Girl Restored to Life. How was Jesus able to raise this girl from the dead? What miraculous power did He possess so that even the chains of death could not prevail over Him?
18 While He spoke
these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying,
“My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she
will live.”
Matthew 9:18, NKJV
23 When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, 24 He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. 25 But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went out into all that land.
Matthew 9:23-26, NKJV
See also Mark 5:21-24 & 35-43 and Luke 8:40-42 & 49-55
How was this girl restored to life? How was Jesus able to raise this girl from the dead? What miraculous power did He possess so that even the chains of death could not prevail over Him? Seeing Jesus standing there before them, the people could not see beyond His humanity to realize that He was not just a human, but rather, He was the God Man. It was He who created the heavens and the earth, and it is He of whom Isaiah 44 speaks.
2 Thus says the LORD who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you:
‘ Fear not, O Jacob My servant;
And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
(Isaiah 44:2, NKJV)
24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
And He who formed you from the womb:
“ I am the LORD, who makes all things,
Who stretches out the heavens all alone,
Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;
(Isaiah 44:24, NKJV)
When we think of the girl restored to life, could it be that we have the same problem today? Could it be that we see Jesus as a great man who once walked upon this earth instead of God incarnate--very God and very man!
This Jesus, who lived and died on this earth over 2000 years ago, is
alive today, sitting at the right hand of God the Father. He was
resurrected in the presence of His disciples, and is very much alive
today, interceding for His people.
This same Jesus, who raised this ruler's daughter from the dead
continues to work on behalf of His people. Do we, as children of God,
live as though we believe and understand this, or are we so consumed by
the worries of life that we can hardly walk through each day without a
great deal of doubt and discouragement?
It is time that we, as the people of God, live this life we profess to
have. It is time that we take up the mantle that God has placed upon us
and go forth in His strength and power. Can we do it in and of
ourselves? No! But, the cross that God has placed upon our lives is easy
to bear in the strength and power of the Lord Jesus who willingly bears
it for us!
Isaiah continues the narrative begun in chapter 44 with these words of encouragement in chapter 45:
11 Thus says the LORD,
The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker:
“ Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons;
And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.
12 I have made the earth,
And created man on it.
I—My hands—stretched out the heavens,
And all their host I have commanded.
(Isaiah 45:11-12, New King James Version)
This is the Lord God that we serve! He made the earth, and created man on it. His hands stretched out the heavens, and all their host is under His command. Cannot this same God, then, direct and order the events of our life? Yes! He can, and He does.
Let us go forth boldly, knowing that God created us specifically to do a
work He has ordained for us to do. He created us, and He will equip us
to do that work. Let us not buy into the foolish notions of this world,
believing that we, in our own strength, can order our lives.
The 21st century worldview is man-centered. Man is at the center of his
universe and controls and orders his own life. That, however, is a
foolish lie of Satan. Let us, as the people of God, rise up and serve
our Creator. He who created this world and all of the starry host, is
the only One who can order and maintain our lives according to His
perfect will.
As we review this story of the girl restored to life, let us ask ourselves, Who gives life? God! Who maintains and controls the affairs of this
world? God. For a time, Satan has been allowed to create great havoc on
this earth, but that time is short-lived. The day will come when God
will destroy sin and evil forever, and reign in perfect righteousness
and holiness.
May God hasten the day!
Devotional Reflections from the Bible
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.