Just as all things were originally brought into existence by God’s creative Word, so shall that which has perished be restored by His Word. The Father has given Jesus Christ the authority to make alive the dead by speaking His Word. Jesus explained this to those who questioned His healing the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself (John 5:25, 26).
Three Greek verbs, most often used to talk of resurrection, add to our understanding of the process:
anistemi: to cause to rise; raise up; make to stand up.
We do not raise ourselves; it requires God’s intervention. Resurrection means the restoring of relationship between body, soul, and spirit, making us able to stand up as a whole person, integrated by the Word of God. All that was ever a part of us will be gathered up and we will stand before the Lord renewed by His Word.
And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day (John 6:39).
egeiro: to arouse from sleep, to awake; to recall the dead to life.
Death is not the end of existence; it is simply a transition between mortal life and immortality. It is as natural and temporary a change as lying down to sleep, and then being awakened by someone calling our name. However, through this transition we are changed. We awake to a new kind of life.
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness (Psalm 17:15).
zoopoieo: to give life or make alive, to quicken; to increase life.
The creative Word of God imparts spiritual power and invigorates. Resurrection is more than restoration; it is the impartation of new and greater life. We will be endued with new and greater powers of life.
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will (John 5:21).