Luke 7:13-14
13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

In the Old Testament, it says that we shouldn’t touch a dead person because it makes us unclean. But Jesus knew that He had come to fulfill the law. (Leviticus 22:4, Numbers 19:11)

Jesus speaks to the dead to rise again. That’s the good news for you if you are dead today.

There are many of Jesus’ children who are totally dead. Because we are completely dead, Jesus can raise us up. If you die completely, you can be raised again.

If you try to be resurrected before you die, you carry on all of your evil (your flesh and sin) to your new life. So today is a good day to die – not physically, but to yourself, in whatever area it is that you are struggling in.

Luke 7 was the first time that He raised anyone from the dead. Mark 5:40-42 was the second time He raised someone from the dead, when he raised Jairus’ daughter. When Jesus raised someone from the dead, He did it the same way – He commanded it.

Mark 5:40-42
40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.

In John 11, Jesus told Lazarus to come forth.

John 11:43-44
43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

So, today you are dead. Jesus is saying to you, “Come forth!”

Maybe you’ve been trying to rise up from death but you have things holding you back. You’re still wrapped up in the graveclothes.

What does “rise up” mean? Remember how I (God) delivered you from your past. When you forget what God has done for you, you just lay down in the dirt as dead. When you remember how powerful God is, you rise again.

I really like the story of Peter. He totally betrayed Jesus and rejected him. Jesus was alone at the cross so all of the disciples betrayed Him, but Peter was the worst one. He cursed Jesus and denied Him over and over.

But then he came back. Jesus called him. Peter repented from his sin and his ministry was restored and became even greater. Peter wrote several books of the Bible. In 1 Peter 4:8, Peter tells us that love covers a multitude of sin. He knew this personally. He knew the love of Jesus. He knew the forgiveness of Jesus. In John 21:15-25, Jesus reached out and accepted and promoted someone who had betrayed and rejected and abandoned Jesus. Jesus called him and anointed him as a shepherd. He told him to feed His sheep. Peter experienced the love of God for himself.

Jesus died physically on the cross, but the disciples died spiritually. When Jesus came back, He raised them up spiritually. Through this, Peter experienced the greatest forgiveness and love of Jesus.

You’ve been dead for a long time in your sin. You’ve been dead in your addiction. You’ve been dead in your anger and perversion. It’s time to rise again.

John 21 was the fourth time that Jesus revealed Himself after His death and resurrection. This was an incredible experience and display of love and forgiveness. Jesus reached out to the person who had betrayed Him, who had cursed Him, who had rejected and hurt Him. Jesus reached out in love and forgiveness. Peter repented for his sins. Jesus promoted and anointed him as a shepherd in His kingdom. He called him to a powerful calling.

Today Jesus is here. If you feel like you are dead, Jesus is here for you. Sometimes it feels like there is no hope of being revived. But Jesus is here, saying, “Rise up.”

Jesus fed His disciples, loved them, and took care of them. Then they betrayed Him. They are no different from you or I. Today, we need to experience the love of Jesus.

As soon as you truly repent, you will experience the love of God.

When you experience the grace of God, it should give you compassion for others who still struggle. Rather than judge someone else, you should remember that Jesus’ forgiveness is the only reason you stand.

1 Peter 4:8
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

Peter experienced this love when Jesus called to him and gave him breakfast and told him to feed His sheep.

When we experience the love of Jesus, we should extend that love to one another as well.

Today, we need to die. Jesus died on the cross. He totally died. He was really dead. If He hadn’t totally died, He couldn’t have resurrected. Today, we need to die as well. Die to yourself. Die to your flesh. Die to your dreams. Die to your own desires. Then Jesus will be able to resurrect you.

God bless you,
Pastor Sun Hui East