Epaggelia

Jesus referred to Jonah’s experience as prophetic of his burial & resurrection, Matthew 12:39-41. See Jonah 1:17. Jonah’s great fish was “prepared” by God, מָנָה “manah” – to weigh out; by implication to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll: – appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell., “manah” is used 28 times in the Old Testament.

The tomb of Joseph (Matthew 27:59-62) was prepared for Jesus, because God prepared Christ’s body. (Hebrews 10:3-7) Now today, the burial is brought to us by faith in baptism, Colossians 2:12. What comes out of baptism is the church, which is Christ’s spiritual body on earth. Living, not dead!

Prophetically, Perhaps the best example of God’s promise in the resurrection comes from Isaiah 53:9-12 and Daniel 12:1-3. So when the Messiah did come in Jesus Christ, why should the resurrection bring stupendous disbelief when he raises the dead? Mark 16:14.

Elijah raised the dead; 1st Kings 17:21-22 “Breath”, 

Elisha raised the dead; 2nd Kings 4:32-35 “mouth to mouth,,,sneezed”, 

Even the bones of Elisha raised the dead;  2nd Kings 13:20-21, “bones…came to life”

Each of these miraculous O.T. events merely mention the power of God through his prophets to raise the dead. So what should have the Jews expected when Jesus came raising the dead?

Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain from the dead (Luke 7:11-15).

Jesus raised up from the dead, the daughter of Jarius (Luke 8:54-55).

Jesus raised up Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-44).

Last but not least, Ezekiel sees a valley with dry bones that miraculously come back to life. Bones will be covered again with sinew and flesh, and God will “put breath” into those bones. God brings to life through “breath.” God’s breath is used from Creation (Gen. 2:7), to Christ & his disciples (John 20:22). Which is equated to God’s Spirit. Ezekiel 37:1-14 and the “valley of dry bones.” is a great prophecy of the resurrection,  the meaning of this vision is spelled out for us: This says the Lord: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel (v. 12). Herein death isn’t physical but metaphorical. The dry bones represent Israel in exile (the grave). Where in exile? In Babylon, which is in the east, To be in exile, in the east, outside of the land of Canaan, is death. To be in the land is life. Now, today, the spiritual location of our soul is best found in Christ, not any religion, but His Spirit. The Spirit of life in Christ, Romans 8:2. The religion of the resurrected Christ! Are we in Him?