Speaking To a Corpse
Luke parallels Jesus with Elijah and Elisha throughout his Gospel. The most obvious place is Luke 7:11-16 when Jesus brings the only son of a widow back from the dead. The crowd immediately picks up on the connection because they say, “a great prophet has arisen among us!” (Luke 7:16). However, in addition to the similarities, Luke points out some major differences too. Both Elijah and Elisha layed upon the dead body and prayed multiple times to God before the boy rose to life. But Jesus only has to speak once. Also, he doesn’t direct his request to God but speaks directly to the corpse. Through this scene, Luke is clear. Someone greater than Elijah and Elisha is here. The prophets were but a shadow of the true Spirit of Prophecy, Jesus. He’s the only major; everyone else a minor.
God has raised up many gifted prophets, preachers, and pastors throughout history to speak his word and serve his people. However, this story reminds us they serve only as pointers to Jesus. I am a big believer in the Importance of good/godly leadership. However, the best leadership, preaching, programs, and most gifted people in the world cannot bring the revival and renewal we need.
Hebrews 1:1–4 (ESV)
1. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
2. but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
3. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4. having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Corporate and individual revitalization doesn’t come from a program or people but a Person. We do not have to go through anyone other than him to experience resurrection. We can cut out the middleman, or middle-woman, and go directly to the source. God has placed people in your life that he uses, like Elijah/Elisha to deliver a word from God, but they are not the Word.
Jesus speaks directly to the corpse and the corpse listens. “He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother, (Luke 7:14b–15). Jesus is wanting to do the same thing in you and through you. He wants your life to become a greater conduit of renewal and grace. We need to get out of his way so he can have his way. We’re not called to make clones of ourselves but disciples of Christ. We’re called to take people off of us and put them onto Christ. Because only “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength,” (Isaiah 40:31).
Let Jesus speak directly to the corpse in your life. Maybe your corpse is your church, your faith, a relationship, or ministry. Perhaps your finances are buried under 6ft of bad debt. Stop looking for solutions and going to sources that lack the necessary strength for resurrection to take place. We can speak to a corpse all day, and it’s not going to move. When it comes to bringing dead things back to life, we must go to the Resurrection and the Life. Like in Luke 7, Jesus has come to the funeral procession of our greatest failures. His hand is on the coffin of our greatest obstacle. He has stopped the pallbearers of our worst fears in their tracks and is saying to each of us, “ARISE!”