MIRACLES: RESURRECTION: IT’S NOT JUST FOR EASTER

By Darin Smith | Renovate Church—Centennial, CO

How can I trust Jesus when everything feels hopeless?

Whether you’re walking through a sudden tragedy, carrying the weight of a long-term illness, or grieving the loss of someone you love, hopelessness has a way of clouding our perspective. When life falls apart, we naturally want to know what God is going to do and when He’s going to do it.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14, Paul writes:

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14

Notice what Paul doesn’t say. He doesn’t say Christians shouldn’t grieve. He says we shouldn’t grieve without hope.

That hope isn’t based on our circumstances. It’s based on the fact that Jesus died… and rose again.

Throughout the Gospels, there are three recorded occasions where Jesus raised someone from the dead. What do those miracles teach us about Jesus—especially when life seems hopeless?

The Widow’s Son at Nain

In Luke 7:11–17, Jesus travels to a town called Nain with His disciples and a large crowd. As they approach the city gate, another crowd is coming out. It’s a funeral procession for a young man who was his mother’s only son—and she was already a widow.

In that culture, losing both her husband and her only son left this woman incredibly vulnerable. She was not only grieving; she was facing a future that was terrifyingly uncertain.

Notice what happens:

• She doesn’t ask Jesus for anything.
• There is no declaration of faith.
• There is no prayer recorded.

She is simply grieving.

But Luke tells us: Jesus saw her. Out of all the people in the crowd, Jesus saw her. And when He saw her, His heart went out to her. He walked up, touched the stretcher, and said: “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and started talking, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

I think sometimes we get the idea that before Jesus cares about what’s happening in our lives, we have to get everything right—pray the right prayer, have enough faith, or know what to ask for. But this woman did none of that.

Sometimes hopelessness doesn’t look like somebody on their knees boldly praying for a miracle. Sometimes hopelessness looks like somebody who’s hurting so badly they don’t even know what to pray.

And Jesus sees them too.

Jairus’ Daughter

In Mark 5:21–43, a synagogue leader named Jairus falls at Jesus’ feet and begs Him: “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”

Jesus agrees to go with him. But on the way, there’s an interruption. A woman who had been suffering from bleeding for 12 years touches Jesus’ cloak and is healed. Jesus stops to speak with her.

Imagine what Jairus is thinking. Jesus, that’s wonderful, but my daughter is dying. We gotta get moving!

While Jesus is still speaking, people arrive from Jairus’ house and say: “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?”

In an instant, Jairus went from hope to heartbreak. But before Jairus even has a chance to respond, Jesus tells him:

“Don’t be afraid. Just believe.” — Mark 5:36

Faith isn’t a spiritual force where if we generate enough of it, God has to do what we ask. Faith is trust. It’s trusting who Jesus is, even when we don’t know what He’s going to do.

When they reach the house, Jesus takes the little girl by the hand and says, “Little girl, I say to you, get up.” Immediately, she gets up and starts walking around. Then Jesus tells them, “Give her something to eat.” (I love that—an incredible supernatural moment followed by something completely ordinary: She was dead, now she’s alive, somebody get this kid a sandwich.)

Jairus went to Jesus because he believed Jesus could help, but his situation went from bad to worse. It’s one thing to trust Jesus when we can see how things might work out; it’s another to keep walking with Him when everything seems to be falling apart.

Faith isn’t knowing what Jesus is going to do. It’s trusting who He is.

Lazarus

In John 11, Jesus receives word that His dear friend Lazarus is sick. Mary and Martha simply send word: “Lord, the one you love is sick.” They assume He will come immediately.

John makes a point of telling us that Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Which makes what happens next so hard to understand: Jesus stayed where He was for two more days.

While they waited, Lazarus died.

By the time Jesus arrives near Bethany, Lazarus has been dead for four days. Both Martha and Mary say the exact same thing to Him: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” You can hear their pain, confusion, and faith all at once.

When Jesus sees Mary and the community weeping, we get one of the shortest and most powerful verses in the Bible:

“Jesus wept.” — John 11:35

Jesus knew He was about to call Lazarus out of that tomb. He knew how the story ended—and He cried anyway.

Sometimes Christians are too quick to explain away someone else’s pain with clichés like “God has a plan” or “Everything happens for a reason.” While those may contain truth, when you’re standing in the middle of grief, they can sound painfully inadequate. Jesus knew the plan, and He wept anyway. Knowing the end of the story does not eliminate the pain in the middle.

Jesus went to the tomb, had them roll away the stone, and called out: “Lazarus, come out!” And Lazarus walked out, still bound in grave clothes.

Resurrection: The Ultimate Hope

Jesus raised the widow’s son at Nain, Jairus’ daughter, and Lazarus. But eventually… all three of them died again.

Those families got more time with the ones they loved, and more time is an incredible gift. But more time isn’t the ultimate answer to death, because what we ultimately need is something death can’t eventually take away.

Which brings us to the ultimate resurrection.

Not long after Lazarus was raised, Jesus was arrested, crucified, and buried in a tomb. But on the third day, the tomb was empty. He was alive.

Unlike the others, Jesus didn’t just get more time—He defeated death.

As Romans 6:9 says: “Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.”

Paul calls Jesus “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Firstfruits means there is more coming. It’s the beginning of what God has promised for all who belong to Him.

That’s the difference between optimism and Christian hope:

• Optimism says: “I hope things are going to get better.”
• Christian Hope says: “Things will be made right—because I know how the story ends.”

As Revelation 21:4 promises:

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

So how can you trust Jesus when everything feels hopeless? Not because you know what He’s going to do, and not because everything in this life will turn out the way you want—but because you know who He is.

He is the Resurrection and the Life. And He proved it by walking out of His own grave.