ, the Almighty.

As David said after the death of his son, “Can I bring him back again? (No.) I shall [one day] go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:23) I thank You today, Jesus, for the cross and the empty tomb.

nw