How Dead is Dead?
We all know that Christ used parables to teach us spiritual lessons. But have you ever noticed how God, in His infinite wisdom and sovereignty, uses actual historical events recorded in the Bible to teach us?
One of the greatest examples of God using actual events to teach us is the deliverance of the nation of Israel from slavery in Egypt. The word Exodus means, ‘the way out’ and the book of Exodus is the story of how the nation of Israel is redeemed by blood and by power.
Israel was delivered from the Angel of Death by the blood of the Passover Lamb and they were delivered from the Egyptian army by the power of God as He parted the Red Sea. God uses these events to teach us about our redemption from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross and from the temptations of Satan by the power of the Holy Spirit that indwells us.
Now let’s look at how Christ uses three miracles He performed to teach us of His power to save anyone (regardless of how lost in sin they are).
In the New Testament, Christ raised three people from the dead: Jairus’ daughter, the widow’s son and Lazarus. Read the following scriptural accounts:
- Jairus’ daughter: Luke 8:40 – 56 (enjoy the added bonus of reading about Christ healing the woman with the issue of blood while on His way to Jairus’ house (Christ is never too busy to heal us).
- The widow’s son: Luke 7:11-17
- Lazarus: John 11:38-44 (read John 11:1-44 for the full account)
Never forget that these Biblical accounts are actual events. Christ raised these three people from the dead!
But the spiritual illustration is that Christ can give spiritual life to anyone, regardless of how dead in sin they may be (Ephesians 2:1 – And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins).
Jairus’ daughter had been dead for a very short time. The widow’s son had been dead for hours (but probably less than a day because of Jewish burial customs). Lazarus had been dead for four days.
Anyone who has not accepted Christ as their Savior is spiritually dead (whether they are someone who tries to live a moral life or someone who rapes and murders). But no one is beyond the reach of Christ’s love. He died for the sins of the entire world – 1 John 2:2 and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
No one is beyond the love of Christ. Read about Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. See how Christ saved the chief of the tax collectors: a man hated by the world but loved by God.
So how dead is dead? It doesn’t matter. Christ can give eternal life to anyone who accepts Him!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach us to hate the sin not the sinner. Your love can save anyone, no matter how lost in sin they may be. Please use me to share Your love with the lost. Amen.
