Grief

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Sometimes the news comes quick. Sometimes the news comes slow. No matter how or when it comes, grief travels in the wake of the news. Grief is heavy, weighty, a burden, especially when it involves someone deeply loved. Grief is not meant to be carried alone. It’s too heavy and may last a while—and that’s ok. That’s what family and friends are for, to share the load. Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend and wept but He did not weep alone. It was a deep, human moment. “ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted ” (Matt 5:4). If anyone knows how we feel in grief, it’s Him. But His grief did not linger long, as at the mention of his name, Lazarus came forth. We are not meant to dwell in grief, but should leave room enough for it. Let it run its course. Like the song says, “ Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain .” Another song says, “ The storm We will dance as it breaks The storm It will give as it takes And all of our pain is washed away Don't cry or be afraid Some things...

"How did his father raise him up from the dead? Does Jesus have power?"

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A North Carolinian asked, “how did his father raise him up from the dead? Does Jesus have power?”

I think I can answer both questions by looking at WHO Jesus is; that is, Jesus is plainly and clearly identified as being God. Consider a few things that are said of God in the Old Testament and what is also said of Jesus in the New Testament:

He is the Creator (Psalm 102:24-27 and Hebrews 1:10-12);
He was seen by Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-4 and John 12:41);
He was preceded by a forerunner (Isaiah 40:3 and Matthew 3:3);
He disciplines His people (Numbers 21:6ff and 1 Corinthians 10:9);
He is Holy (Isaiah 8:13 and 1 Peter 3:15);
He leads the captives (Psalm 68:18 and Ephesians 4:8);
He is the object of faith (Joel 2:32 and Romans 10:9 and 13).

This is my favorite passage:
Look at Revelation 1:8—who is speaking?
Now look at Revelation 22:13—who is speaking, and what does He call Himself?
Finally, turn back to Revelation 1:17—who is speaking?
Now look at the next verse, Revelation 1:18—the same person is speaking, right? How does He identify Himself? When did God ever die?

“But,” you may ask, “if Jesus is God, why does it say in Romans 10:9 that ‘God raised Him from the dead?’” Think of it this way—I am one person; but, I am a husband, a father and a son—three different persons yet one person. There are some things I cannot do as a son, but I can do them only as a father. There are some things I cannot do as a father that I can do only as a husband. There are some things I cannot do as a husband, but I can do them as a son. Following me?

Remember that God is three persons in one. God could only accomplish salvation for man by becoming flesh and blood in the person of Jesus, but Jesus could only be raised from the dead in the power of the Holy Spirit by God—and that’s more power than we can imagine!

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