February 5, 2010
“Father, I’m grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I’ve spoken so that they might believe that you sent me. Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.” John 11:41-44 The Message
Who is qualified …?
Everyone. We’re all in the same boat. A crisis hits .. a sudden or tragic death .. emotional collapse .. an overwhelming wave of one-thing-after-another. Sometimes it seems like Jesus is taking his time or seems indifferent to “our” problem. He’s not. He has never dismissed one cry of your heart. He’s never distracted from the sound of your voice … even the voice that can only sigh or speak in incomplete sentences. He knows all too well what it means to be “wrapped from head to toe” and face covered. He knows what death feels like on the outside and what it does to you on the inside. He knows! And it is His voice that speaks into the deepest places of your heart: “Come out” … come out of that darkness .. that death .. that despair. The life He has for you is far better than anything you could ever achieve on your own with all of the world’s resources at your fingertips. His death covers your death and everything … yes everything that causes death! His life includes everything … yes everything that is found in Him. Who is qualified? Everyone who is wrapped head to toe in death. And you don’t have to be placed in a grave to die this qualifying death. You can be completely dead and still be breathing … going to work … going through the motions … trying to make life work on your terms. But .. the life He offers you is His own … a risen life. And .. the life He creates in you is unwrapped and let loose for His kingdom. It is the life He has for you today .. and it only takes a moment …
“Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.” 2 Cor. 5:14-15 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Unwrapped Cadavers made Alive-in-Christ and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
