God’s power of resurrection
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Welcome! Happy Easter!
Since Adam’s fall, death came to humanity. Over the thousands of years, we have been accepting death as common fate. Recent coronavirus worsened our situation under the power of death. We need faith in God and His Son Jesus more than ever.
Today, let us study Ezekiel 37:1-14, and find out God’s power of resurrection.
I. Son of man, can these bones live? (1 – 3)
Ezekiel was standing in front of a great many bones on the floor of the valley. Bones were very dry (2).
God asked Prophet Ezekiel in v3.
‘Son of man, can these bones live?’
Indeed, we are looking at what are totally impossible to live, decades-old dry bones… But this question helps us expect God’s awesome miracle!
Jesus also asked a man invalid for 38 years in John 5:6,
“Do you want to get well?”
The man might have lost any hope after such a long period time. But, through this question, Jesus gave him hope that he could get well. And then, Jesus healed him (John 5:8-9).
We don’t hope someone to live again once has died… But, when God asks, “Can these bones live?”, he is giving us such hope in the midst of worst-case scenario.
II. They came to life and stood up on their feet (4 – 10)
See verse 4-6.
God asked Ezekiel to prophesy to these bones and say to them,
“Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” (4-6)
And as Ezekiel was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone (7). Behold! Tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them (8).
God said to Ezekiel,
‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it,
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.” ’ (9)
So, Ezekiel prophesied as God commanded him, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army (10).
Hallelujah! God raised whole lot of dead people of bare dry bones back to life! God demonstrated that He is almighty God who raises the dead!
Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’ (John 11:25), and He raised dead Lazarus (John 11:43-44).
According to Apostle Paul, the resurrection of Jesus entails resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:12-20). In 1 Corinthians 15:36b, Paul teaches the resurrection is shown in the nature.
What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.
The resurrection we will experience in future is even more amazing than what we have just read in Ezekiel. Our new body will be imperishable and immortal, suitable for eternal life in Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50-56).
III. God’s power of resurrection (11 – 14)
Let’s continue to read Ezekiel. See verse 11.
Then God said to Ezekiel,
‘Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel.
They say,
“Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.”
At this particular time, God showed Ezekiel this awesome miracle regarding to the people of Israel. They have been absolutely hopeless and devastated.
In verse 12-14, God said “my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them … when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live …”.
At the moment Jesus gave up his spirit on the cross, the dead were raised. See Matthew 27:51-53.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
In the book of Ezekiel and Matthew, we saw the glimpse of God’s power of resurrection. The resurrection in future will be global and glorious for the believers (1 Corinthians 15:52).
In worst and hopeless situations, we may say as the bones say,
“Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.” (11)
But nothing is impossible to God. God raised them to life. If God can raise decades-old dry bones back to life, we can certainly believe that He can help us in any hopeless situation we may have. No problem is too serious or too late for Him.
Situation can be changed up and down. You may be in the midst of a situation getting worse. But remember the word of God we studied today. We can trust God – His faithfulness and His power. Pray to God. Ask God’s will and direction. Wait for God. We can just do the right things regardless of situations. God will do the rest. What are the right things that we can do?
Let us read what Paul concluded after he had finished explaining about the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead:
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Amen.
While some people may be already equipped with biblical knowledge and discipleship training, some may be new, who may need time for learning & training (but the learning should never end). Regardless, ‘your labour in the Lord is not in vain’. Amen.
As a student, your study is your responsibility (your cross for you to take up). Ask God ‘wisdom’ to manage your time wisely while studying diligently and serving the LORD faithfully.
The Lord be with you.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
