It was obvious to everyone: the boy was dead.
“And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, [the unclean spirit] came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, ‘He is dead.'” -Mark 9:26
Nice try, Jesus, but this one was too much. Sorry, dad, better start making funeral plans. Sorry, disciples, looks like your man isn’t as magical as you thought. Move along, folks, nothing to see here except a corpse.
…
But Jesus knew something they didn’t.
“Most of them said, ‘He is dead’ … But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.” -Mark 9:26b-27
Jesus knew the boy wasn’t really dead at all. Jesus knew his eyes were about to open and his body was about to rise up stronger than ever before. Jesus knew that even if the boy had died, that wouldn’t have been a problem, either.
Because Jesus makes dead things live again.
Maybe it’s obvious to the bystanders in your life: that thing you hoped for is dead. Maybe in your own heart you gave up on it long ago. Maybe you tried and tried and failed and failed, prayed and prayed and heard nothing at all.
But Jesus makes dead things live again.
The world says that “what’s done is done,” but Jesus makes dead things live again.
The world says that some things you never recover from, but Jesus makes dead things live again.
The world says dead is dead but Jesus conquered death…and He still makes dead things live again.
May you have hope that Jesus is able to work resurrection in your circumstance, and may you have faith to start acting according to what you know is true… Jesus makes dead things live again.
NOTE: I wrote this post on a Wednesday morning, ready to send it out. Then, as I was about to click “Publish,” it was like the Holy Spirit said to me, “This isn’t a blog post for today. This is your sermon for Sunday.”
Praise God for His leading, because after sharing this message, I had so many people tell that, “This was for ME.” I pray this post was a blessing to you, and if you’d like to hear the message, it will be posted online at GatewayGrace.org and can also be found by searching iTunes for “Gateway Grace Fellowship”. I pray it’s a blessing in your life.
