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March 31, 2020 - Join Pastor John for a Daily Devotional

March 31, 2020 by Rev. John Hartman

“The Breath of the Lion” 

 When the month of March comes to an end, we tend to look at the weather and then determine if March is going out like a lamb or a lion. Weather aside, it seems like March is going out like a lion, as the coronavirus roars over our nation and communities, terrifying us, and sending us scampering to the safety of our homes. Indeed, a lion is big, scary, and unpredictable. Does that sound familiar to you today? 

In C.S. Lewis’ Narnia Tales, Jill is only 10 year’s old, but the fate of the kingdom of Narnia rests on her tiny shoulders. The wicked queen of the underworld has captured Prince Rillian, rightful heir to the throne, and put him under the spell of her deadly green powder. This wicked queen not only possesses an arsenal of magic spells, but she lives underground in complete darkness inside a castle guarded by giants. This English school girl faces a mission impossible. But Aslan the Lion has a plan! He leads Jill to the top of a mountain, stands her next to a cliff – and blows on her. And such is the power of the Lion’s breath that Jill is lifted up off the ground and propelled through the air. Finally she touches down in Narnia. By the end of her magic ride not only has Jill ridden on the breath of the lion,— but she’s got lion’s breath in her lungs. And when you’ve got lion’s breath inside you nothing on earth can stop you. Jill destroys the witch, rescues the Prince, and they all live happily ever after. 

Now some of you might be thinking, “Oh what a cute little story!” But this is C.S. Lewis’ allegory for this real life event from John 20:19-22.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” 

Jesus sent his disciples out to perform a feat every bit as daunting as a 10-year-old conquering Narnia. Simply by telling a little story these disciples were to conquer the world! They were to implement faith in Jesus Christ as a part of their DNA, instead of living out every day in fear. All this they did and more, by the breath of the Lion. When Jesus exhaled on his disciples, he said, “Take this in; receive the Holy Spirit?” It means that Jesus is with us and as near to us as our own breathing. The Bible says his breath brings into us peace. Not once but twice in the scripture reading from John 20, Jesus said to the disciples, “Peace be with you.” One way to make yourself feel peaceful under stress, we all know, is just to take a deep breath. And then in verse 21 he gives us our marching orders, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” In other words, “Go be my witnesses. Go put you-know-where out of business.” Friends, don’t be afraid to love all the way. Go ahead and wrap your vulnerable heart around those you love and then wrap your heart around this whole vast tragic world like God did when he sent his son into our world. 

 Today, our power is in the breath of the Lion, because we’ve got lion’s breath in our lungs. And when we’ve got lion’s breath inside us nothing on earth can stop us. In fact, nothing on earth will stop us! We have his presence, peace, purpose, and his power. So Inhale deeply, because the Lion is here! And, he will give us his very own breath for today, tomorrow, and forever.  