Lessons

The Hope of the Resurrection – Part 1. When a loved one dies, it can be a devastating event in the life of a person. Death is part of life since we are all going to experience death, either from those around us that are friends, or even worse, those that are family. But when you are a Christian, and you know that person that died is a Christian, it is a joyous occasion when death happens because they have the promise of being resurrected and living eternally with the Lord. In John 11:1-45, we see Jesus raise Lazarus from the grave. Before Jesus raised him, he wept, showing the sorrow one feels for loved ones who go to the grave and leave those around them sad. Jesus Christ specifically waited to get to Lazarus after he had died to demonstrate the power over death God has given him. In John 11:43-45, it says “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.” We have the same promise in the hope of the resurrection but it is even better than that! Ephesians 2:4-9 tells us “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” The lesson on January 18, 2009 ended with a Seven Resurrections Chart handout that identifies the seven resurrections found in the New Testament.