“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-only to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.
I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.
This command I received from my Father.” John 10:18
My last month in High School (72’) I officially gave my life to the Lord Jesus. A friend in HS had been sharing with others that Jesus was coming back again. It shook me. If Jesus was coming back that meant He was real, that he really taught all those things, He really died, really rose and really ascended to heaven!
I believed in my heart that Jesus was indeed alive and I began confessing my young faith to others. I began voraciously reading the Scripture and joining with others to pray. I was feeling the vitality of the Holy Spirit.
I began reading apologetics for the historicity of Christ’s resurrection which strongly fortified me.
I had a rare opportunity to be in Jerusalem the Spring of 1974. I spend hours and days sitting and walking about the garden tomb, reading, meditating and praying to know better The Resurrection and the Life. It made a big impression!
As the years progressed I would meditate on the phenomenal victory of our Lord over the grave and the great redemption His death and resurrection bought. I read books that were full of exciting accounts of God’s wonders today, books like Mel Tari’s, “Like a Mighty Wind.”
Miraculous resurrections have been with us since the earliest days of the Church. These events are called theologically “resuscitations” since the people eventually die again. We Protestants in our arrogance have forgotten Church history which is over five hundred years old. Here are a few resurrection examples.
Irenaeus (130-220) who wrote “Against the Heresies” says, “Some persons that were dead have been raised again and have continued among us many years.”
Saint Frances of Paola (1416-1507) restored to life a man who had been hanged and was left hanging for three days.
Saint Patrick (389-461) is said to have worked 33 resurrections.
If you have not been encourage by modern resurrection events I encourage you to become aware. God is very much alive!
The Father used readings, prayers and meditation to prepare me for a resurrection in our own family. Three weeks before the event the Lord told me, “The next miracle you will see will be a resurrection from the dead.”
I encourage you to read our book, Theresa: How God Orchestrated a Miracle, here on our website.
For your encouragement and the glory of God!
Steven C. Johnson
