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And the dead will live. A poem inspired by John 5: 25 - 26
Truly, truly, I day to you, and hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself” - John 5:25 – 26
And the dead will live. What can this possibly mean? Can the voice of Jesus bring the dead back to life? Yes it can. We only have to look as far as Lazarus to know that is true. Throughout his time on earth Jesus demonstrates his ability to bring the dead back to life. In another display of equality with the Father, Jesus amazes his audience by claiming that he also has the power to give life. But there is another meaning of life and death here. Even though we are physically alive, we can be spiritually dead. Ephesians 2:1 – “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. 1 Timothy 5:6 – “but the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Colossians 2:13 – “when you were dead in your sins… God made you alive with Christ, he forgave all our sins. This kind of death is a separation from God because of our sins. God loves us and designed us to have a relationship with him. He wants us to know him like a son or daughter would know a kind and loving father. But we are not perfect and he is. Because of our sin, we can’t be close to him. We are dead to him. Our lives are empty. This is not how he wants it to be and this is why Jesus came to the earth to be one of us. He lived a perfect life among us then he died to pay the punishment of our sins. If we accept his sacrifice on our behalf, God forgives us and we are perfect and sinless in his eyes. We are now able to have a relationship with him. This is the life Jesus gives. When we hear his words and believe him, he has the power to bridge the difference between our imperfection and God’s glory so that we can have a personal relationship with God. Only then can we experience all the love, peace and freedom that God has for us. This is truly living.
Darkness settles across my mind
It is a cold and empty place.
Laughter swirls around my head
Tears stream down my face.
I want to cry out
Something is wrong,
I hear the music play
The tune is haunting
It teases my tongue
I almost know the song
The memories flit
Through my mind
Of a happier, better place
Was it real
I do not know
It seems so far away
I look around me
Nothing is right
Everything has gone wrong
I thought I’d be happy
I thought I’d find joy
This was the top of the world
But it was a lie
And I’ve been conned
Where do I go from here?
What is this place?
I can’t see straight
I feel like I’ve twisted my fate
How did I get here?
Where have I been?
Can I ever return?
Life goes on
But I feel trapped
I need to get away
I put on my mask
So no one can see
The darkness inside of me
I smile and laugh
Everything’s fine
Only I know it’s pretend
My chains they grow
Heavy each day
I don’t know how to stop
This fever in me
Consuming me
Driving me further away
From the place I once was
Innocent and true
Thinking the world was good
I want to go back
To see if it’s real
To find out if I can be free
Then you catch my eye
Across the room
There’s something different in you
I feel exposed
You can feel my pain
Do you hear my cry for help?
I stand before you
Dying inside
Drawn to the light in your eye
I hear your voice
Resound within me
I think I heard it before
You offer me peace
You promise freedom
You give your life for mine
It sounds so easy
Too good to be true
There has to be a catch
You don’t understand
Who I’ve become
You have to know I’m not worthy
Then you whisper
Your name in my ear
And suddenly it’s all so clear
I remember the stories
I heard as a youth
I suddenly know it’s all true
The weight has been lifted
The chains have been cut
I cannot believe I am free
Your name is Jesus
And you have the power
To turn my death into life
I fall on my face
Awed by your love
And give my life back to you
Now you are my master
My God and my king
You rescued me from myself
What a difference it is
To be living again
Forgiven and freed from my sin
The world’s so much brighter
Happy and lighter
Regret is a thing of the past
I’ll never go back
To the darkness inside
That death is a thing of the past
.
John 5:27 goes on to claim that Jesus is our Judge. To ask why a loving God would allow us to be Judged, please continue on to hub #45
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Comments
Finely written (as usual). This took time, I know. Three cheers!
- Author
Thank you Mr. P! It is good to hear from you. How are you doing? I need to come visit you again soon.
Hi April.
Very beautiful. Good girl.
God bless you.
- Author
Thank you teacherjoe, I am happy you liked it!
Is Jesus Michael the Archangel then?
John Gill on 1 Thessalonians 4:16 "with the voice of the archangel; so Michael is called, in Jde 1:9 with which compare Revelation 12:7 and who perhaps is no other than Christ himself, who is the head of all principality and power; and the sense be, that Christ shall descend from heaven with a voice, or shall then utter such a voice, as will show him to be the archangel; or as the Syriac version renders it, "the head", or "prince of angels"; and which whether, it will be an articulate voice, such as was expressed at the grave of Lazarus; or a violent clap of thunder, which is the voice of God; or the exertion of the power of Christ, is not certain: it is added,"
- Author
Excellent question. No Jesus is not Michael. Unlike Bruce Wayne and Batman, Jesus and Michael appear together in scripture. If you have a chance go ahead and read Daniel chapter 10 and send me your questions, then when I get home tonight I'll answer.
What was going when Daniel was in a deep sleep (nirdam)?
"(i) Even though God could by one angel destroy all the world, yet to assure his children of his love he sends forth double power, even Michael, that is, Christ Jesus the head of angels." (Geneva Study Bible, comment on Daniel 10:13)
- Author
Very good, this is a perfect example of why the comments in the study bibles should not be considered inspired by God. Is the study bible saying that it is Jesus or Michael who is talking to Daniel in his vision? It looks like it's saying both, but that doesn't make sense. I don't have that version, what does it say in the actual verse? Mine says "then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me" -indicating that Michael is different from the person speaking.
"And, behold, an hand touched me,.... Not the hand of the man clothed with linen, whose voice he heard, and whose hand was like polished brass, Daniel 10:6, but the hand of one distinct from him, one of his attendants, Daniel 12:5 that had the similitude of the sons of men, Daniel 10:16, and whose hand was softer, and nearer a human one; very probably the hand of the Angel Gabriel in human form, who had touched him before, when in the like circumstances, Daniel 8:16," (John Gill, commentary on Daniel 10:10)
"but, lo, Michael one of the chief Princes, came to help me; called in the New Testament an Archangel, the Prince of angels, the Head of all principality and power; and is no other than Christ the Son of God, an uncreated Angel; who is "one", or "the first of the chief Princes" (x), superior to angels, in nature, name, and office; he came to "help" Gabriel, not as a fellow creature, but as the Lord of hosts; not as a fellow soldier, but as General of the armies in heaven and earth, as superior to him in wisdom and strength; and he helped him by giving him fresh counsels, orders, and instructions, which he following succeeded:" (John Gill, commentary on Daniel 10:13)
What version of the Bible would you recommend?
- Author
I had heard that some believe this is Gabriel. Daniel's first two encounters are with Gabriel in Daniel 8:15 - 18 and again in Daniel 9: 20 -22. I'm wondering if you think the visitor in Daniel 10 is the same person?
John Gill believes that it is Christ. From what I can tell, he seems to suggest that it was Gabriel who showed up after Daniel had fallen asleep. Perhaps Gabriel came when Jesus (Michael the Archangel?) went to fight off the prince of Persia. Gill only believes that Jesus appeared in the first 9 verses. Here is his full commentary on Daniel 10.
- Author
What do you think?
I don't really know what I think.
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