EASTER SUNDAY AND RESURRECTION

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Jesus’s birth and resurrection are considered the two most important events and celebrations in the Christian calendar, Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.

But Jesus’s resurrection, and even that of Lazarus, are not the only resurrections mentioned in the Bible. There are other corpses that Jesus raises, and various resurrections by others . . .

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Widow of Zarephath's son

(I Ki 17:17-24)

Raised by Elijah

Elijah, a great prophet, raises the son of the widow of Zarephath by laying on the body three times and then praying. Penn and Teller would be envious.

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Shunamite's son

(II Ki 4:20-37)

Raised by Elisha

Elisha friends in Shunem had a son who died. They summoned Elisha who he laid himself over the boy's body and paced back and forth in the house. The boy came back to life. What is it with laying on bodies?

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Man tossed into Elisha's tomb

(II Ki 13:21)

Raised by God's Spirit

People about to bury a man saw a band of raiders coming and so threw the dead man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the corpse touched Elisha's bones, he revived.

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Widow of Nain's son

(Lk 7:11-16)

Raised by Jesus

Jesus stopped a funeral procession as they were carrying the casket to the cemetery. Feeling sorry for the mother of the deceased He told her to stop crying and raised her son from the dead.

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Synagogue ruler Jairus' 12-year-old daughter

(Mk 5:35-43)

Raised by Jesus

Jairus asked Jesus to come heal his dying daughter. By the time Jesus arrived she had already died. Jesus sent the mourners out but took the girls' parents and Peter, James and John into the room where the dead girl lay. He said, "Little girl, get up." She did.

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Lazarus

(Jn 11:1-44)

Raised by Jesus

Lazarus had been in the grave four days when Jesus approached his tomb. Jesus asked the people to take away the stone. Then Jesus called out, "Lazarus, come forth." Lazarus came out, still wrapped in the strips of cloth. Mental image of Zombie Apocalypse, did anyone see that movie?

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Tabitha also known as Dorcas

(Acts 9:36-41)

Raised by Peter

Tabitha (not the daughter of Samantha and Darrin Stephens), a seamstress who did many good deeds, became sick and died. Since Peter was in a nearby town they asked him to come. Peter had everyone leave the room where Tabitha lay. He knelt down and prayed and then he said to the body, "Tabitha, arise." She opened her eyes and then sat up.

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Eutychus

(Acts 20:7-12)

Raised by Paul

One night Paul was speaking to a group of believers. A young man sitting in the window, listening, fell asleep.

Rule No 1: Don’t fall asleep sitting in an open window 3 floors up.

Rule No 2: If you break Rule 1 and fall to your death, have a holy man nearby who can raise from the dead.

When the man fell to his death, Paul ran down, laid himself over the body (there we go again!!??) and then embraced him. The man was alive again.

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Men raised upon Jesus' death

(Mt 27:51-53)

Raised by God

When Jesus died there was a violent earthquake and the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. The Bible says tombs were opened and many bodies of saints arose from the dead. It also says that after Jesus' resurrection they went into Jerusalem where many people witnessed their return to life. Now that would be a zombie movie scene. . .

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