No Sacrifice, No Harvest

“I have come as a light into the world, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.” John 12:46 (ISR)

“And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.” John 11:43 (KJV)

Just the other day, I substituted for an 8^th grade math class. It was during the 8^th period that I saw an office aide standing at the door of the classroom, getting ready to knock. I went and opened the door and she handed me an early dismissal slip to give to a student.

I was reminded of that this afternoon while reading in John 11. I can only imagine as Lazarus, in his 4^th day, gets an ‘early dismissal slip’ from Paradise as the voice of the Master is heard booming from the earthly realm he had just left. Life flows back into his decaying body. He stands up and begins walking towards the light that had flooded the entrance of the tomb when the stone was removed. As he exited the tomb, those white burial cloths became as a magnificent reflector, the sun striking it, and reflecting the brightness of the esteem of the living. There would be no denial that the wrapped up corpse was now alive, shimmering in the sunlight for all to see.

This is what Messiah Yahushua came to do; to ‘call forth’ those who are dead, bound, and who lay in darkness. In Isaiah we read, “Saying to those who are bound, Come forth, and to those who are in darkness, show yourselves [come into the light of the Sun of righteousness…” Isaiah 49:9a (AMP)

When the Son of Elohim calls us forth out of darkness and into His light, it is called a resurrection; a birthing out of something and into the state of something else.

At one point, mankind was alive, yet through Adam, death entered, and we died. Messiah did not come for those alive, but to raise the dead. And if we have been raised from the dead, how are we suppose to be? For those who were raised from the dead and were seen by many in Jerusalem; it must have been an amazing sight. If we have been raised from the dead; released from the power of death to serve the Living Elohim, what kind of sight should we be to others? Do others look upon us without any noticeable difference than how they view the rest of the world? Are we who believe just as dead as the rest of them? Do we still smell of death and decay? Have we lost all hope, and thus put on our grave clothes again, only to re-enter the tomb from whence we were called?

Or do we shimmer in the light, reflecting His presence, calling out to the world to recognize the resurrection power of The Redeemer?

Do you remember when the Master called out to you; [Put your name here], come forth? Are you still coming forth into the light of His presence or are you retreating back into the darkness of death? It is through His resurrection that we are made alive, and it is by our death to self that keeps us alive. As with Lazarus, our resurrection from the dead should draw others to witness the new life we now enjoy.

Stand out! Be ye separate from the land of the dead. Are the burial clothes the witness of our resurrection, or do we hold onto them just in case the time ever comes when lying down to sleep in darkness is easier than to stand up, and walk in the light?

It is for this reason that we take joy, during this time of Sukkot, celebrating with the One who has delivered us from darkness, so that He who is alive can dwell with us who have been made alive. Sukkot is a time of enjoying what has been labored over for so long, and a time to remember that without sacrifice, there can be no harvest.

Only that which is alive can be sacrificed and only that which is dead can be resurrected.

On this Shabbat, be encouraged. He has called you out of darkness to dwell with Him forever. Death is not life; decay is not beautiful; bound is not freedom, and darkness is not light. Be alert. Stay sober. Do not be deceived. What is death is death. What is decay is rancid. What is bound is captivity. What is dark…is dark.

The Master is calling us forth to call what is good, good and what is evil, evil. The harvest is nigh, and the wheat must not resemble anything but wheat. If we do not stand out in the world, than we are a mixture of the world. Is there an in between state of life and death? Be certain your grave clothes are removed, because the things that are coming will require us to be free from everything that would entangle and bind us. If the Son has set you free, be free indeed!

Mo’edim le simchat,

Derek and Rivkah