June 19th, 20

JUNE 19,  THERE’S ONLY ONE WHO CAN MAKE IT RIGHT

Today’s readings are II Kings 4 -5 , Psalm 83, and I Timothy 2.  We are reading from the New Living Translation.

There’s only one mediator – one man- who can make things right. The woman of Shunem knew she needed the one person that could make it right. She knew she needed God’s man.  Neither Gahazi, or his stick, would do.  She needed Elisha.  She believed he could bring this boy back to life and make things right.  So she gets Elisha and he does something strange.  He goes to this boy on his deathbed, and lies on top of the boy, face to face, hand to hand, eye to eye.  And, as if the man of God were absorbing the death of the boy into himself, and transferring his life into the boy, the boy is raised to new life!

Gahazi and his stick wouldn’t work.  There was only one way to make this boy right.  The boy’s death had to be absorbed by the man of God and the life of the man of God had to be transferred to the dead boy.  And this, of course, is a picture of another Man of God, who would come to absorb the death of far more than one boy.  This Man of God would absorb the death of all who are dead in their sins, but willing to believe in His life – that He transfers to those of us who are dead.   Face to face, hand to hand, eye to eye,  the life he transfers is far greater than the life that Elisha gives to this boy.  The life that this Man of Life gives, is eternal life.  This boy will die some day, but those that receive the Life that comes from the Man of God, will never die. Because the life the Man of God – Jesus – gives, is His very own life, the life of God.   This man of God is greater than Elisha.  He’s the Prophet of prophets.  He’s the Lamb of God.  He’s the Savior of the world.  He’s our Jesus.  He’s the only one who can make things right, and make us right.  Paul says:

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. (I Tim 2:5-6 NLT)

Like Elisha, Jesus has allowed our death to be transferred into him and his life to be transferred into us. He is that mediator between God and man, so that we might be set free, purchased, made alive, by the man of God.  That’s the Gospel!

Live in that purchased freedom, recognizing that there’s only one way to be made right with God, it’s only through His life.  Be alive in Him!  Be reconciled to God and to each other and be made new. 

You are loved!