Remember the resurrection

“Lord . . . if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”- John 11:21-22

Mark Batterson states in Chapter 23 of The Grave Robber that many Christians only remember Christ’s resurrection at Easter.  The other 364 days they live as if Jesus still is nailed to the cross.

If we feel as if our dream is dead and buried, we have forgotten about the resurrection.  Yet God has us right where He wants us.  Pastor Batterson notes that the litmus test of a dream is its death and resurrection:

“If it’s not from God, it’ll stay dead.  If it is, it will rise again.  But you need to pray through until you get a breakthrough.”

Mark emphasizes that while most miracles take longer than we want to wait for them, the longer we wait the greater our appreciation of those miracles: “Miracles happen when we’re good and ready, and not a moment sooner.”

Martha’s statement in John 11:21-22, Mark observes, reveals two types of faith:

1.  Preventative faith– believes God can prevent adverse things from happening.

2.  Resurrection faith– believes God actually can undo what’s been done.  It puts commas, rather than periods, at the end of disappointments.

Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead demonstrates that when God takes something away from us, it doesn’t always mean permanently.  God often takes things away with the specific purpose of giving them back.  When He does, we see the miracle for the blessing it is.

Today’s question: What Bible verse enable you to remember the resurrection every day?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Six words”

 

 

Remember the resurrection

Holding pattern

“Lazarus had died, and for you sake I am glad that I was not there.”- John 11:14-15 (ESV)

Mark Batterson begins Chapter 23 (“Even Now”) of The Grave Robber by wondering why on earth Jesus would say, “For your sake, I am glad I was not here.”  Furthermore, Jesus had delayed coming for two days.

Pastor Batterson notes that when Jesus finally showed up four days late, Mary and Martha exhibited some passive-aggressive behavior toward Jesus.  The truth is, Mark adds, that we all have passive-aggressive tendencies toward God.  While we don’t necessarily blame Him for our adversity, we also know that He had the power to keep that adversity from happening.

Jesus waited until Lazarus had died to reveal His resurrection power.  Nothing can be resurrected until it has died.  As Mark points out, what Jesus did for Lazarus He also does for us:

“If you feel like you’re in a holding pattern, it may be because God is getting ready to do something more miraculous than you’ve previously experienced.  But something precious might have to die first so that He can resurrect it.”

Mark concludes that had Jesus simply healed Lazarus, it only would have reinforced the faith people already had.  Jesus wanted to stretch their faith.  In order to do that, Mark notes, “sometimes things have to go from bad to worse before they get better!”

Today’s question: What Bible verses have helped minimize or eliminate your passive-aggressive attitude toward God?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Faith is our sixth sense”

Holding pattern

The single greatest miracle

“Every now and then a man’s mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.”- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 3 of The Grave Robber by stating that the single greatest miracle is the forgiveness of our sins, made possible through the crucifixion and resurrection of the sinless Son of God.  This miracle of salvation, however, is not the finish line.  It is the baseline.

Pastor Batterson then lists the seven miracles found in the gospel of John that are the foundation for this book:

1.  The Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11)

2.  Jesus Heals an Official’s Son (John 4:46-54)

3.  The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath (John 5:1-9)

4.  Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand (John 6:1-15)

5.  Jesus Walks on Water (John 6:16-21)

6.  Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind (John 9:1-11)

7.  Jesus Raises Lazarus (John 11:32-44)

Pastor Batterson notes that, while the exploration of these seven miracles will stretch our mind, John’s original intent was that such exploration would stretch our faith.  Speaking about those miracles, Mark adds:

“They don’t just reveal what Jesus did, past tense.  They reveal what He wants to do in your life, present tense.”

The seventh miracle John describes is not the epilogue.  Rather, it is the prologue to the miracles Jesus wants to do in our lives.

Today’s question: How do you think this in-depth discussion of Jesus’ miracles will impact your life?  Please share.

Coming Monday: the new Short Meditation, “Hello Dave”

Tomorrow’s blog: “The miracle of restraint”

The single greatest miracle