The Dead Man Revived

Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet! 2 Kings 13:20-21

ELISHA HAD A POWERFUL, life-giving prophetic ministry. He fed people in the midst of a famine, raised a boy from the dead, cleansed a leper, and played the kinsman-redeemer to the faithful within Israel. But as we discover in this strange little story of a corpse thrown into his grave, Elisha was a source of life even after his death.

This miracle of a dead person coming back to life after touching Elisha’s bones provided a picture of hope for the resurrection for God’s people. Even though the people in that day were about to be thrown into the grave of exile, there was still hope for resurrection. And even though the prophets were dying, Israel could be saved by clinging to the prophetic word. Death would not be the end of their story if they would take hold of the word of life spoken by the prophets.

In time, one greater than Elisha would come. And when he died, “tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead” (Matthew 27:52). But the miracle did not end there. Even now, spiritually dead people are made alive again when they are joined to Christ so that his grave becomes their grave: “For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). All of those who are joined to Christ are already experiencing this new life. And when he comes again, the transformation from death to life will be complete: “Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back” (1 Corinthians 15:23).

Lord, we appreciate this picture of a dead man being revived by contact with your prophetic Word. It’s what we want for ________. We long for your resurrection power to break into this dead and dying world and instill ________ with new life.