Crisis
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” – John 11:21-27
Friends,
I pray for your health, both physical and emotional during this trying time.
The above reading is part of the assigned reading from the Gospel of John for this Sunday, March 29, the Fifth Sunday of Lent`.
There is a teaching which begins in Genesis and continues through the Bible to the book of Revelation. That teaching is “out of nothing” (Latin = ex nihilio). It is the basic teaching that God creates something out of nothing.
We see it in Genesis where God calls into existence that which did not exist.
We see it in Ephesians 2 where we were dead in our trespasses and sins until God made us alive again with Jesus Christ by grace. (Ephesians 2:4-6).
We see it in Revelation when it looks as if the dragon and beasts are in control and suddenly the Lamb appears. (Revelation 12-14).
We also see it in the words of John. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Even when death seems to have the last word, Jesus comes to us with the Word of life.
The teaching is in many other passages of the Bible.
Out of nothing, God creates something. Out of death, Jesus brings life.
I think of this teaching frequently in today’s world. We are experiencing a time we have not experienced before. But we know this virus does not have the final word. Jesus does. His word to us is life. Jesus will bring us through this crisis.
Yesterday, Thursday, we had our local monthly pastor’s meeting via Zoom. Pastor Chip Fox of New Life Chinese Lutheran Church in San Francisco shared this fact: The Chinese
have a word for crisis. It is “Way-Gee” (sp). The word is made up of two characters. The first character means “danger”. The second character means “opportunity”. Crisis means there is danger out of which comes opportunity.
Or perhaps, when there seems to be nothing but danger, Jesus brings opportunity.
Out of nothing, God creates something.
Stay healthy.
Christ’s Peace,
Ricky Adams
Pastor
Peace Lutheran Church
Mill Valley, California