Luke 8:40–56
Be Still: Holy Spirit I welcome you. Come into my heart, my mind, and my body. Fill me with the life of Jesus today. You are welcome here. Amen
Read: Luke 8:40–56
They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. (v.53)
Encounter: Have you ever laughed inappropriately? There is little more socially excruciating than when you really need to laugh but have to hold it in as it would be inappropriate or wrong in that moment! Sometimes laughter is a gift to break the intensity of a moment, but at other times it is a defence to keep ourselves distanced from the reality in front of us.
In our passage today, there are two extraordinary healings from Jesus - one of which is healing from death itself. Both healings cannot be done by ‘Doctors’ - a detail Dr. Luke makes clear! The healing Jesus brings is on a whole different plane of reality to any earthly power. Once again, we see divine power and identity at play in Jesus’s actions. Yet, the response from some is to laugh!
I think they laughed because what was in front of them was too good. They couldn’t cope with what was before them in the person of Jesus. When he said, ‘she’s, not dead, only asleep’ they laughed at him - he couldn’t possibly be right - ‘our world doesn’t work like that!’. It reminds us of Sarah in Genesis 18 laughing at God-given news she would give birth in her old age, or Zacharias' scepticism in the Temple (Luke 1). There seems to be an ongoing danger of human doubt in response to the goodness and genius of God.
Apply: Is there any way you’re ‘laughing at God’ in this season of your life? Telling him ‘how the world works’ and what is and isn’t possible? Perhaps you’ve distanced yourself from him, or disengaged from him in some area of your life? Receive afresh his goodness and his willingness to heal you and bring about good things in and through you for the sake of the world.
Devote: Jesus, I believe, help my unbelief. Expand and grow my faith in you today. I’m hungry to have more faith and more resilient faith. Faith like the woman and Jairus in this passage.