NS Ministries

The first chapter of John talks about the Creative Power of God coming to earth as the WORD!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.   (John 1:1 – 1:5, 1:10)

The WORD is still alive in the world! 

The creative WORD that created is still alive and well in our world!

I believe that one of the most powerful creative forces now at work in our world is the power hope has to take “the old” and create “the new” hope takes what seems impossible and creates “new” possibilities.   The creative powers of hope are illustrated in the raising of Lazarus, “When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’”  (John 11:43 – 11:44)

Of the 35 words used in verses 43 and 44 there are 6 words that begin for not only Lazarus, and his sisters but each of us as well are – “Unbind him, and let him go.”  As you are reading these words what has entombed your life?  Is it financial?  Is it a broken relationship?  Is it circumstances that seemingly will go on forever?  Is it low self-esteem?  Is it anger toward someone who has hurt you deeply?  It is health issues, your own or a loved ones?

“Unbind him, and let him go,” are powerful words of hope yet as powerful as those words are what occurred in Lazarus’ tomb was by far more powerful because it was in the tomb where the impossible became possible.  “…he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’”  It was in the tomb where the seed of hope began to germinate.

There can be no doubt that the power of hope is brought into fruition through Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.  Long ago the seed of hope lie in Martha waiting the for power of germination.  “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” (John 11:21 – 11:22)

“I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you,” I believe the “construction materials” out of which the seed of hope is built lies in our experiences of the past.  Because Martha experienced the wonderment of Jesus in the past she knew she could depend on him when she needed him mos.  There can be little doubt that you too have experienced the wonderment of Jesus on the pages of your life.  The seeds of hope lie hidden in the soil of our lives lying dormant until the need for them arises. 

Days before his death Jesus reminded the disciples over and over of the seeds of hope that lie within them.  He reminded them the day would come when they would need the seeds to germinate and empower them to go on.  And in spite of his efforts to remind them only one did not desert him and came and supported him at the cross. 

I believe one of hopes greatest mysteries is that it is the future coming alive in the present.  And because what happens to us happens in the present we become temporarily blind to the future and we live in the shadows of our fears rather than the light of our hopes.  The disciples upon knowing Jesus was crucified because of the shadows of their fears forgot about what Jesus told them would happen to him in a short three days.

“Jesus said to her (Martha), “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” (John 11:23 – 11:24)  Martha because of her relationship and followership of Jesus knew her brother would live again in heaven. 

But Jesus was about to give Martha a valuable lesson on hope (one that we should never forget).  “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’  She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’  (John 11:25 – 11:27)

I’d like to stop here and look at the phrase “who is coming into the world” while it may not mean anything to anyone else for me Martha is telling Jesus that she believes in his continuing work.  For me she is saying, “Jesus, I know you are the hope of the world but that hope is yet to be experienced.”  (That however is my own imagination at work.)  There have been times in my life when I’ve prayed, “Jesus, I know you have a plan for my life and I hope the day will come when it will become real.”

But Jesus wanted Martha (and each of us) to know that he not only germinates the seeds of hope for tomorrow but for today as well!  For me Jesus is saying, “I am not only tomorrow’s hope but I am today’s hope as well!”  He said to Martha and those gathered to mourn Lazarus’ death.   And then to drive his point home, “‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’”  (John 11:43 – 11:44)

It was in Jesus’ tomb the Father forever lit the Light that gives life to our hopes!  “I am not only tomorrow’s hope but I am today’s hope as well!”  And Jesus’ message fans out across the eons of time and becomes a powerful witness to us that hope lives.

Before ending this article I would like to identify the seed of hope as I understand the hope Jesus talked about.  However, in doing so you’ll discover that words and graphics will never come close the seed can only be named.  In a small upper room shielded from the public Jesus not only names the seed but gives us insight how to keep it alive in us.  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”  (John 14:15 – 14:17, emphasis added)

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be WITH YOU forever, even the Spirit of truth.”  Resident within you the seed of hope lives because through Jesus’ resurrection the Holy Spirit works powerfully and tirelessly to bring God’s future blessings to a reality in your life today. 

I’d like to bring this article to a close with a comparison between the powerlessness of “worldly resources” to give power to hope and the power of God to germinate the Seed of Hope (Holy Spirit) in the shadows of our hopelessness.  “​​​​​​​​Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O Lord our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.”  (Jeremiah 14:22)

Grace and PEACE, 

Gary Piper