Dr. Craig Keener, F.M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, caught my attention a year ago with an article entitled, “Do the Dead Still Rise?” (CHRISTIANITY TODAY, June 2019, pp. 46-50). Keener noted that stories of actual bodily resurrections – not resuscitations, resurrections — continue even into the 21st century on this planet (including a well-attested one in his own family).
His article outlined several criteria for evaluating such reported events. The first criterion was verification, which Jesus Himself encouraged (see Mark 1:44). Secondly, Keener stressed the importance of an inspection of apparent results of the miracle. Did it build up the Body of Christ? Did it offer compassion? Or did it simply boost someone’s ego? Thirdly, did Jesus get the credit?
Keener referred to many instances of bodily resurrection, some well-known, some not. But it was his mention of a recent movie that snagged me, because it had been the topic of a serendipitous discussion in which I had engaged just a couple of weeks earlier – and the catalyst for a tender “passing on of the faith” to some of my “peeps.”
I was spending several nights with three of our seven grandchildren while their parents were away celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary. We’d had a couple of busy days chauffeuring 13-year-old Kaden, 11-year-old Porter, and seven-year-old Hartley Kate to church, play dates and swim meets, so on this particular night a movie we could all watch together sounded like a good (and quieting!) idea before bed.
But what movie? Kaden brought out the family DVD collection, and (somewhat to my surprise!) we agreed on MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN, a 2016 release detailing the debilitating terminal illness of a young Texas girl named Annabel Beam, and her parents’ desperate attempts to save her.
I’d seen the movie before, but I’d forgotten that Annabel physically died and reported that she visited Heaven before returning to life, miraculously healed. As we watched Hollywood’s recreation of the events, I commented to the children, “My sister died when she was 16, told us she visited Heaven, and returned to life, too.” All three heads swiveled in my direction.
“I’ll tell you about it when the movie’s over,” I promised.
The closing credits finally rolled, and Porter immediately pounced.
“So what happened with your sister?” It was already ‘way past the kids’ bedtimes, but hey! It was the last week of school, and this was a teachable moment!
“Holly was 16,” I repeated, “and she had a severe case of a sickness called mononucleosis. They probably have better ways to treat it now, but at the time, the only real way to cure it was complete bedrest. Holly was so weak and sick that she stayed flat in bed for six weeks, and my mom carried all her meals upstairs to her room. “
“Well, one morning when my mom took in Holly’s breakfast tray, Holly was awake, and sitting up in bed, a light on her face.”
“ ’I died last night,’ she told my mom matter-of-factly.”
All three grandchildren’s eyes widened, and their mouths dropped open.
“Yes,” I nodded. “Your Great-grandma Willett almost dropped the breakfast tray, too!”
“What do you mean, ‘You died’? Great-grandma asked Holly.”
“ ’I died,’ Holly insisted. ‘And two angels came and took me to Heaven. I was walking around, looking at all the beautiful things there, but then I heard them talking about me. They said they needed to take me back to Earth for a little while. And they did. And here I am!’ ”
Kaden, Porter, and Hartley Kate all breathed out in unison.
“Wowwww….”
“You know,” I reminded them, “Holly died – again — when she was only 41, of a terrible disease called multiple sclerosis– MS. Again, today doctors have lots of medicines to help people with MS, but back then there wasn’t much they could do for her. One day, as her body got weaker and weaker, she asked our mom, ‘Do you think that when it’s time for me to go to Heaven, those same two angels will come to get me?’ ”
“Wait – does that really happen?” Porter interrupted. “Do angels really come to get you?”
“Well, Jesus told a story about it,” I replied. “He talked about a very rich man who had everything he needed and most of what he wanted, and a poor man, named Lazarus, who used to wait at the rich man’s front gate hoping someone would give him scraps of leftover food. Jesus said that one day Lazarus died, and ‘was carried by the angels’ to the place where the Jews of that time thought dead people who loved God went. If Jesus said that’s what happens when someone dies…well then, I guess it must. 1 The Bible tells us that angels, after all, basically have one big job 2 – to serve and to care for people who love Jesus. And what a wonderful way to serve us – by escorting us to Heaven!”
We continued talking about Christian faith, Heaven, and angels, for some time before I reluctantly sent the children off to bed.
Do I have scientific verification for Holly’s visit to Heaven? Not personally, although I’m sure my parents spoke with their family doctor and their pastor about the occurrence. In addition, I never heard my sophisticated, highly-educated, Bible-believing parents rebut or explain Holly’s story away – and I heard them tell the story repeatedly.
Did what happened to Holly result in Kingdom benefit? Yes! My sister went on to become a strong woman of God, a dedicated pastor’s wife and mother. When MS hit her at 19 and continued to ravage her body for the next 22 years, she was a radiant blessing to all who knew her. She stoutly maintained the truth of her teen-age experience and expected it to happen again as she neared death. Her faith, her integrity, and her strong belief that God had done a miraculous work in her physical body spoke volumes. Over the years many persons beyond our family grew in their faith as they heard the story and saw the abundant fruit of Holly’s life.
Did Jesus get the credit? Absolutely. Pointing to Him, to His Word, and to His ongoing work in Holly and her family were the only rationale for any repetition of the story at any time – including this one.
Sharing Holly’s experience with three fledgling believers cemented yet one more bond of trust and cohesion between us as I strive to connect with all who are part of the generational “bundle” God has given me to nurture.
And every time I re-tell Holly’s story, I’m reminded that we serve a God who longs to do miracles in our lives.
1 Luke 16:19-31. For an excellent exegesis of this parable, see Randy Alcorn’s meticulously researched book, HEAVEN (Tyndale Momentum, c. 2004).
2 Hebrews 1:14
