But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
Job 16:5 (NIV)
| The A-raiser by Cathy Vinson |
Jesus took aside His disciples at least three times to clearly rehearse the events that would soon befall Him. At each account, it seemed their senses put up a resistant front to the "bad news" contained. They were not able to receive these words and keep their hearts open to the full implication. As the words to their Master's demise continued: "betrayed," "condemn," "delivered to," "mock," "scourge" and "crucify," they were left senseless. Bt the end of such a list there was too much sorrow of heart to be lifted up. So, as Jesus finished these forthcoming happenings with "And on the third day, He shall rise again," they seemed hardly impacting. It is almost as if those ending words were tacked quietly there. Will anyone notice? Will anyone see and be encouraged? Will anyone remember this at the hour of darkness when all are scattering? At least from the recorded responses of the disciples at hearing Jesus' foretelling of these events, there is no indication that they could even persevere with Jesus' train of thought, the ordeal coming to their Beloved Master. It does not appear that they seemed strengthened or able to grasp a hold of this ending Hope being held out to them. Though the words be few "He shall rise again" and only seemingly relevant to a time thrust way out there in the future, too far to matter when such tragedy was immediate, they are the words that carry EVERYTHING. They are behind the most human-changing, earth-changing revolution that has ever occurred on this earth. The unseen Kingdom of Christ has been established, and it is witnessed today among us. God had the last word, no matter how buried it was in the list of griefs. If He has the last word, then it is an everlasting word and will ever bear fruit among us. For us, hope way out there seems small. We want it now. The valley perhaps of the shadow of death before us is ominous and takes all our attention. But it is God alone that raises us as dead from the dead. A dead man cannot help himself. It is God alone who has chosen to lift us up. It is sweet. Aren't we so glad that He is a resurrecting God! These barely heard words are insignificant to the world, yet the aroma and grace and wonder (everthing!) to the Christian's path. How sweet to be raised up again! He did it in Christ and does it through Him in us again and again. He "anistemi's" us. He makes us to stand UP (ani-up, histemi-to stand)! And the process He uses, resurrection: no melody upon our lips and song of the heart will ever be lovelier. . |
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"...the Son of Man will be...crucified. And on the third day He shall rise again." (Matthew 20:19) |
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