What Now?

Beloved People of God,

The Old Testament gives us two powerful images of creation and re-creation. The first is in the book of Genesis as God breathes life into humanity (Genesis 2.7). Imagine the picture the Torah paints for us of the dirt and clay of this earth being shaped and formed in the hands of God, then breathed to life and meaning and purpose by His Spirit. The same Spirit that moved over the waters filled the lung capacity of Adam and brought him to life.

The second is long after the creation, long after the fall of humanity in sin, long after death has entered the world. Generations have come and gone since the time of Adam and Eve. Father to son, mother to daughter across the millennia. Dust to dust. And then, God takes the Prophet Ezekiel to a valley filled with dry bones and tells him to see the lifeless field around him and call to them to hear the word of the Lord (Ezekiel 37.5). In Ezekiel’s obedience, God promises to breathe His Spirit out over the creation that has wasted away, to bring about resurrection, re-creation.

This makes what happens in the New Testament so profound! After the tragedy of Golgotha, where Jesus the Messiah was nailed to the cross and crucified; after His body was placed lifeless in the tomb, the disciples found themselves—much like Ezekiel—walking dazed and confused in a valley of broken dreams and breathless confusion. What had once been vibrant was now devastated. What they needed was to see Jesus, to be near Him. They needed to have their anxious and fearful hearts set to rest and feel the move of His Spirit.

Friends, it’s the same thing we need today. May we find Jesus, full of life and speaking peace over our fears, as we gather this Sunday to read John 20.19-23.

For His Name’s Sake,

Brett