The Love Giver ∙∙

The Love Giver ∙∙

God is love. – 1 John 4:8

1 John 4:18-19

 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

 19 We love, because He first loved us.

Many individuals grapple with the question, “Does God exist?” This inquiry often leads to a follow-up question: “If God does exist, is He a loving God?”

These are some of the most significant and profound questions people can ever ask. They naturally lead to another query: “Where does love come from?”

We know that matter and energy exist. Over the centuries, we have discovered various laws that govern their behavior. If we were to assume the absence of a divine creator, then we are left with the premise that everything in existence sprang from nothing, without any guiding force or intelligence behind it.

The formula is simple and straightforward: Nothing + No one = Everything.

I find this logically untenable.

I utterly reject the notion that there is no God. The Scriptures address this very question, providing insight and guidance on the matter.

Psalms 53:1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

As to the second question, is God loving? The Scriptures speak plainly.

1 John 4:8 God is love.

In my heart of hearts, I know what I am truly like. God is good, righteous, and holy. He is perfect in all of His purity. I fall short of His magnificent, omnipotent splendor and majesty. Can I ever be lovable enough to deserve the Father’s love? How could He ever really love me? If He does love me, why does He love me?

The Scriptures provide an unequivocal answer: God is love. The Father doesn’t just love; He embodies love itself. Love defines the very core of the Father’s being. Love is not merely an attribute of the Father; it is the essence of His being, saturating every aspect of who He is. Love, agape love, emanates from Him. The Father lavishes His love on undeserving people just like us. His love is unconditional and sacrificial.

Romans 5:8 God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

1 John 4:9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.

Even with our fallen human limitations, most of us have experienced the joy of loving and being loved. So, where does this ability to love originate?

1 John 4:7 Love comes from God.

Is the source and ultimate cause of all human feelings and actions of love. “Human love is a reflection of something in the divine nature itself” (A. E. Brooke).

The Father is the primary and supreme Source of Love, from whom all forms of love flow.

REFLECT & PRAY

All fear fades away when we understand that the Father loves us unconditionally.

Father thank You for loving me without reservation. It is so incredible that I can hardly take it in.

INSIGHT

1 John 4:18-19

 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

 19 We love, because He first loved us.

Agape love is unconditional love. This profound sense of assurance does not depend on anything we do or don’t do. Something amazing happens when we reflect upon this and allow it to penetrate the deepest recesses of our souls. All fear is removed because there is no fear in love.

The Father is not “out to get us.” He is not seeking to punish us. Because we are His children, He is always at work to bring us to maturity. Because He loves us, He disciplines us.

Hebrews 12:7 As you endure divine discipline, remember that God treats you as his own children. Whoever heard of a child whom its father never disciplines?

The Greek word translated discipline is paideia. Paideia comes from the Greek verb paideuo, which means to rear or guide a child toward maturity, train, instruct, or correct. Pediatrics comes from this word.

Discipline and punishment are not synonyms. It’s crucial to distinguish discipline from punishment. Discipline is forward-looking, focusing on personal growth and development. In contrast, punishment is backward-looking. It is all about receiving a just penalty for previous wrong actions.

Because of the Father’s unconditional love for us, fear and dread should not be part of our vocabulary. Love and fear cannot coexist; they are mutually exclusive. Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

If we continue to experience fear and dread, we do not fully comprehend and realize the Father’s magnificent and more than abounding love for us. We have not fully experienced His perfect love (1 John 4:18).

Because of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done, the Father fully accepts us unconditionally. We are the Father’s beloved children. He cherishes us, and we are precious to Him. We should have absolutely no doubt regarding His commitment toward us. We are now part of His “Forever Family.”

Consider the incredible love that the Father has shown us in allowing us to be called “children of God” – and that is not just what we are called, but what we are. – 1 John 3:1 [Phillips translation]

The Father’s love is personal. He knows each of us individually and loves us personally. His love has no beginning and no end. Making it possible for children of the King to experience the Father’s love distinguishes Christianity from all other religions.

Why does Father love us? It is because of who He is: “God is love.”

But there is more.

1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.

The Father not only loves us but allows us to experience his love. Because we have received the Father’s agape love, we are capable of loving Him back.

His agape love empowers us to love other fallen people, even the unlovely.

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© Dr. H 2024

OK Boomer ∙∙

OK Boomer ∙∙

Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the LORD. – Leviticus 19:32

1 Timothy 5:1-2

 1 Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.

 2 Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.

In the 1970s and 80s, a vast archive of TV commercials was created. Among them were standout 30-second spots featuring actress Dena Dietrich for Chiffon Margarine (1971-79). Portraying “Mother Nature” in a flowing white gown adorned with a crown of daisies, these advertisements depicted her mistakenly believing she was tasting butter directly from nature. She praises its quality, commenting on how wonderful it is, only to be corrected by an off-screen narrator (voiced by Mason Adams), “That’s Chiffon Margarine, not butter.”

Confounded, she asserts, “It’s impossible for this to be margarine because it tastes too much like real butter.” The narrator counters, “The margarine is indeed so close to real butter that it could fool even ‘Mother Nature.’”

Reacting with indignation, Dietrich’s character exclaims, “It’s not nice to fool ‘Mother Nature!’” and then summons the forces of nature as retribution and bad things happen.

Disrespect for authority can have major negative consequences.

The New York Times has written that ‘‘OK Boomer” marks the end of friendly relations between the generations. Their assessment is about 2800 years too late. But we’ll get to that later.

“OK Boomer” has become a potent symbol of Generation Z’s frustration with the Baby Boomers. Generation Z folks see a society in crisis for which they are not responsible and are fighting back. They fear a seemingly irreversible global catastrophe that looms on the horizon. Somebody is to blame! It’s the Boomers! It’s a declaration of grievance, pointing an accusatory finger at the Boomers for the challenges Generation Z faces.

Generation Z is often described as “woke,” in contrast to Baby Boomers and similarly minded individuals who are labeled as “un-woke.”

Let’s briefly overview the generational cohorts since World War II: Generation Z spans from the late 1990s to the 2010s, Millennials cover 1980 to the late 1990s, Generation X includes 1965 to 1979, and Boomers range from 1946 to 1965.

The trend of younger generations challenging their predecessors is nothing new. It is almost a time-honored practice going back thousands of years. Indeed, the Baby Boomers themselves felt the same way about those preceding them. They rebelled against their parents. They pushed back against a generation that had weathered the Great Depression and emerged victorious from World War II. We might all be speaking German or Japanese if the Greatest Generation lost the war.

However, the Boomers rebelled against the “Establishment” and the “Military-Industrial Complex.” They spearheaded the Civil Rights Movement and contributed to the end of the Vietnam War.

Existential fear for the survival of planet Earth is nothing new. Boomers lived in fear of nuclear destruction and the end of the world. They built in-home bomb shelters and had routine bomb drills in schools.

Yet, not all Boomer-led cultural shifts were universally applauded at their inception. This era introduced rock ‘n’ roll, disco, Woodstock, the emergence of flower children and hippies, the rise of the drug culture, and iconic yet controversial and now almost forgotten bands like the Beatles and the Doors.

Young people often see things with a keener eye. There’s lots of unfinished business that cannot be papered over or ignored. But utter disrespect and disdain for elders bring matters to a whole new level.

REFLECT & PRAY

Respect is an expression of high regard, esteem, deference, or acknowledgment of the value of others, especially those deserving of it. For children of the King, respect is given generously and unconditionally. It does not have to be earned.

Father thank You for the guidance You have given us regarding honoring those who came before us. Help us to be guided by Your Scriptures rather than the shifting norms of culture or society.

INSIGHT

The Scriptures clearly direct the children of the King to show honor and respect to their elders. Yet, as previously discussed, showing disrespect toward authority can lead to severe repercussions.

Around 850 BC, an extraordinary event occurred involving the prophet Elijah, who was miraculously taken to heaven in a whirlwind, leaving his protégé Elisha to assume the mantle as the Lord’s prophet. Elisha was now the prophet in charge.

Elisha was en route to Bethel when he encountered a group of young troublemakers, reminiscent of modern-day street gangs, likely armed and looking to cause mischief. Their idea of entertainment often involved harassing or even assaulting passersby.

Unfortunately for them, they chose the wrong target that day. Underestimating Elisha, they mockingly taunted him about his baldness, not realizing the gravity of disrespecting a prophet of the Lord.

2 Kings 2:23-24

 23 Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of youths from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!”

 24 Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then, two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.

To modern ears, the punishment does not fit the crime. Mocking elders is never a good idea. It’s acknowledged that showing disrespect towards one’s elders is inappropriate. But mocking elders who are the Father’s servants and have the power to bless and curse is a far worse idea. Disrespect towards the prophets of the Father is, in essence, disrespect towards the Father Himself.

The gang had crossed a critical line. They had disrespected someone they shouldn’t have. They had dissed the wrong guy. In response, Elisha invoked a curse in the name of the Lord. Subsequently, two bears emerged, mauling 42 members of the group. Remarkably, they were not killed; instead, their injuries would serve as a lasting testament to their disrespect and contempt for the living God and His servant.

It is doubtful Elisha was taunted or ridiculed again.

2 Chronicles 36:16 But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words. They scoffed at the prophets until the LORD’s anger could no longer be restrained, and nothing could be done.

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© Dr. H 2024

Commit your way to the LORD ∙∙

Commit your way to the LORD ∙∙

Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. – Psalms 37:5

Psalms 37:3-5

 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

 4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

 5 Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will act.

Five evangelical missionaries embarked on Operation Auca, aiming to share their faith with the Auca tribe in Ecuador, fully aware of the considerable dangers involved. The Aucas were known for their hostility towards outsiders, often resorting to violence to protect their isolation, attacking and killing any unwelcome visitors without provocation.

Ed McCulley, Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, and Roger Youderian knew they faced great danger, even death. They put their trust in the Father and committed their way to Him.

Their approach was peace and friendship; they made flights over Auca settlements, dropping gifts to signal their friendly intentions. This gesture sparked curiosity among the Aucas, who began to collect at the drop sites. In a significant exchange, the Aucas sent up a feather headdress as a gift, attaching it to a line from the missionaries’ plane.

Eventually, the missionaries decided to land near an Auca village, where they set up a prefabricated treehouse. In friendship, they called out into the surrounding forest and awaited a response.

However, no further communication from them was received. Another missionary later flew over the site, spotting the plane from the air. He discovered the lifeless bodies of all five men, confirming the ultimate sacrifice they had made.

But the story did not end there. It only began.

Stepping into the void left by the fallen missionaries, Elisabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint courageously made their way into Auca lands. Without weapons and posing no threat, they exemplified Christian principles of forgiveness. Their bravery and willingness to forgive captivated and amazed the Auca people. They were able to share the gospel message. Large numbers of the Auca accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Among them were the killers of the five men. The two women became the first outsiders to enter Auca territory and live to tell about.

Elliot and Saint’s journey into Auca territory broke new ground. They became the first non-natives to enter and survive, sharing their story with the world.

Their extraordinary story caught the attention of Life magazine, which dedicated a 10-page photo essay to them. This was followed by features in Reader’s Digest and numerous other media outlets. The five missionaries, already welcomed in the Father’s presence as good and faithful servants, became famous worldwide on planet Earth. Their dedication and ultimate sacrifice left an indelible mark on many alive at that time, a legacy that endures and continues to inspire to this day.

REFLECT & PRAY

It is almost incomprehensible to think that our Father God wants to be the source of our greatest delight, pleasure, and sense of fulfillment.

Father my deepest desire is to trust You and fully give myself over to You, placing all that I am and possess in Your trust. Encourage me to do just that.

INSIGHT

Fallen creatures in a fallen world do what comes naturally. What comes naturally for most people is to seek their own best interest and trust in themselves. All of the children of the King have this tendency. But the Father offers something entirely different for His children. He wants us to follow a different path and live an alternative lifestyle. What are that path and lifestyle? What does this entail? He wants us to place our complete confidence and trust in Him and depend upon His precious promises in the Scriptures.

Psalms 37:3-5 provides some broad guidelines regarding how to do this.

Psalms 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

We are to trust in the Father. What is trust? Trust means having strong confidence in or reliance upon someone. The Father God embodies trustworthiness. Putting our confidence and trust in Him is the natural response to His nature and character. The Father provides security and makes us feel safe. How do we demonstrate that we trust the Father? We demonstrate our trust through our actions. Rather than doing evil, we are to do good.

Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

The world is filled with fleeting joys and countless ways to seek momentary satisfaction and indulgence. There are so many ways to feel good and be pampered. Everywhere we turn, there are promises of achieving personal fulfillment through various means.

In contrast, the Father presents an entirely different approach to finding and experiencing pleasure. Our joy should be found in Him. We are to take delight in Him. We are to repurpose ourselves to seek and receive boundless pleasure in Him. “The path to true self-fulfillment does not lie in a preoccupation with self but in selfless preoccupation with God. When the psalmist sets his heart on God, God reciprocates by making him truly fulfilled.” (NIDOTTE).

Psalms 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.

The Hebrew word translated as commit is galal, which literally means to roll or roll away. To commit is not merely intellectual assent. Instead, it presents an all-encompassing alternative way of life. “It means to turn over to the Lord your whole life – all your desires, problems, anxieties. Let the Lord determine what your life is to be; trust in him” (UBS). It entails settled confidence and a deep reliance on the Father.

Imagine you’re burdened with an immense weight that is all you can bear when the Father invites us to commit our lives to Him. He asks us to transfer that heavy load from our shoulders onto His. Our Heavenly Father willingly takes on this burden for us.

When we commit, He takes action. He will do whatever is necessary (FRCL) to accomplish His plan. This is where our trust and faith are put to the test. He does not tell us in advance what He will do or when He will do it.

The five missionaries, young and full of zeal, were ready to face death in their mission for the Father. Yet, like many twenty-somethings, the prospect of being killed so suddenly by those they aimed to reach with the message of Jesus Christ likely seemed remote. For them, the outcome was totally unexpected.

However, they were exactly where the Father intended them to be. Through their ultimate sacrifice, salvation reached countless souls. The impact of their lives inspired tens of thousands to dedicate themselves to full-time ministry as pastors, teachers, and missionaries, influencing millions more.

In the Father’s calculus, the sacrifice of five of His dear, precious children was a high price to pay. But it was worth it. It was His plan all along.

Reflect on the ultimate sacrifice made by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the greatest cost ever borne by the Father. Yet, through Jesus’s sacrificial death, He brought about redemption and reconciliation to the world. This was also the Father’s plan all along.

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© Dr. H 2024

Golden splendor ∙

Golden splendor ∙

Golden splendor comes from the mountain of God. He is clothed in dazzling splendor. – Job 37:22

Psalms 96:9-13

 9 Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him.

 10 Tell all the nations, “The LORD reigns!” The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. He will judge all peoples fairly.

 11 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!

 12 Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise

 13 before the LORD, for he is coming! He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice and the nations with his truth.

Daylilies, also known as Hemerocallis, are often called the “perfect perennial.” Once established, they are sun-loving, easy to grow, and drought-tolerant.

One truly magnificent variety is the Golden Splendor Lily. They are often called Yellow Trumpet Lilies or Aurelian Lilies. They are known for their immense flaring trumpet-shaped yellow/golden blooms with a strong, sweet fragrance. They grow 4 to 6 feet in height. The flowers are 6 to 8 inches long and outfacing.

Blooming from early to mid-summer, they boast 12 to 20 flowers on each stem, renowned for their unparalleled elegance and beauty. Thriving in full sunlight, they also adapt well to partial shade and can withstand the heat of summer days. Lilies are exceptional as cut flowers, offering long-lasting blooms with buds that continue to unfold and mature even after being cut.

The Father’s Golden Splendor is showcased throughout the natural world He created. This splendor is seen in the flowers and fauna of the world and the celestial bodies above.

These magnificent expressions of golden splendor, created and placed in the world by the Father, mirror His own divine grandeur.

Psalms 19:1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his handiwork.

Romans 1:20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature.

Psalms 48:1-2

 1 How great is the LORD, how deserving of praise, in the city of our God, which sits on his holy mountain!

 2 It is high and magnificent; the whole earth rejoices to see it! Mount Zion, the holy mountain, is the city of the great King!

REFLECT & PRAY

Psalm 96:9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

Father thank You for attracting me to You with Your glorious, golden splendor. Thank You for transferring me from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light of Your dear Son.

INSIGHT

Job 37:22 Golden splendor comes from the mountain of God. He is clothed in dazzling splendor. 

Zahab is the word for gold. It is frequently translated as gold, golden, or splendor. Job 37:22 refers to golden rays or splendor. It is not a reference to a natural phenomenon but rather the glory of God.

Zahab is derived from the Hebrew verb zahar, which means to shimmer, shine, be light, or glitter. It connotes shining brightly, emitting brilliance or splendor. It can be correctly translated as “rays of gold,” “golden glow,” or “golden splendor.” The Father dwells in glorious splendor.

The Hebrew words rendered as dazzling splendor or awesome majesty are yare hod. Hod is the quality of a person or thing that inspires all our reverence of the beholder. The Father is clothed with awesome majesty. His Golden Splendor is attractive and alluring. His magnificence and splendor draw children of the King to Him.

“And the glory of God fills us with awe” (UBS). Job 37:22 may be translated, “From the north God comes bright as gold, and his glory (brightness) causes us to fear him” or “God comes from the north shining like gold, and his brilliance frightens all who see him.” (UBS)

When Elihu uses the Hebrew word sapon, translated as north, it is not geographical north, but God’s heavenly abode, the heavens, the highest heavens, far away in the north. (Isaiah 14:13-14) (EBC). This reference to the north is common in the cultural milieu of the day. In Canaanite mythology, their gods were pictured as sitting in assembly on a northern mountain (Psalms 48:1-2).

Isaiah 14:13-14

 13 For you said to yourself, “I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north.”

 14 “I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.”

Many pastors, teachers, and commentators allude to the Shekinah glory of God when they refer to His glory or presence dwelling among His people. Nonetheless, the word “shekinah” does not appear in the Old or New Testaments. Instead, it originates from post-biblical Jewish writings, the Talmud, the Midrash, and other rabbinic literature. It describes the immanent presence in the world of the transcendent God.

Check it out for yourself. Do some due diligence with a concordance and Bible encyclopedias. The word shekinah is not found in the Old Testament. If the term Shekinah is not found in the Bible, how did it enter into the everyday vocabulary of the children of the King?

Many passages in the Old Testament record the presence of God dwelling among the people of Israel in a particular place: Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16-18), in the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35), or the temple (2 Chronicles 6:1-2).

When the Old Testament refers to the Father dwelling, abiding, or settling down among the people, it uses the Hebrew verb shakan. Shakan is translated as “the one who dwells” or “that which dwells.”

Exodus 40:34-35

 34 Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.

 35 Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.

The New Testament concept of God’s indwelling presence is found in the Book of John, which references the incarnation.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

When the Lord Jesus Christ was on the earth, He made His home among the people of planet Earth. He literally pitched His tent and dwelt among us.

The Greek word translated as dwelt or made His home is skenoo. Skenoo means to pitch a tent, settle,and take up residence. The Greek noun derived from this verb is skenos. It refers to a tent, lodging, or a temporary abode.

Throughout the ages, mystics from diverse religious beliefs and disciplines have sought to reach out and “touch the divine.” They sought to know and experience a higher power greater than themselves.

So it was with Jewish mystics. One such sect was called the Kabbalah. For them, the close personal presence of God in the world and their lives was referred to as the Shekinah.  

The notion of enjoying a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is at the heart of Christianity. Experiencing His presence is one of the immense pleasures available to every child of the King. Paul had such an experience and wrote.

Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.

Paul’s objective is not merely to acquire knowledge about Christ but to cultivate a personal relationship with Him (Stanley).

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© Dr. H 2024

Dead or alive ∙∙

Dead or alive ∙∙

Lazarus, come forth – John 11:43

John 11:25-26

 25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies,

 26 and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?

Benjamin Schreiber received a life sentence

 without the possibility of parole following his conviction for first-degree murder. In March 2015, he developed large kidney stones that led to septic poisoning and died. However, his death was “short-lived.” He was resuscitated and recovered.

Schreiber filed a claim to be released. He argued that when he died, his life sentence was completed. Consequently, his debt to society was fulfilled, and now he deserves to be released.  

The court rejected this supposed loophole and disagreed with Schreiber’s argument. Judge Amanda Potterfield highlighted, “Schreiber is either still alive, in which case he must remain in prison, or he is actually dead, in which case this appeal is moot.” Judge Potterfield found Schreiber’s argument “unpersuasive and without merit.” The fact that Schreiber was able to submit a legal challenge for his release clearly indicates he is alive.

This case touches on the advancements in medical science that allow reversing what can be described as momentary or short-lived death. Resuscitation practices have become relatively common, enabling revival from states lacking blood circulation and oxygen, which traditionally would result in organ failure and death within minutes. Under certain conditions, such as exposure to extremely cold conditions, resuscitation might be possible even after a more extended period.

However, the court noted that modern medical resuscitation is distinct from the concept of resurrection as understood in biblical terms, which involves a return to life after permanent death and decay, exemplified by the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus. This distinction underlines the court’s decision against Schreiber’s unique appeal for freedom based on his temporary clinical death.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Creator of life has power and authority over death and decay! He has the ability to transform our mortal forms into glorious bodies, such as the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.

Father I am in awe of Your awesome power of life and resurrection. “What is impossible for people is possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

INSIGHT

Lazarus, along with his sisters Mary and Martha, held a dear place in the heart of Lord Jesus Christ. When Lazarus fell seriously ill, his sisters urgently summoned Jesus, expecting Him to come and heal their brother promptly. However, Jesus chose to delay His arrival, staying where He was for another two days, ensuring that Lazarus had indeed died. In those times, the primary mode of travel was on foot, meaning news and people moved slowly. By the time Jesus reached Bethany, Lazarus had been entombed for four days.

Why four days? Even in the 21st century, resuscitation would not have been possible. Irreversible damage would have already occurred. This narrative wasn’t about healing the sick or resuscitation. It was a divinely orchestrated opportunity to reveal a more profound truth about the Lord Jesus Christ and His Father that was yet unknown. He was setting the stage to unveil a startling, seemingly incredible truth.

Understandably, Martha felt a mix of sorrow and disappointment, perhaps even bitterness. She did not doubt Jesus’ ability to perform miracles and heal the sick.

Despite her grief, Martha managed to restrain any dramatic display of emotion when she finally confronted Jesus. There was no outburst, but her disappointment was palpable. She approached Jesus with a poignant mix of faith and reproach, saying, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). Of course, the 500-lb. Gorilla in the room was, what was not said, “Why didn’t You come? We were depending upon You.”

The Lord Jesus Christ was not harsh but exceedingly kind, gentle, and meek in His response. He took the conversation to a whole new level. He categorically stated, “I AM the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). At first glance, it appears that the Lord Jesus Christ claimed to have the power to raise anyone who dies from the dead whenever He wanted.

But there’s more. The Lord Jesus Christ is greater than death! He does not merely have life; He has life-giving power. At the moment of resurrection, He gives life to the dead. The concept of resurrection isn’t just a distant prophecy about the end times. He has the immediate power to grant life and to resurrect in the now.

His words are utterly staggering and unbelievable.

John 11:25-26

 25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”

 26 “Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

On the surface, these two sentences seem paradoxical and perplexing. But the confusion is removed when you realize that He refers to two different groups of people. The first group consists of the believers who pass away; He will resurrect these individuals in the future. A smaller subset of believers will remain alive when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. They will not experience death.

“How is this possible? The answer is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 18. When Jesus Christ returns in the air to take His people home, those who are alive at His coming shall never die. They shall be changed and caught up to meet Him in the air” (Wiersbe)!

These faithful individuals won’t experience physical death. They live in faith and will never die because they are present at the moment of His return. For them, life transitions directly into an eternal state as their mortal bodies are transformed into glorified, immortal ones.

Jesus emphasized that Lazarus’s death was not about mourning but was meant to glorify God. Hundreds, if not thousands, of mourners had gathered. They were all witnesses to what happened next.

The Lord Jesus Christ backs up His incredible claim using only three words: “Lazarus, come forth.” His few words were simple and straightforward, but they were backed by the unlimited power and authority of the Father, the living God.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. He simply speaks to Lazarus’s dead body, and his dead body somehow is able to “hear and obey.” Lazarus’s dead and decomposing corpse was restored and instantaneously resurrected. Lazarus emerged from the tomb, alive once more, in a stunning demonstration of divine power.

Hundreds of onlookers were totally astonished and overwhelmed; they were blown out of their socks. Multitudes of them believed. This was the climax of a brilliant campaign to bring glory and honor to the Father. This miraculous event wasn’t just about bringing Lazarus back to life; it was a profound act designed to honor God and became one of the most public and pivotal miracles Jesus performed before His own death and resurrection.

“When you are sick, you want a doctor and not a medical book or a formula. When you are being sued, you want a lawyer and not a law book. Likewise, when you face your last enemy, death, you want the Saviour and not a doctrine written in a book. In Jesus Christ, every doctrine is made personal. When you belong to Him, you have all that you ever will need in life, death, time, or eternity!” (Wiersbe)

Philippians 3:21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

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© Dr. H 2024