Read John 11:25-26 The call came just before 6:00am. In my vocation, calls at odd hours are rarely a good thing. I’ve had many a call like this. Most ended up in an emergency room or at a funeral home. Dreading the worst and still half asleep, I croaked out a weak, “Hello.” “He’s left us,” said my sister. Feeling the lump rising in my throat, I asked, “Dad?” “Yes,” my sister sobbed out. Only a few weeks ago, my father had held my first grandson, his very first great-grandchild. “What do you think?” I asked. “Beautiful,” he replied. (Actually, dad’s language tended to be mischievously salty, so I can’t actually tell you the endearingly naughty words he used. But that’s another story.) He was full of life. Kind. With twinkling gray eyes that always seemed to be hiding some sort of winsomely teasing remark. He loved little animals; cats; dogs; birds. He was the quintessential “amiguero”… a man with many friends. While not wealthy, he was an easy touch for those that needed money. He was my dad; my friend; he loved me. And now, he was dead. Gone. And the weight of that fell on me immediately. And heartache and sorrow filled me and the tears flowed. It must be what Mary and Martha felt as they mourned their brother Lazarus. Jesus had delayed. Their brother had died. He’d been in the grave four days. And now, when the opportune time has apparently passed, Jesus is there – with Mary; with Martha. Too little, too late? I’m sure that Mary and Martha expected Jesus to arrive in the nick of time to heal their brother. But He didn’t. Lazarus died. I have to confess that I expected dad to just keep on living. He was eighty-nine and had already overcome a few substantial health challenges. But Jesus had delayed His return and my father died. Lazarus was buried. My father was buried. Death is a common denominator. Kings and paupers, Hebrews and Gentiles – death is common to all. Each of us has experienced despair by the tomb. A spouse? A parent? Lord have mercy – a child? A friend? Death seems insurmountable. As we stand by the grave, death is like the final punctuation mark in a story; nothing more to be written. But that’s not what Jesus said – not at all! His words? - “I AM resurrection!” “I AM life!” Wait a minute … just wait! “I AM?” Whoa! His words … “I AM!” I’ve heard that before! YHWH in Hebrew; the Name that God revealed to Moses! Yahweh - ‘Jehovah,’ we say today! Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live!” YHWH – Jesus – said, “And everyone who believes in Me shall never die!” Jesus is God! Jesus is Lord – even over death and the tomb! “Lazarus, come forth!” And he did! - Right out of the tomb! Walking; talking; restored to his sisters; ALIVE! “Everyone who believes in Me shall never die!” YHWH’s promise! To be believed and trusted because He – Jesus – is YHWH – God! Lazarus LIVED with that! I can LIVE with that! My dad will LIVE with that! Your loved ones who sleep in Christ will LIVE with that! In fact, all who are in the tomb will one day rise and they too will LIVE with that! That’s what Easter is about – LIFE! - Death being overcome by LIFE. Jesus as the first to rise forevermore; our loved ones, and should the Lord tarry, us to follow! “Do you believe this?” Jesus asked Martha. Yes, Jesus – I believe – You are God! I count on it. I look forward to it! Hang in there papa – Jesus is coming! Prayer: Tighten Your grip on us, Lord. Let Your Spirit lead us to the blessed assurance that You are Lord of all. Allow us to trust completely in Your promise of LIFE and to cling with certainty to Your promise of life everlasting. Amen. -Pr. Eloy Gonzalez
Posted on: Sun, 20 Apr 2014 15:18:26 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015