Resurrection, the Priest’s Initiation

The world defines resurrection as "the act of rising from the dead or returning to life, the act of bringing back to practice, notice, or use; a revival." Theology defines resurrection as "the rising again of Jesus on the third day after the Crucifixion, or the rising again of the dead at the Last Judgment."

“Every change of mind or change in your plan of life comes under the principle of Resurrection, which lifts you up and out of the little self.”—Edna Lister

Resurrection is a law of doing under the principle of redemption — to redeem your own soul you must resurrect all good from the dead in Spirit. Resurrection is the initiation of the sixth Degree of the Priest. In Resurrection, you arise into the Light to transform your cross into a ladder of Ascension. Your personal desires and will become one with divine Love and Wisdom as you daily practice the full surrender of self.

Edna Lister on Resurrection

Use truth as a resurrection from the false and the appearance of things, and for a life of vital living.—Edna Lister, Appropriating the Christ Substance, December 16, 1934.

God gave His only Son to save sinners. The Son reconciled us first through his death by Crucifixion, and exalted us through life by his Resurrection.—Edna Lister, The Saving Power of Christ Consciousness, April 14, 1935.

Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection. Each soul must give up the old things before the new can be established.—Edna Lister, Why We Observe Lent, March 6, 1938.

You must resurrect yourself from all weakness into all strength.—Edna Lister, March 12, 1938.

Be faithful unto the resurrection of all into the Light.—Edna Lister, August 12, 1941.

The Neophyte, Disciple and Adept Degrees deal with self control and resurrection.—Edna Lister, November 2, 1944.

Communion means sharing or participating in a fellowship. The first communion took place at the Last Supper, the Passover Seder, near the spring equinox, just before Easter. The last supper, also known as the Lord’s Supper, commemorates the Passover. In the tenth plague on Egypt, the angel of death passed over the land, slaying the firstborn of every house whose doorposts and lintel were not marked with the blood of a lamb. All these events fall under the law of Resurrection, especially Jesus’ serving the bread and wine at the last supper.—Edna Lister, The Holy Communion, October 20, 1946.

Every soul is capable of the Resurrection and Ascension, two great tenets of Christian religion.—Edna Lister, Eternal Life, April 6, 1947.

To comprehend, first you must apprehend that there is a Resurrection from the dead ways of living. "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection."—Philippians 3:10. The way of apprehension is hard, but opens the way to the power of the resurrection. You may say, "I am resurrected," when you fully accept the responsibility for living the redeemed life in Christ.—Edna Lister, The Golden Chalice, June 15, 1951.

“The power of the Resurrection is the soul's desire to work. Resurrect your past, do not drag it along with you.”—Edna Lister

Apprehension plants your feet on the road to resurrection. You resurrect your past when you turn to good.—Edna Lister, Aspiration and Prayer, September 21, 1952.

Aspiration means to be resurrected from old ways of being into new life. From aspiration, which is a yearning, you move to fulfillment, resurrecting your aspiration, and ascending to joy in prayer.—Edna Lister, The Golden Chalice, May 31, 1953.

Aspiration is a resurrection from the old to the new, born of a burning desire to know that God, as a Father, unlocks the Gates of Light. To open the floodgates, seek and listen for the Master’s knock at your "door" at the crown of your head. When you yearn for more truth, you step from resurrecting the old to ascending to the new, and ascension becomes a constant act.—Edna Lister, Prayer, the Soul’s Aspiration, June 7, 1953.

To resurrect the buried past, put it on a cloud of consuming fire in your heaven to burn out all dross. Only the fires of love can do this.—Edna Lister, Let Go and Let God, January 8, 1956.

Remission of sins requires that you empty out the old and resurrect all good from your past experience. To do this, you must remember all your valuable experience-lessons and leave the husks behind.—Edna Lister, Go Preach the Gospel, July 22, 1956.

The Priest Degree requires full resurrection of self, drawing whirling life sparks from physical glands and plexus centers to the molecular desire body, to the atomic mental body, and finally, to the electronic fire body.—Edna Lister, February 13, 1958.

Resurrection means to be brought back to life. You must ascend in consciousness and resurrect all your old self before you can enter your own Garden of Eden again. To live in the Garden of Eden is to be resurrected, transformed, and changed from old ways to new. Your family, close friends, folks at work, and complete strangers will aid you in this by "putting you on a spot," which is how the reaction of law helps you to resurrect your past indifference, idleness, and idle words. So, you dig out the old memories and patterns of the past and lift it all into the Light.—Edna Lister, Oracles of God, November 16, 1958.

To fulfill the law of resurrection, you must rise into the Light and, deliberately and consciously, transform your cross of crucifixion into a ladder of ascension.—Edna Lister, The Pioneering Mystic, May 5, 1959.

To resurrect the body requires coordination between the soul’s surrender of self and physical relaxation.—Edna Lister, Transfiguration, Resurrection and Ascension, May 19, 1959.

Resurrection is the first part of the law of becoming, which includes transmutation and sublimation.—Edna Lister, Eight Great Powers of Being, June 23, 1959.

"The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.—John 5:25." The "dead" of this world have no time left for God because their world revolves around themselves and their interests only.—Edna Lister, I Am the Life, October 18, 1959.

Train yourself constantly until you master Resurrection and Ascension, whose keynote is "This is good. Let there be Light," and all else will follow.—Edna Lister, March 21, 1960.

To reconstruct your life, you must resurrect it, digging up the old, thinking about the new, knowing the new, which is preparing for action.—Edna Lister, May 8, 1960.

Resurrection is remembering the law your soul knew from the beginning, but ascension is becoming it, as God intended you to do.—Edna Lister, From Gethsemane to Ascension, May 15, 1960.

If the sun burns the grass, it will still grow again from the same roots, which the earth protects. This principle is important, because it exemplifies resurrection. A man can burn himself out in many ways, alcoholism, for instance, but below the charred remnant is the seed of life that can always grow again to make all things new. This includes the intelligent one who misuses Power and soul substance, yet whom Light can redeem on your spoken Word of healing and faith.—Edna Lister, Consider the Lilies, May 29, 1960.

Were it not for the Resurrection, none of us would be strong enough to return to God. The power of the Resurrection is the soul’s desire to work. Resurrect your past, do not drag it along with you.—Edna Lister, Miracles Through Comprehension, July 10, 1960.

A creature uses crude reason, comparison, induction, deduction and synthesis unconsciously according to its degree and kind, but the creator uses them consciously based on the facts he has gained in the past and through his life’s experiences. The story of Lazarus’ resurrection is a perfect example of this.

Mary and the crowd of mourners were using their faculties unconsciously, but Martha and the disciples were more conscious. The disciples had already decided to follow Jesus wherever he went because they wanted to follow his Light, and they had faith in his abilities. When he cried, "Lazarus, come forth," they believed that Lazarus had successfully reconditioned his life through faith. Yet they, too, marveled at the miracle of faith.—Edna Lister, Wherever You Go, October 22, 1961.

Many teachers teach resurrection, but the world needs more teachers of soul ascension. Anyone who tells you to be good and to lift self, is teaching the lesser degrees of ascension.—Edna Lister, November 23, 1965.

Resurrection is to change your mind, not leaving the body by dying first. Anyone can be resurrected from weakness, disease and self-pity. When you have reached your spiritual, emotional and physical limits, break through, move out, expand the horizon of your hopes in early life. Begin something new. Now you are resurrected from your old life, and cannot fall back to sleep.—Edna Lister, A New Found Horizon, May 8, 1966.

To lift self is resurrection, but to go higher is ascension. Stay there!—Edna Lister, July 31, 1966.

A rebuke resurrects the dead self for you to lift.—Edna Lister, October 29, 1966.

You cannot resurrect yourself without transformation. The transforming Power of the Almighty, which operates under faith, endurance and holding, can transform even an old or sick body into perfection.—Edna Lister, Be Strong to Endure, December 18, 1966.

“To resurrect your consciousness from worldly cross-vibrations, breathe and be faith. Believe that your breath brings Source Power to fill your aura.”—Edna Lister

Resurrection means to be lifted up and out of the old into a new spiritual, mental, emotional and physical condition. The physical bloodstream is the source life, which the soul inhabits and controls through the platelets. Rays of Light lifted Jesus’ soul from his body on the cross. He called his electronic sparks of life to himself after the tomb was closed. This was the Resurrection.—Edna Lister, Five Important Questions, October 27, 1968.

Resurrection is the simplest thing in the world — a raised vibration of substance that is part of the "greater works," which Jesus said we would do.—Edna Lister, Five Important Questions, October 27, 1968.

Excessive self deadens the body, which is why you must resurrect your self.—Edna Lister, January 11, 1970.

Resurrection always requires a new application of law on every new level.—Edna Lister, May 13, 1970.

Healing has three phases—resurrection, redemption and transformation, which are not arbitrary, but necessary to explain healing. You must be energized to be alive in God, so you need to begin with deep, conscious breathing. Every breath you draw comes from the Source of All Life, so breathe from this Source consciously, declaring, "Be alive with the Life of God."

Why don’t more people believe in personal resurrection? The first work of faith and healing is to redeem your emotional life, which deals with the soul virtues and includes what you feel emotionally and whatever unpleasantness you experience. The world labels this as mental illness, a mental disorder, or as depression [conditions for which the so-called professionals prescribe drugs]. Yet you must cleanse what you feel, not drug the symptoms into submission.

To begin your self-healing, stand, raise your arms high to God and say, "Please cleanse me, redeem me from all self-pity." Since no one can run on yesterday’s used-up Power, you must recharge yourself daily by redeeming the soul substance you’ve invested in your emotional life and memories of the past.

When you have lifted your emotional desires into the Light, you transform your mental life of creative desire, thinking, and imagination. Then you may safely imagine that you are one with the Eternal God and walk within His glory. Nothing is impossible with transformed desire, thinking and imagination. You are creator gods, going home, step by step, to immortality.

God is as "here" as He is anywhere, including the Source. The only difference between heaven and earth is that the vibration here is so low and heavy. Your only method for overcoming worldly cross-vibrations is to breathe and to be faith. Believe that your breath brings Source Power to fill your aura.

Breathe and exhale three times using this statement: "My breath is high enough to take in the whole Life and Light of God." This is resurrection of the physical, which is the first step in healing. You resurrect your self from the dead before you do anything, before you eat dinner or go to bed. Always be certain that your breath is high enough to draw the substance of God from the Emanations, which fill the River of Life. You need more of God’s life now. God is everywhere evenly present and available, even in your body, unless you close out the River of Life. —Edna Lister, When Is Healing Legal? November 22, 1970.

You resurrect your past when you turn to good.—Edna Lister, Undated Papers, 1924-1971.

Stories That Illustrate Resurrection

Jesus’ Resurrection

Matthew’s Account: In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshiped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.—Matthew 28:1-15.

Mark’s Account: And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulcher; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.—Mark 16:1-14.

Luke’s Account: Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, and returned from the sepulcher, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulcher; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.—Luke 24:1-16.

John’s Account: The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.—John 20:1-18.

Resurrection in the Gospels

Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, and said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.—Matthew 14:1-2.

King Herod heard of [Jesus]; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.—Mark 6:14-16.

Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by [Jesus]: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; and of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.—Luke 9:7-9.

And he charged them that they should tell no man of him [that he was the Messiah]. And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spake that saying openly.—Mark 8:30-32.

As they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen [the Transfiguration], till the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.—Mark 9:9-10.

As they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen [the Transfiguration], till the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.—Matthew 17:9.

He taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.—Mark 9:31-32.

And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.—Mark 10:32-34.

Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.—Matthew 20:17-19.

Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.—Mark 14:27-28.

Then [Jesus] took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.—Luke 18:31-34.

And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.—John 2:13-22.

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.—Matthew 27:62-66.

The Resurrection Miracles

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.—Mark 9:9-13.

Jesus Resurrects the Poor Widow’s Son: And it came to pass the day after, that [Jesus] went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.—Luke 7:11-15.

Jesus Resurrects Jairus’ Daughter: behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshiped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples ... And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, he said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.—Matthew 9:18-19, 23-25.

Behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, and besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him ... While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.—Mark 5:22-24, 35-43.

And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying ... While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.—Luke 8:41-42,49-56.

Jesus Resurrects Lazarus: Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby ... When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was ... He saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him....Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.—John 11:1-4,6,11-15,17-44.

Elijah Resurrects the Widow of Zarephath’s Son: And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah. And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.—1 Kings 17:8-24.

New Testament on Resurrection

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.—John 11:25-26. [Christ is the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Christ, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Christ shall never die.]

Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.—Mark 12:18-27.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.—John 5:25-29.

And [Jesus] said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.—Luke 9:59-60. [Those who are dead to the Word need resurrection.]

And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.—Luke 16:20-31.

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.—Revelation 20:1-8.