There have been many resurrections recorded in the Bible. In the Old Testament the prophet Elijah stayed with a widow in the town of Zarephath in Sidon. The widow was not an Israelite, but a Gentile. In time the son of the widow became ill and died. Elijah cried to the Lord and the boy’s life returned to him. (I Kings 17:17-24)

Later Elisha, the successor of Elijah, brought life back to the dead son of a Shunnamite woman. (II Kings 4:18-37) At the beginning of his ministry Elisha asked for, and received, a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. Elijah, you will recall, did not die but was taken to Heaven in a “chariot of fire.” (II Kings 2:11) However Elisha, the successor of Elijah, did die but he was so filled with the Spirit of God that when the body of a dead man was thrown into Elisha’s tomb and touched his bones, the dead man came back to life! (II Kings 13:21)

The Lord Jesus encountered a funeral procession coming out of the city of Nain. The dead man was the only son of a widow. Without him, she would have no income or home. Jesus had compassion on her and brought the young man back to life. (Luke 7:12-15)

A certain woman named Tabitha lived in Joppa and was known for her good works. When she died, her friends sent for the Apostle Peter who was in the next town. Peter knelt by her body and prayed. The he said, “Tabitha arise,” and she opened her eyes and sat up. (Acts 9:36-41)

Perhaps the most famous resurrection was that of Lazarus. We know that the Jews generally were looking forward to a Resurrection Day. Jesus told Martha that her brother, Lazarus, would rise again. Her response was that she expected this “at the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:24) But the Lord Jesus resurrected Lazarus that very day. (John 11:38-44)

The Book of Job is considered by scholars to be the oldest book in the Bible, written even before the five books of Moses. In Job 19:25 Job declares,

Job was looking forward to the Resurrection! As Christians, we look forward to the promised Resurrection. But the most important resurrection of all is celebrated on Resurrection Sunday. The Lord Jesus, who died as the perfect sacrifice for all mankind, was raised from the dead on this day almost two-thousand years ago.

All the other resurrections described above were temporary. Those people still died, again. But the Lord Jesus is the firstfruits of the grave and now sits at the right hand of God in Heaven.

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” – I Corinthians 15:20-23