Celebration or Criticism?

I want to explore a miracle from the Bible today, but from a little bit of a different perspective - that of the crowd. We could look at the miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, seeing the wonder of a man dead and buried for four days coming forth from the tomb completely bound in graveclothes, face muffled in a swath cloth. Unwrapped, free, alive and fully restored - now that is a miracle of astronomical proportions, is it not? I imagine Lazarus 'stood out' a little bit, as he had been to heaven and was now alive to talk about it. Yet, there were some in the crowd that day that stand out just a little bit themselves. The Jewish leaders - men of learning and intense study of the Law of Moses. Their response to this miracle? Some believed and some ran to the Pharisee religious leaders to 'tattle on Jesus'.

And so, at last many of the Jewish leaders who were with Mary and saw it happen, finally believed on him. But some went away to the Pharisees and reported it to them. Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened a council to discuss the situation. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “For this man certainly does miracles. If we let him alone the whole nation will follow him—and then the Roman army will come and kill us and take over the Jewish government.” And one of them, Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, said, “You stupid idiots—let this one man die for the people—why should the whole nation perish?” This prophecy that Jesus should die for the entire nation came from Caiaphas in his position as High Priest—he didn’t think of it by himself but was inspired to say it. It was a prediction that Jesus’ death would not be for Israel only, but for all the children of God scattered around the world. So, from that time on the Jewish leaders began plotting Jesus’ death. (John 11:45-53)

There are always going to be some in the crowd that just cannot see the good in what God does when a life is restored. Standing before them is the greatest witness of the grace and goodness of God, and they just cannot accept it. Instead, they criticize, make fun of, and put down the life change. A man brought back from the grave - standing there with them in full view - and they don't glory in the revelation of God's redeeming grace - they criticize it. The world doesn't like to see transformed people - it frightens them! They cannot understand the grace of God - the transforming power of the one true God. So, God uses those he has transformed to tell his story - because all those who look on will do is criticize and attempt to squelch that message of transformation.

In bringing Lazarus back to life, Jesus showed his power. If you look at the account, you will note that Martha kind of thinks Lazarus is 'beyond restoration' because she reminds Jesus in no subtle manner that Lazarus has been in the grave four days and he 'stinketh'. In other words, the decay of death has already been at work in his body. Tombs in Israel were not air-conditioned morgues - they were sweltering pits, sealed up, and allowed to do their work. Bugs would have invaded the space, heat would have begun to speed the decomposition of his body, and he indeed would 'stinketh'. Jesus knows exactly the condition of Lazarus' body, but it doesn't matter - he knows there is more power in one word from his mouth than all the forces at work in that decaying body!

The world cannot help but point out how much a person has done wrong and just how 'impossible' their 'return' from that fallen state would be. They completely forget that though a man's life 'stinketh' because of the 'decay of sin', God's redeeming words, "Come forth", speak health, hope, and healing into the most disgusting of lives. Criticize if you want, but I am one of those disgusting lives, made whole, redeemed by grace, and fully restored. How about you? Do you hear the words to 'Come forth' from your place of captivity - the place where sin has done nothing good and left you to rot in place? Don't fear the criticism of those who won't celebrate the miracle, but come forth, be whole, stand as God's pride and joy before them. Let God celebrate that miracle! Just sayin!

Miracle ground

The new always happens against the overwhelming odds of statistical laws and their probability, which for all practical, everyday purposes amounts to certainty; the new therefore always appears in the guise of a miracle. (Johanna Hannah Arendt) 

I would like us to consider the words of this Jewish-American theorist today because her thoughts here are quite telling. Many of us are looking for the "new" - we hope for something just a little different than what we have, or perhaps a totally new "make over" so the old is out and the new is in. Yet, if we stop to consider how the new comes, we might just be surprised by the realization of the new coming because somehow the odds stacked against it ever coming to fruition were overcome! I have hibiscus plants in the back yard. Those flowers don't last long, but they open into magnificently large orange, red, and yellow flowers, providing much folly for the hummingbirds who feed upon them and enjoyment for the ones who get to behold their beauty for even a little while. The buds forming on these plants endure the cold nights these days, and the subtle warm up of the midday sun - then one day, they bloom in all their magnificence. The most magnificent of things may come out of the hardest seasons of growth and the most difficult of circumstances!

Don’t revel only in the past, or spend all your time recounting the victories of days gone by.  Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it’s happening now, even as I speak, and you’re about to see it. I am preparing a way through the desert; Waters will flow where there had been none. (Isaiah 43:18-19 VOICE)

It is very easy to continually celebrate our past victories, but kind of limiting in ever moving us into places where we will be ready and able to celebrate new ones! As with the hibiscus plant in my yard, the old needs to drop off in order for the new to bloom forth. Those buds that have opened, showing their vibrant radiance amidst the dark green of the surround leaves will eventually wither and close in upon themselves. They aren't the thing I will observe forever - for those buds will wither and fall away, almost unnoticed, making way for new growth and even more vibrant radiance to come. As Arendt said, the "new always appears in the guise of a miracle." What man thinks impossible in your life today, God sees as "miracle potential", my friend! Don't settle for only celebrating the past moments of beauty and glory - look at the hope of the new blossoms about to emerge where none have ever been before!

God prepares the way - we just have to be attentive to his power being displayed around us. As I go into the garden, I often pluck off the withered blooms, turning them over into the soil beneath the plant, allowing even that which seems to not have a purpose any longer to serve a new purpose. God often uses the past victories as stepping stones or building blocks for the next victories he is preparing. Keep in mind, with God what seems impossible to man is really only the canvas upon which the next victories will be celebrated! I learned this past week of a young mother's passing, leaving behind her husband and child. She was no older than my own dear daughter, and her child was younger than my grandsons. Yet, as my daughter and I talked a little about this woman's last several years on this earth, she said something to me that gave hope of a newness coming even from this very hard place in their lives. You see, the couple had been going through difficulties in their marriage, but of late, God had been doing a tremendous work of restoration and rebuilding of their love and trust. The end was even more radiant than the beginning! God sees "miracle ground" in the hardest of soil and the toughest of "growing climates", my friends! Now, they face a new time of rebuilding - without her. Yet, I know with a confidence that God will use what seems quite hard right now as a place to bring even more radiant beauty into the lives of those who remain.

We may never know completely when the thing God is just about to do will be the thing some see as coming from the driest and hardest "miracle ground" in our lives, but when the conditions are right, God will bring forth that which we will celebrate! It may not seem like it right now, but the present hardship - that desert place - makes great ground for God to display his miracle power! Just sayin!

Miracle-Words

Every word you give me is a miracle word—how could I help but obey?  Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning.  Mouth open and panting, I wanted your commands more than anything. 

(Psalm 119:129-131 The Message)

As the New Year has started, I find myself recommitting to my eating plan.  I made the determination last summer to really commit to eating in a manner that honored God with my choices.  My continual struggle to keep weight off is something I have had to deal with since just about every hormone producing "organ" in my body has been surgically removed!  Now, I must eat well, exercise often, and just not be as "selfish" in my choices as I would like to be.  

Yesterday, a friend and I both sat there just craving something sweet - - but the desire was for chocolate, not an apple!  You could almost liken us to "panting" for chocolate!  Why were we at that spot?  Simple - - we had allowed ourselves to indulge over the holidays and now we were fighting the "need" our bodies were telling us we had for the rich, sweet substance!  Our writer today describes "mouth open and panting" as his reaction to the Word of God.  Now, just imagine the condition of mind, will and emotions in one with this "craving"!  

The writer begins with the idea that every word that God gives to him (personally) is a miracle word.  To me, this implies God speaking directly to our need - - into the open spaces of our hearts where we need his touch more than anything else.  This miracle-working God we serve is never too busy, or too consumed with other people, to overlook our need for a fresh "taste" of his Word.  David describes the word he receives as "miracle words".  They surpass human knowledge - - because they are divine.  They are not "natural", but "supernatural" in their actions.

We often use a term such as "miracle drug" or "miracle cream" to describe something which produces an effect far beyond what we could imagine or hope. God's Word, applied to our lives in much the same manner as we'd take in a "miracle drug" or apply a "miracle cream" produces something we could not hope to produce without its application - - obedience!  It is in the applying of the Word that obedience is produced - - short and sweet.

No wonder our psalmist is "panting" for the words of God to be broken open afresh in his life!  The longing of his heart is for God to bring light.  This implies the potential for darkness to be no more!  Woohoo!  In the darkest places of our lives (and disobedience can be a pretty dark place), God has the "miracle word" at the ready!  The very thing we need to break free of our guilt, to be open to change, to allow reconciliation - - in one "miracle word" from the "arsenal" of his Word! 

To pant implies waiting with such an intense longing - an eagerness of mind, will, and emotions.  There is an investment on our part to get the "miracle word" God speaks!  In the waiting, with intensity and focus, we are readied to receive.  Just like the one with a disease curable only by the dosing of the "miracle drug", we sit in anticipation of the effect the "miracle word" will produce within!  In these moments, God works great "miracles" on our behalf. In these moments, he produces desire far beyond our ability - - desire to live in obedience to his Word.

In Bible School, we studied "big" words.  This is just something Bible School scholars do!  We get all into the Greek and Hebrew - - figuring out the "meaning" of things by the interpretation of the "original" language in which the Word was written.  Of all the "words" we studied, one word spoke more to me than others - - rhema - - the Word of God spoken to an individual, made alive to the one hearing it.  Simply put...they were "miracle words" direct from God - - not for the masses, but for the individual hearing them!  I am awed by the gift of God's Word - - but overcome with gratefulness at the gift of his "rhema" in my life!  Miracle-working God speaking "miracle words" into my life and yours!  Awesome!