Back To Life

Scripture: Matthew 9:18, 23-26 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

18 As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.” 23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. 24 “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. 25 After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside. Matthew 9:18, 23-26 NLT)

Yesterday’s devotional “She Touched Him” actually happened as Jesus was on his way across town to the home of a synagogue leader whose daughter had died. It’s interesting how many of Jesus’ miracles took place in the middle of something else or on the way to someplace else! Jesus handled interruptions with grace and patience. I’m afraid I’m not quite so gracious and patient with interruptions. Good things happened during Jesus’ interruptions. Maybe if I learned that lesson, some of my interruptions could be “miracle moments!”

Jesus sees things differently than we do. When Jesus and the synagogue leader and the crowd accompanying them reached the official’s home, they encountered another crowd. This was a noisy crowd playing funeral music and weeping and wailing over the girl’s death. Jesus had the noisy mourners put out of the house and said. “She’s not dead; she’s only asleep!” They laughed and mocked him because they knew she was dead. They’d seen it with their own eyes!

I think this is the other lesson for me today: The crowd’s eyes of fact and circumstance saw a dead girl and the only thing to do was to weep and mourn. Jesus’ eyes of faith in God’s power and hope of resurrection life saw a sleeping girl who was about to wake up! Eyes of fear saw hopelessness and death. Eyes of faith saw life and hope. Jesus took her by the hand and she stood up, alive and well!

Prayer:

Father, Even with my glasses on, I too often see a dark and discouraging view of things—things around me, situations in the lives of others I care about. Please correct my vision and help me to see things like Jesus sees them. I choose not to see only circumstance and hopelessness. I determine to look with eyes of faith and see hope and life. By your Spirit, Father, please make it so! In Jesus’ Name!