We're the dummies

Posted by Gary on February 2, 2008

Apparently you and I are the dummies, we just don’t know death when we see it. Please take a moment to watch this video of Lauren Richardson who will have her feeding tube removed if a recent court decision that granted guardianship to her mother is not overturned. Lauren’s father wants to take Lauren into his care and keep her living.

The people of Jesus’ day knew death when they saw it, we are told that they laughed at Jesus when He said that the girl He came to resurrect was asleep:

Matthew 9:23-26  “When Jesus came into the official’s house, and saw the flute-players and the crowd in noisy disorder, He said, “Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him. But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. This news spread throughout all that land.”

Of course this girl was dead and everyone including Jesus knew it. Jesus uses the word “sleep” for His disciples who have died. He does so because He intends to make it known they will live again because of Him:

John 11:11-14  “…after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead…”

When Jesus arrived and said this girl was asleep, He knew she was dead but the crowd being spiritually dead thought Jesus was serious. Their laughter is revealing, it reveals something basic, we all know death when we see it, it is undeniable. It is as if these people were saying to Jesus, “Do you think we don’t know death when we see it?” If you have ever been with someone as they expire or see them before they are taken to the funeral home you know what death looks like and it does not look like Lauren Richardson.

Did you know that you live in a country that starves people to death who would otherwise remain alive? O I forgot, we just don’t know death when we see it.

Comments

One Response to “We're the dummies”

1. Gary says:

   February 5, 2008 at 5:42 pm

   Gary,
   I shared this post with Fred Lefebvre. He is going to talk about it on air wed. morning on his show.

   Reply