Death is something that we don’t like to talk about, something we don’t really consider too often and yet it is the one thing, barring the return of the Lord, that all of us will have to face.

We are thankful to God, because he has abolished death.

To abolish means to reduce to inactivity, for the believer death has been conquered and we can view it as the gateway to glory.

Well, he said, "Your mum has been over-run, not by death, but the shadow of death."

Frances Harvergal, the famous hymn writer, on her last day asked a friend to read the scriptures, they read the following:

Isaiah 42:6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, all who believe have eternal life and death holds no terrors for them.

In the word of God we read of Christ raising the dead on three occasions, there are many spiritual lessons for us from each of these incidents.

There is the case of Jairus’s daughter found in Luke 8 v 40-56.

This man was wealthy, we know that because of his occupation, a ruler of the synagogue. He would organise all the activities in the synagogue. For this man to come to Jesus he would probably have to forget about all the things he said he would never do.

This man as a strict religious wealthy Jew, would have said on many occasions how wrong this Jesus of Nazareth was. He would have agreed with those who were plotting to kill Jesus, but something happened in this man’s life to cause him to see sense.

He comes and falls at the feet of Jesus, what happened?

The pride and joy of his life. His lovely, lively little girl lay a dying, then he came to Jesus.

Notice what his friend came and said:

Luke 8:49 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.

Look you are wasting your time, your daughter is dead, don’t bother him anymore.

Is there some dad, praying for his little girl? Dead in trespasses and sins, and there are times when the old devil would say, "Don’t trouble the Lord, it’s too late."

Oh do not listen, it’s never too late, no one too far, no one too hard, remember this verse.

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

When you come to Jesus, there will be those who say, "Don’t bother."

Others might even laugh!

A strange thing happened, - there were those who were mourning and then they all started to laugh.

The Lord said, "She is only sleeping." This is how Christ spoke of death, as sleep.

They laughed and the Lord put them out, because of their laughter, they missed seeing the power of God at work.

Some people will see salvation as a joke, they will laugh themselves into the lake of fire, but oh they will never laugh themselves out of it.

This man had his need met in the Lord Jesus Christ, the little girl was raised from the dead.

The second one is found in Luke 7 v 11-18.

Here is the Lord with a crowd and he is going to a city called Nain.

They meet another crowd.

Luke 7:12 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.

This crowd is going to the cemetery.

This reminds me of the two crowds we have in the world today:

Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

Nothing ahead but death and eternal separation from God in hell.

Which crowd are you with?

Following Christ to a city, or heading to a cemetery with no hope?

Here we have a tragic situation, a dear woman, who had lost her husband now had lost her only son, the bread winner was gone. She would suffer much hardship as she tried to survive.

Many people were there and I am sure she really appreciated them, but her whole life was in tatters, I am sure she wondered if there was a God at all?

Maybe you have had that experience and you wonder is there a God? and yet the whole time he was there.

No body cares more about those who grief than the Lord himself, dear saint of God, perhaps you have a grieving heart, there is a God who knows, understands and really cares.

"Weep not," this is said by the one who one day shall:

Let us see what happens.

Luke 7:14-15 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. [15] And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

This time a young man finds life, and is returned to his dear mum.

Something I want to say about burials in those days.

They buried on the day of death.

Jesus had travelled about twenty miles, he must have started his journey before the young man died. Jesus was already on his way. While you were worried, weeping, wondering the Lord was already on his way.

Two minutes earlier or two minutes later the Lord would have missed them.

Let us look thirdly at Lazarus.

John 11:1-3 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. [2] (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) [3] Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

They had learned to wait on God.

They also had to learn to wait for God.

John 11:4 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.

Jesus revealed the plan or purpose of this sickness.

Notice Jesus loved them, but he delayed, because he delays, it does not mean he doesn’t love us. Keep waiting on God and wait for God and he will not let you down.

Lazarus died and was buried.

John 11:33-34 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, [34] And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

John 11:35 Jesus wept.

What a blessing to know he understands our hurts, our hearts when they are breaking. What a blessing to be able to say, that this Lord is my shepherd.

Let us read on:

John 11:38-39 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. [39] 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 told them to take away the stone, I wonder have you put some stone in the way of some dear lost soul? Is there something in your life that hinders others from coming to Christ?

John 11:43-44 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. [44] 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.

Here an older man is raised from the dead.

I want to leave you with four things that these miracles all had in common.

We find a mum weeping for a son.

Luke 7:13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

We find a dad concerned for his daughter.

Luke 8:41 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:

We find sisters troubled about their brother.

John 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

Dear lost soul there are loved ones who love you so much they speak to the Lord about you day and night.

But best of all Jesus loves you.

Jesus loved you so much that he went the whole way to Calvary for you.

Why do your loved ones care so much?

Consider the three reunions we have studied.

Luke 7:15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

Luke 8:55-56 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. [56] And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

When Lazarus rose from the dead he was reunited with Martha and Mary.

Dear unsaved friend, after death for the child of God there is a mighty reunion, when loved ones will be reunited for all eternity.

All of them were loved.

Death is a wonderful picture of a lost sinner, hopeless, helpless and lifeless.

Ephes. 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

All of them were loved and lost.

Did you notice -

One who died at home, the other on the way to the grave and one in the grave.

This surely reminds us again that he is able to save whomever, wherever and whenever.

And he can save you.

How did they receive life?

Luke 7:14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

Luke 8:54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

John 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

The word’s of Jesus Christ – he said, he called and he had spoken.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

As you listen to the word of God and respond, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, thou shalt be saved.

They were loved, but they were lost and then they found life.

• Confession - after he found life the young man spoke.

Luke 7:15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

• Communion - after the young girl arose she ate.

Luke 8:55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

• Consecration - the old grave clothes are gone.

John 11:44 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.

The marks of the old dead life gone.

2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

We can sing;

Do you realise you are loved?

Do you realise you are lost?

Do you realise you can find life?

Acts 17 [32] And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. [33] So Paul departed from among them. [34] Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Notice three responses:

1. Some mocked.
2. Some said, "We will hear thee again," they delayed.
3. Some believed.