I AM the Resurrection

"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;"- John 11:25

There is something so special about being a link in the chain of survival. Throughout a career, first responders get to witness the miracle of life through many life-saving emergency interventions. Seeing the immediate effects of D50, Narcan, CPR, and defibrillation snatch a patient from the grips of the grim reaper is invigorating. It's why we do what we do.

The reality is that no matter how good our efforts are some, if not most, will die. The bigger reality is that death is almost undefeated. All but one man have remained dead. Death has only suffered one loss. Jesus made some bold claims about Himself before He raised Lazarus from the dead. I AM the Resurrection. Wow. He proved that He is able to defeat death in raising his friend. Poor Lazarus would die a second time. But Jesus also predicted his death and resurrection. After being beaten and tortured beyond recognition, He died from shock and asphyxiation at the hands of the coldest killers of His time. Three days later, He rose again by His own power fully conquering sin and the grave! His resurrection was the ultimate blow to our old nemesis, death. 

The Resurrection is the power of Christ to transform lives now. Believing in Jesus will breathe new life into your weary soul. The same power that rose Jesus from the dead is able to transform your life into something wonderful that is full of purpose and meaning. He resurrects our peace, hope, joy, love, contentment, and so much more. He resurrects broken marriages and relationships. He gives us hope for something better, and He promises that though this body may die, our soul will live forever with Him. 

May the LORD Bless You and Keep You,

Bobby

The First Zombies?

"The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised" - Matthew 27:52

Ok. They probably weren't actually zombies, but why doesn't anyone ever mention this verse in conjunction with the Crucifixion? Dead people resurrected in the tombs is a major deal! Jesus has just breathed His last breath. The earth shook and the veil in the temple was torn in two. This let's us know that Jesus' death gives us direct access to God. There are no more barriers or needs for religious ceremonies and sacrifices. Jesus said, "It is finished." Matthew and only Matthew then mentions that the dead woke up!

Jesus' life, death, and resurrection is defined by the miraculous. The virgin birth? Miraculous. Water into wine, the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the lame walking, the dead rising? All miraculous. The power of Sin and Death defeated once and for all? MIRACULOUS!

God promised in Isaiah 26:19 that the "dead will live." As always God is the only one who 100% undeniably keeps His promises. Many of us first responders have seen the power of D50 wake someone in insulin shock. I've always marveled at the power of Narcan to resurrect a person overdosed on heroin. Yet nothing compares to the POWER of the CROSS!

Because Jesus Died and Rose, we can LIVE!!! The living people in the tombs are evidence of the new order of things. Death has lost its victory and its sting! We can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil! We take complete comfort and have confidence in Jesus' words- another promise: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE!" This my friend is a big, big, deal and reason to celebrate!

May the LORD Bless You and Keep You,

Bobby

He Has Risen

"...Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!"

-The Angels at Jesus' Tomb in Luke 24:5-6

You and your crew are dispatched to a serious trauma call: Extrication, Shooting, Stabbing, etc... The call notes lend to this being a legit call. You rush to the given address to find nothing: no patient, no MVI, no semblance of an emergency whatsoever. You begin to think. Is this a prank call? Did the caller provide the right address? Did the call taker jot down the wrong address? These are all definite possibilities. In your gut you know there is a citizen in need of help. One thing I know about firefighters is that we relish the opportunity to do our jobs and make a difference. Scenarios like this can be frustrating.  

On the Sunday morning after Jesus was crucified, some of Jesus' closest friends went to finish the burial process by placing a mix of oils and spices to keep the stench of a dead body to a minimum. They were forbidden from doing so on Saturday,  their Sabbath. Imagine their surprise and horror as they find the body of their beloved Jesus is missing. GOA. Vanished. "He gone." Where's the body? Did they have the right tomb?

Jesus had told his followers on more than one occasion that He would die and be raised to life. They would have known the tens of  Old Testament prophecies concerning His death and resurrection. Maybe his friends didn't really believe any of it. Why would they? Who does that- rise from the dead? It's definitely not normal. They've seen Him raise other dead people, could He raise Himself?

In rising from the dead, Christ shows His POWER and DEITY. He does what only God can do. A death caused by severe trauma from a massive loss of blood volume, MODS, and asphyxiation could not keep Him down. If He has the power to defeat death, He has the power to forgive sins and grant eternal life. He has the power to answer prayers, meet your needs, and heal your ailments.

He did what He said He would do, making Him TRUSTWORTHY. We can trust in the hundreds of promises found for us in the Bible. 

 A risen Savior is a PRESENT Savior. He is always there for us. He isn't an absentee God. He doesn't  take days off. He's with us now. Today, you can place your hope and trust in the God who conquered death and lives forevermore.

-Captain Bobby Delgado

HFD Chaplain