Eyes of Faith

Scripture: Luke 8:40-56

49 While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” 50 But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.” 51 When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother. 52 The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” 53 But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. 54 Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!” 55 And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened. (Luke 8:49–56 NLT)

Yesterday’s devotional “She Touched Him” actually happened as Jesus was on his way across town to the home of Jairus, a synagogue leader whose daughter was dying. 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 often 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 us 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, I too often see a discouraging view of things around me, and of situations in the lives of others I care about. Please correct my vision and help me to see things as 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! In Jesus’ Name!