The Story-Line of Christian Miracle Rhetorolect LESSON 2: MIRACLE BEGINNINGS WITH ELIJAH AND ELISHA: RAISING FROM DEATH TO LIFE The focus of the story-line of Christian miracle rhetorolect on nourishing, healing, restoring, and protecting human bodies includes raising certain dead people to life. The Hebrew Bible story-line of raising dead people to life begins with Elijah and Elisha. There also is a statement about the dead coming to life in Isaiah 26:19.  Click to read about Elijah and Elisha raising dead people to life.

Hebrew Bible Resource: THROUGH ELIJAH, GOD RAISES A WOMAN’S SON FROM DEATH 1 Kings 17:17 It happened after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so severe, that there was no breath left in him. 17:18 She said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!” 17:19 He said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the room where he stayed, and laid him on his own bed.  Click for continuation of Elijah’s raising of the son.

Hebrew Bible Resource: THROUGH ELIJAH, GOD RAISES A WOMAN’S SON FROM DEATH cont. 1 Kings 17:20 He cried to Adonai, and said, “Adonai my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I stay, by killing her son?” 17:21 He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Adonai, and said, “Adonai my God, please let this child’s soul come into him again.” 17:22 Adonai listened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.  Click for Elisha’s raising of a son.

ELIJAH’S DISCIPLE ELISHA ALSO RAISES A WOMAN’S SON FROM DEATH TO LIFE  Click for next slide.

Hebrew Bible Resource: ELIJAH’S DISCIPLE ELISHA ALSO RAISES A WOMAN’S SON FROM DEATH 2 Kings 4:14 He said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Most certainly she has no son, and her husband is old.” 4:15 He said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the door. 4:16 He said, “At this season, when the time comes around, you will embrace a son.” She said, “No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your handmaid.” 4:17 The woman conceived, and bore a son at that season, when the time came around, as Elisha had said to her.  Click for continuation of Elisha’s raising of the son.

Hebrew Bible Resource: ELIJAH’S DISCIPLE ELISHA ALSO RAISES A WOMAN’S SON FROM DEATH cont. (1) 2 Kings 4:18 When the child was grown, it happened one day that he went out to his father to the reapers. 4:19 He said to his father, “My head! My head!” He said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 4:20 When he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees until noon, and then died.  Click for continuation of Elisha’s raising of the son.

Hebrew Bible Resource: ELIJAH’S DISCIPLE ELISHA ALSO RAISES A WOMAN’S SON FROM DEATH cont. (2) 2 Kings 4:27 When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, “Leave her alone; for her soul is troubled within her; and Adonai has hidden it from me, and has not told me.” 4:28 Then she said, “Did I desire a son of my lord? Didn’t I say, Do not deceive me?”  Click for continuation of Elisha’s raising of the son.

Hebrew Bible Resource: ELIJAH’S DISCIPLE ELISHA ALSO RAISES A WOMAN’S SON FROM DEATH cont. (3) 2 Kings 4:29 Then he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don’t greet him; and if anyone greets you, don’t answer him again. Then lay my staff on the face of the child.” 4:31 Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Therefore he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, “The child has not awakened.”  Click for continuation of Elisha’s raising of the son.

Hebrew Bible Resource: ELIJAH’S DISCIPLE ELISHA ALSO RAISES A WOMAN’S SON FROM DEATH cont. (4) 2 Kings 4:32 When Elisha had come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid on his bed. 4:33 He went in therefore, and shut the door on them both, and prayed to Adonai. 4:34 He went up, and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. He stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child grew warm.  Click for continuation of Elisha’s raising of the son.

Hebrew Bible Resource: ELIJAH’S DISCIPLE ELISHA ALSO RAISES A WOMAN’S SON FROM DEATH cont. (5) 2 Kings 4:35 Then he returned, and walked in the house once back and forth; and went up, and stretched himself on him. Then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 4:36 He called Gehazi, and said, “Call this Shunammite!” So he called her. When she had come in to him, he said, “Take up your son.” 4:37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; and she took up her son, and went out.  Click for raising the dead in the prophetic book of Isaiah.

Hebrew Bible Resource: THE PROPHETIC BOOK OF ISAIAH SPEAKS OF THE DEAD COMING TO LIFE Isaiah 26:19 Your dead shall live. My dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast forth the dead.  Click for raising the dead in Christian miracle rhetorolect.

CHRISTIAN MIRACLE RHETOROLECT IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE PRESENTS JESUS REFERRING SPECIFICALLY TO ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH. THEN LATER JESUS RAISES THE SON OF A WIDOW OF NAIN  Click for next slide.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: IN LUKE, JESUS REFERS SPECIFICALLY TO ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH Luke 4:25 But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. 4:26 Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  Click for Jesus’ raising of the son of a widow of Nain.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: IN LUKE, JESUS RAISES A SON OF A WIDOW OF NAIN Luke 7:11 It happened soon afterwards, that he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him. 7:12 Now when he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her. 7:13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, “Don’t cry.”  Click for continuation of Jesus’ raising of the son of a widow of Nain.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: IN LUKE, JESUS RAISES A SON OF A WIDOW OF NAIN cont. Luke 7:14 He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” 7:15 He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. 7:16 Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!” 7:17 This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea, and in all the surrounding region.  Click for Jesus’ raising of a twelve year old girl.

IN ADDITION, CHRISTIAN MIRACLE RHETOROLECT IN MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE PRESENTS JESUS RAISING A TWELVE YEAR OLD GIRL FROM DEATH TO LIFE  Click for next slide.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: ALL THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS PRESENT JESUS RAISING A TWELVE YEAR OLD GIRL TO LIFE Matthew 9:18 While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 9:19 Jesus got up and followed him, as did his disciples.  Click for continuation of Jesus’ raising of a twelve year old girl.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: ALL THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS PRESENT JESUS RAISING A TWELVE YEAR OLD GIRL TO LIFE cont. Matthew 9:23 When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd in noisy disorder, 9:24 he said to them, “Make room, because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” They were ridiculing him. 9:25 But when the crowd was put out, he entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 9:26 The report of this went out into all that land. Cf. Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56 Matthew 9:18-26Mark 5:21-43Luke 8:40-56Matthew 9:18-26Mark 5:21-43Luke 8:40-56  Click for Jesus’ raising of Lazarus.

CHRISTIAN MIRACLE RHETOROLECT IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN PRESENTS JESUS RAISING ONLY ONE PERSON FROM DEATH TO LIFE, A MAN NAMED LAZARUS. IT IS A VERY LONG STORY!  Click for next slide.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN PRESENTS JESUS RAISING LAZARUS FROM DEATH TO LIFE John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha. 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 11:6 When therefore he heard that he was sick, he stayed two days in the place where he was. 11:11 He said these things, and after that, he said to them, “Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep.”  Click for continuation of Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from death to life.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN PRESENTS JESUS RAISING LAZARUS FROM DEATH TO LIFE cont. (1) John 11:12 The disciples therefore said, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 11:13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep. 11:14 So Jesus said to them plainly then, “Lazarus is dead. 11:15 I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let’s go to him.” 11:16 Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go also, that we may die with him.”  Click for continuation of Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from death to life.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN PRESENTS JESUS RAISING LAZARUS FROM DEATH TO LIFE cont. (2) John 11:17 So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already. 11:21 Therefore Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 11:22 Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” 11:23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 11:24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”  Click for continuation of Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from death to life.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN PRESENTS JESUS RAISING LAZARUS FROM DEATH TO LIFE cont. (3) John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 11:26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 11:38 Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 11:39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”  Click for continuation of Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from death to life.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN PRESENTS JESUS RAISING LAZARUS FROM DEATH TO LIFE cont. (4) John 11:40 Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?” 11:41 So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me.”  Click for continuation of Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from death to life.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN PRESENTS JESUS RAISING LAZARUS FROM DEATH TO LIFE cont. (5) John 11:43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 11:44 He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Read the entire story in John 11:1-44 John 11:1-44John 11:1-44  Click for the apostle Peter’s raising of Tabitha (Dorcas) from death to life.

CHRISTIAN MIRACLE RHETOROLECT IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES PRESENTS PETER RAISING TABITHA (DORCAS) FROM DEATH TO LIFE  Click for next slide.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES PRESENTS PETER RAISING TABITHA (DORCAS) FROM DEATH TO LIFE Acts 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did. 9:37 It happened in those days that she fell sick, and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 9:38 As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 9:39 Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.  Click for continuation of Peter’s raising of Tabitha (Dorcas) from death to life.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES PRESENTS PETER RAISING TABITHA (DORCAS) FROM DEATH TO LIFE cont. Acts 9:40 Peter put them all out, and kneeled down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 9:41 He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 9:42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.  Click for Paul’s raising of Eutychus from death.

CHRISTIAN MIRACLE RHETOROLECT IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES PRESENTS PAUL RAISING EUTYCHUS FROM DEATH TO LIFE AFTER HE FALLS OUT OF A WINDOW AND DIES  Click for next slide.

Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES PRESENTS PAUL RAISING EUTYCHUS FROM DEATH TO LIFE Acts 20:9 A certain young man named Eutychus sat in the window, weighed down with deep sleep. As Paul spoke still longer, being weighed down by his sleep, he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead. 20:10 Paul went down, and fell upon him, and embracing him said, “Don’t be troubled, for his life is in him.” 20:11 When he had gone up, and had broken bread, and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed. 20:12 They brought the boy in alive, and were greatly comforted.  Click for discussion of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

JESUS’ RESURRECTION FROM DEATH IS A DYNAMIC BLEND OF MIRACLE AND APOCALYPTIC RHETOROLECT, RATHER THAN SIMPLY THE SUPREME EXAMPLE OF CHRISTIAN MIRACLE RHETOROLECT. JESUS’ RESURRECTION FROM DEATH IS THE MEANS BY WHICH JESUS BEGINS THE NEW APOCALYPTIC AGE (1 CORINTHIANS 15) AND GAINS A POSITION IN HEAVEN, FROM WHERE HE MAY RETURN TO EARTH AS THE AUTHORITATIVE SON OF MAN AT THE END OF TIME.  Click for a summary.

Good Work! In this lesson you have learned that: The raising of people from death by Elijah and his disciple Elisha are a beginning point for Christian miracle rhetorolect that features the raising of people from death to life. Isaiah 26:19 also refers to the dead being raised to life.  Click to continue the summary.

Excellent! God’s raising of Jesus from death to life is a dynamic blend of miracle and apocalyptic rhetorolect, rather than simply the most dramatic example of miracle rhetorolect. First, God’s raising of Jesus from death to life begins the process of resurrection of the dead in “the new age.” Jesus is therefore “the first fruits of the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Second, the goal of God’s raising of Jesus is the movement of Jesus from earth to heaven, where Jesus receives the authority and power from God to return to the earth at the end of time.  Click to continue the summary.

Congratulations!!!! THIS WAS THE SECOND LESSON on the Christian Miracle Story-Line. Every good wish as you continue with Lesson 3 on the healing of people.