Lenten Devotional
In yesterday's reading, we experience more of the teaching of Jesus and less of His power. Today we enter the fullness of Jesus' power of illness, nature and demons. Through this reading, we are face to face with some of the most radical moments in life. Confronted with a real test of faith. Did Jesus heal? Why can no one heal like Jesus today?
Many people rad through these passages of people being healed of terrible illness and afflictions and wonder why none of these are occurring today. Is not cancer just as evil as the bleeding of the women in Matthew 8:20-22? Yet, the women in Matthew just touches the hem of the garment and is healed. Later, Jesus is asked to heal a daughter. When Jesus agrees and leaves for the home, a centurion (her father and requester) tells Jesus not to come but just speak and it will occur. Why not today?
I will admit that this frustrates me many times in life. When I see a young person with an illness and no hope of a cure, I am frustrated. The times I have looked into the face of a person who just sees no hope of release from pain and weakness. Where do we find hope and strength?
Then, I think and pray. I realize that there are miracles all around us. How many people are brought back from the dead every day with the power of CPR? Others are in remission of cancer. Still more are seeing for the first time. We give the credit for these to science. I give credit to God. For without God, the skills, talents and knowledge would be unavailable to us simple humans.
The last point on these is the purpose of the miracles. All of them are performed as moments of demonstration to the people of Jesus' power and position. They are being used in a way of reaching out to others. Even in the Acts of the Apostles, the healing and jail beaks are for others to see the power of God. Now I am lent to ask, am I praying for a personal desire and hope or am I seeking for a demonstration of God's power for people to see? No matter, we have hope in and through Jesus Christ. He has brought and offers new life and strength.
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