Who were the people Jesus resurrected before His own Resurrection?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
Before His own Glorious Resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ performed three specific miracles of raising the dead. In Coptic Orthodox theology, these are seen as a progressive manifestation of His divine power over death and a foreshadowing of the general resurrection.
The three people Jesus resurrected were:
1. The Daughter of Jairus
- Context: Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue who pleaded with Jesus to heal his twelve-year-old daughter who was dying. By the time Jesus arrived, she had passed away.
- The Act: Jesus entered the room, took her by the hand, and said, (Talitha Koum), which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise" (Mark 5:41).
- Symbolism: She represents the soul that has died to sin in thought. She was still inside the house, symbolizing sin that is hidden or has just begun.
2. The Son of the Widow of Nain
- Context: As Jesus approached the gate of the city of Nain, He encountered a funeral procession for a young man, the only son of a widow.
- The Act: Moved with compassion, Jesus touched the open coffin and commanded, "Young man, I say to you, arise" (Luke 7:14).
- Symbolism: He represents the soul that has died to sin in outward action. He was being carried outside the city, symbolizing sin that has become visible to others.
3. Lazarus of Bethany
- Context: Lazarus was a close friend of Jesus and the brother of Mary and Martha. He had been dead and in the tomb for four days by the time Jesus arrived in Bethany.
- The Act: Standing before the tomb, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, (Lazarus, come forth!). Despite the corruption of the body, Lazarus came out bound in graveclothes (John 11:43-44).
- Symbolism: Lazarus represents the soul that is dead in habit and corruption. Being in the grave for four days symbolizes a deep-seated state of sin, yet Christ proves that no state of death is beyond His power.
Key Distinctions in Coptic Theology
- The Firstfruits: While these three were raised from the dead, they were raised back into their mortal bodies and eventually died again. In contrast, Christ is the "Firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18) and the "Firstfruits of them that sleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). As the Church Fathers teach, Christ's own Resurrection was the first to an incorruptible and immortal state, opening the gates of Paradise for all.
- The Power of the Word: In all three instances, Jesus raised the dead by His word alone. This confirms His divinity as the Logos, the same Word who created the world by speaking it into existence.
- Preparation for the Cross: These miracles served to prepare the Twelve Apostles for Christ's own death, ensuring they would know He had the power to take His life back up again, as He is the Giver of Life.