Coyans in the Czech Republic

invitation to a changed life

swathed in miracles

A man came up, Jairus by name. He was president of the meeting place. He fell at Jesus' feet and begged him to come to his home because his twelve-year-old daughter, his only child, was dying. Jesus went with him, making his way through the pushing, jostling crowd.... someone from the leader's house came up and told him, "Your daughter died. No need now to bother the Teacher." Jesus overheard and said, "Don't be upset. Just trust me and everything will be all right." Going into the house, he wouldn't let anyone enter with him except Peter, John, James, and the child's parents. Everyone was crying and carrying on over her. Jesus said, "Don't cry. She didn't die; she's sleeping." They laughed at him. They knew she was dead. Then Jesus, gripping her hand, called, "My dear child, get up." She was up in an instant, up and breathing again! He told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were ecstatic, but Jesus warned them to keep quiet. "Don't tell a soul what happened in this room." Luke 8

I have a 12 year old daughter. I can't imagine what that would be like to see her on her bed...dead. I can't imagine the grief, the terror of facing life with out her. The emptiness. Jairus and his wife had it even worse. They had hope as Jesus was on his way. They had heard about what Jesus had done, the healings and miracles and perhaps they were expectant that as he arrived a miracle would be performed for them as well. Then she died. And all hope vanished. Don't even bother coming...she is gone. There is nothing you can do. Shock dries their mouth. Stomachs twisted to sickness with grief, stinging tears and heaving breaths. They face a future that is bleaker than they imagined. Then Jesus says, "Trust me." Can you imagine the love and compassion in his eyes as he says, "Don't cry. She didn't die...she's only sleeping." They laughed at him. Probably thought he was mocking their pain. And then she got up. She was alive. The joy and relief must have almost crushed them. And the thankfulness. This man, this Jesus, just gave them their daughter back. They were ecstatic. I think that every day after that they must have looked at their daughter and saw in her Jesus. His fingerprints on her. Swathed in His miracles.