The Kiss Of Life

The Kiss of Life

John 20:19-22

Several years ago, an article appeared in the newspapers, describing a series of events that were astonishing. It seems that several people were rescued from the jaws of death because someone performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on them, e.g., a boy who was accidentally electrocuted as the result of touching a bare wire at a construction site, or the man who suffered cardiac arrest in an airport terminal, or the hiker who tore an artery in his wrist on a jagged rock.

What makes it so amazing is that in each case an off-duty physician performed CPR, the “Kiss of Life,” and in effect, saved their lives! And what makes it all the more astounding is that it was the same doctor in each of these crisis events. Dr. Max Benis, of Sherman Oaks, California, an allergist who just happened to be in the right place at the right time, rescued 19 in the same manner. He performed these acts of heroism at great risk to his own career, especially in the light of recent court cases that involved law suits brought against doctors for malpractice.

But as grand as this physician’s deeds were, there is another One, far greater who daily performs spiritual CPR as He breathes upon humanity His “Kiss of Life.” The Bible provides at least five examples of when God breathed out His best.

The first divine kiss appears early in the pages of Scripture. In Genesis 2:7, we read, The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (NIV). The Hebrew word that is translated “soul” or “being” is nephesh and denotes a complete person. All of us derive our lives directly from God. Without His breath we are lifeless and incomplete.

James Kidd, a New York recluse, vanished many years ago, leaving only a hand-written will. It directed that his estate, valued at more than $200,000 be given to anyone who could prove that his soul existed. A college professor from Mount San Antonio Jr. College presented a foot-thick manuscript to the court of Judge Robert Myers of Phoenix, Arizona in the summer of 1967. It was supposed to prove the existence of the soul and net the prof all that dough. Well it was never announced how the case came out. Perhaps the judge is still reading the manuscript! In any case, as far as the existence of the soul is concerned, the matter was settled long ago. The fact of the existence of the soul was settled in the Creation.

Man is unique. He is what he is because God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. This “breath” makes man a spiritual being. Consider Job 32:8: But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.” We are far more than an animal. God imparted his moral, intellectual, and creative self into us when he breathed into our nostrils. We are made in His image!

John bishop tells of a man riding his bicycle along the shores of a lake when he heard a boy screaming for help. He was thrashing helplessly in the water, about to drown. So the man swam out and brought him to the beach, where for ten minutes he gave him CPR—the kiss of life. When the boy revived, he looked up into the face of his rescuer and said, “Thank you sir, for saving my life.” And the man responded, “That’s all right, son, just live your life as though it was worth saving.” Not bad advice for all of us. In creation, God planted Hid kiss upon us. He had great plans for us. And now it is incumbent upon us to live as though we were worth creating.

The second example of divine exhalation has to do with the inspiration of the Bible. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he wrote, All Scripture is God-breathed (3:16). And Peter, in his second epistle, wrote, …men of God spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (1:21).

God breathed out his thoughts upon the minds, hearts, and personalities of certain godly men to give us the Scriptures. Here is a family living in Michigan. A son grows up and moves to California. Once a month his mother writes him a long letter, revealing the things that are happening at home, as well as the thoughts of her own heart. She tells of the sickness in his family, the death of a neighbor, the birth of a new baby, and the wedding of friends. We call this a “human revelation.” When God wanted to send a message to His human family, He breathed on holy men of old and inspired them to write the Bible. This is called “divine revelation.” God revealed how the world was made and then He put His own great thoughts in the Book as well. Thank God for His “kiss of life” upon these men of old. The Bible tells the history of mankind and the story of the Babe who was born to die. It tells of a man’s sin and God’s great love for sinners. It tells of a man’s power of choice and his opportunity for salvation. It tells us about heaven and about hell. It tells us how to treat one another. What a marvelous Book! What a glorious message! And no wonder. It is God-breathed.