Kristi Pennington

We’re one week away from celebrating Easter, the day Jesus followers celebrate the greatest event that ever took place: Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection! The death of Jesus through a cruel crucifixion and His being raised to life took care of the reason we were separated from God. God is perfectly holy and we are not. That posed a big problem. Our un-holiness needed a way to be one with God. A perfect sacrifice was the remedy. Jesus willingly gave his life so we could live an abundant fulfilling life not just on earth but a forever life with Him after we breathe our last earthly breath. A Kingdom life living begins on day we put our trust in Him.

Not too long ago our six-year-old granddaughter was baptized. I am from a faith community that practices believer’s baptism. It’s one of the first steps that a new Christ follower takes in their new spiritual journey with Jesus. Entrusting one’s life in faith to Jesus is the most important decision one can ever make. The words on the tee shirt that Emmie wore on her baptism day were “Jesus Changes Everything!” I can absolutely attest to this!

In the days leading up to Easter I’ve been reading passages from the book of John. One particular story that always stands out to me is the story of Lazarus, one of Jesus’ closest friends. Not only was Lazarus one of Jesus’ dearest friends, but so were his two sisters, Mary and Martha. Lazarus became sick. Mary and Martha sent this grave news to Jesus. They absolutely knew he would show up immediately and heal their brother. However, Jesus didn’t show up for four days. During that difficult “waiting for Jesus time“, their brother died. They were heart broken.

This story always touches my heart but never like it did 6 ½ years ago when my husband and I attended a four day Soul Care Retreat at Potter’s Inn in Divide, Colorado.

One of the daily rhythms we experienced on this retreat was a beautiful meditative and prayerful way of reading or listening of Scripture called Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). The passage we focused on during the third morning was taken from the gospel of John 11: 17-27. This was the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead by Jesus.  

The structure used for this meditative prayerful form of reading the scripture looked like this:

1. The leader read the passage orally. As we listened, we were to take notice of a word or phrase that seemed to stand out or shimmer the most.
2. The passage was read again. This time we were to actually imagine we were in the story. Who might we be? What emotions might arise? Which of the five senses might we find ourselves noticing?
3. As the passage is read for the third time we were asked to listen for the invitation God had for us.

I will never forget hearing this story, which I was quite familiar with, in the way I heard it that morning. I’m not sure what word or phrase shimmered for me, BUT I remember what I heard during the third reading that was my “invitation”. I heard the personal message of Jesus saying, “I am here. Everything is going to be okay.” You see, my heart was breaking.  Something had happened just a few weeks before that had shattered my heart.

Yes, Jesus’ was inviting me to a deeper surrender to entrust my breaking heart to Him. I knew I was going to be okay because Jesus was with me.  That changed everything. It doesn’t mean the circumstance changed, but Comfort was there, Love was there, the Healer of broken hearts and messes was there, Hope Himself was there, Grace was there.

Many years have passed since that worshipful moment with Jesus. His presence changed everything for Mary, and Martha as they witnessed him raising their beloved Lazarus from the dead. Much has changed for me, too. Something lost has been restored, reshaped, renewed, and revived. A new chapter has been written. I have seen the glory of God! Jesus changes everything!! Hallelujah!!