Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
John 3:3
I once took a train under the English Channel from London to the coast of France. The train ride was so smooth that it barely felt like we were moving, we sat and talked to each other and looked out the window at the passing scenery while sipping a cold Coke. In reality, the train was blazing fast. Outside of the tunnel the train reached speeds upwards of 186mph and traveled at a staggering 100mph underneath the English Channel. To an outsider observing the train, it would have been perceived moving significantly faster than it did to us riding along with it.
That’s how my progress over the next few months felt. As the person that was headed to the gym for 4 hours a week every week and witnessing what felt like little to no progress at each session, my family, friends, and even my therapists were seeing rapid improvements every time I completed a workout. I was riding the bullet train and they were watching it speed by.
Because my physical therapy gym was significantly smaller than my inpatient facilities, they were limited in the number of resources and machines that they had at their disposal; however, that did not stop them from putting on their best McGuyver thinking caps and rigging some pretty impressive contraptions used to simulate everything from standing to walking.
They would hold me up and support my knees in order to put weight through my legs, strap my feet onto the pedals of a NuStep machine so that I could work out my legs, and build platforms to help me stand at the parallel bars.
Slowly but surely the strength in my legs began to grow. They would push two tables together to create a large platform for me to lay on so that they could teach me how to roll over, raise up onto my hands and knees and then begin to crawl.
I often told people about these early days of therapy, referring to it as “toddler training,” as anything a toddler had to learn how to do, I had to learn as well. Day after day, week after week the train sped onward.
Then on April 2, 2002 we hit a milestone. It was my birthday. One year to the day from my receiving new stem cells. One year ago, I sat in front of a birthday cake that I couldn’t eat, on a day I hardly remember.
It had been a year since a gracious German man had put himself through a bit of trauma and pain on my behalf. A year since his bone cells were injected into my veins. A year ago we weren’t certain if I would live or die. And now we were gathering in the Preschool Wing at Crosswind Church to celebrate all that God had done in just 12 months. Dozens of people showed up from all over the country to party with us. We had food that this time I could enjoy, people showered me with gifts of sour kraut and cards and we took pictures—more pictures that I took at my wedding! We laughed. We cried. It was a phenomenal day recalling just how good God had been to me—to us all.
I know that Jesus wasn’t talking about getting a stem cell transplant when he told Nicodemus that he must be born again. I know that my theologian buddies will ridicule me for pulling this verse out of context. But I have been a follower of Jesus for most of my life. I have studied theology and taught the Bible for all of my adult life. I had a pretty good grasp on the gospel and the truths of scripture and because of the gospel I experience new life every day, and will experience eternal life forever.
But…
Having been plucked from the fires of death by the healing hand of God, I feel like I have an even deeper understanding of the Kingdom and glory of God than before. On some small level, I understand how Lazarus felt when he was called out of the tomb and unbandaged in front of his family. Jesus then ceased to be his friend that would usher him into eternity in “the last day” (John 11:24). Jesus was now the one who has brought him out of the tomb and into the arms of the ones he loved. To know Jesus in this way is a gift, and it is a gift that I pray I never forget. May my new life be a testimony to others that Jesus is who he says he is, just like Jesus prayed Lazarus’ new life would be.
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
John 11:40-44
As the end of the school year grew close, it became clear I would no longer be needing 24 hour care. My bonus-mom Cindy, who had so graciously given up time and resources for me decided to not renew her lease on the apartment in Martin. As the Summer progressed so did my ability to care for myself and I could now be left at home alone. I was able to navigate in and out of our house, prepare meals and drinks, and work on my laptop during the day. God had been so good to me as the train sped forward faster than anyone expected, and he was not done yet!
Jeremy Powell 