January Closes, Another Life to Close, and His Peace

A morning greeting written for the wife of precious 50ish dying Christian in our church family. She has been troubled obviously by the coming death of her precious friend and partner; but even more by the dark days ahead for her young teen son. . . Questions plague her as to "What could I have. . .?" "What should I have?". . . "What should I do now for him!?" Names changed in respect for family). . .

1/24/08

Dear Debbie,

God awakened me this morning with the scene of John 5 for you. . .

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”
7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.

10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” [English Standard Version]

Why would Jesus be so cruel as to ask this man “Do you want to be healed?” Because our precious Savior wanted to get the response from the man! Helplessness, dependence, and absolute reliance upon the Son of God is our only treasure in a moment such as this.

Every family, and most importantly every spouse and child of a dying loved one, must come to terms with the issues that surround death. After being healed, notice that the man in John 5 still did not sense that God was present; the darkness and despair felt as if God were absent and withdrawn. Jesus does His greatest work not when you and I ask Him to, nor when we demand. . . but after. After surrender. After submission. After gratitude, in spite of the pains.

Then Jesus said “You are well!” Very soon, this shall be confirmed both for you and for Brian. When the enemy of our soul whispers that it will never be this way for Andrew, that His (largely) unseen pains will last forever, remember here that the man “went away” and “told” the others that Jesus had done the healing. The young man Andrew--lent to you for these years on this earth to nurture for the Lord—he too will “be well” in the Lord’s wisdom.

May His grace rise in your heart this day by faith, for the coming miracle of healing for Brian, You, and Andrew. Separated by a blink of time? Yes. For eternity? Never. That is why Jesus came; why Christmas with death in the air is, indeed, a day for “Glory to God in the Highest, and on the earth, peace among those with whom He is pleased.”

Families must deal with the questions, pains, and fear of answering key statements with their loved ones as the Lord carries them home. We must be able to say, by faith, “Yes, I want to be well!” How does this happen? As we say. . .

1) I love you. the simplest words throughout a life, but difficult to admit for some of the last times for this earthly journey.
2) I forgive you. As the Lord Jesus prayed in the Lord’s Prayer, so we pray with each other, even at this time.
3) Thank you. Gratitude to them, and the Lord who gave them, brings the brush of angel’s wings to our spirit.
4) You can go now. Hanging on never helps or hurts the loved one who approaches Heaven. But it hurts us. Oh how much it hurts us. Be a model for Austin by the blood Jesus, this day.
5) We are going to make it. Only by faith, and that in His precious Son on the bloody cross, may we confess this to the Father. . .

Please know, precious child, that the Father carries you and Andrew, and especially Brian, oh, especially Brian, this day, upon His shoulders. Our shoulders are far too small, bony, narrow, and bent by the weight of our sin and burden. But His shoulders are strong! Through it all, my shoulders have been far too small. . .yours are bigger still. . .and His are perfect!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called 'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6