Friday 5 October 2012

Day #27 - Jesus' Miracles: new life



Day 27
Jesus’ Miracles: new life
Read: Luke 7:11-15; 8: 41-42, 49-56

Jesus’ miracles demonstrated his power, He is Lord over nature, sickness, and sin; but for us humans’ death is the ultimate test. Prolific author Max Lucado tells us: “You see if God is God anywhere he has to be God in the face of death . . . psychology can deal with depression.  Pep talks can deal with pessimism.  Prosperity can handle hunger.  But only God can deal with our ultimate dilemma, death.”

The two of the three miracles in today’s readings give a “prophetic forecast” of Jesus’ own resurrection and the “great Christian hope”, the resurrection of the dead. A young man is raised to life during his own funeral (7:11-15), a young girl’s dead body arises to life (8:49-56) – both resurrections occur because Jesus “speaks them back to life.”   The greatest miracle is yet to come.  Our bodies are decaying, but will one day be renewed.   Death is not final.  Suffering is not in vain.   Jesus’ resurrection miracles give us hope for the future.  There will be no more pain, suffering or death in the world to come for those who believe in Jesus. Christian hope is a resurrection faith.
When Jesus was preparing to speak Lazarus back to life, he declared to the grieving sisters; “I am the resurrection and the life.   Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25). He asked Martha the critical question, “Do you believe this?”  Jesus: prince over life and Lord over death is the creator of new life.
Ponder Point (reflect)
  • Jesus Prince of Life, Lord over death, lives in me
Consider (respond)
  • How would I answer Jesus’ question to Martha? (Worth thinking about, because “he will ask!”)

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