Jesus amazes us

He went in and said to them, ‘Why all this confusion? Why are you crying? The child is not dead – she is only sleeping!’
They started making fun of him, so he put them all out, took the child’s father and mother and his three disciples, and went into the room where the child was lying. He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha, koum’, which means, ‘Little girl, I tell you to get up!’
She got up at once and started walking around. (She was twelve years old.) When this happened, they were completely amazed.   (verses 39-42)

Read Mark 5:21-43

Amazed! Surely! Who wouldn’t be? A dead person had been restored to life. A miracle had happened in the girl’s bedroom. She was alive again. What a turnaround for the parents. Their tears, their confusion, their prayers, their loss of hope were turned into amazement, surprise, astonishment. A child’s death is such a tragedy. It seems so much more unfair when the child is loved and the parents are sincere, devout people. This girl’s father was a religious leader.

Jesus changed everything. He opened the way of hope for the parents and the way of life for the girl.

When has Jesus amazed you? Has his goodness ever astonished you? Has he opened the way of hope, the way of life for you? He has done that for countless people down through the ages and still does it today. Jesus came to give us life in all its fullness. May he go on filling your life.

Lord Jesus, amaze me with your love. Restore my hope, direct my life and fill me with your fullness. Amen.

by Bob Turnbull, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)

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