35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 … wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
Lest we think living by faith is always easy and results in earthly successes, we are confronted with the reality of faith for many people, the number of which is far too large to enumerate here. The first in this somber description are the women who received back their dead by resurrection. To be sure, things ended well for them but they had to first experience the absolute grief of the loss of their loved ones. We think of the woman’s son raised from the dead by Elijah (1 King 17), the son of the Shunamite woman (2 King 2), the widow’s son of Nain (Luke 7), Lazarus (John 11), and Dorcas (Acts 9). The anguish of loss was followed by the elation of resurrection.
This initiation into the list of those who suffered brings us the glorious anticipation of the great hope we have as believers that the resurrection is coming, as sure as Sunday (resurrection) follows Friday (crucifixion). Indeed, the women at the Lord’s tomb were the first to receive back their dead by resurrection! In all our suffering, we have hope as an anchor for the soul (Heb 6:19).
The list goes on with the grim and gruesome treatment people of faith have endured. Torture accepted rather than denying loyalty to their God, they dared to believe there was something better further on, than just the release from suffering. By faith, they resisted mockings and scourgings, all reminiscent now, from our vantage point in history, of the Lord’s experience in His ill-treatment at the cross. Particularly grisly were those who were “sawn in two,” a not uncommon form of punishment in the ancient world. Jewish tradition has it that Manesseh killed Isaiah in this manner (Jer 2:1-6).
The words of Jesus, which these faithful OT saints had not heard, ring in our ears today, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Rehearsing the sufferings of others for their faith, has the startling result in challenging and inspiring all believers to also take their stand for the Lord who loved them and saved them, to refuse to cave in to the temptation to recant their fidelity to God.
Lord, help me to not seek the comfort and enjoyment of this life, but to set my eyes higher, to the resurrection from the dead, when I will truly live!
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