Tabitha’s Miracle

On a daily basis, we encounter different sorts of miracles. Even to wake up itself is a miracle most of us fail to acknowledge. We are daily surrounded by different miracles; from the little answered prayers, to the heart desires that are met, to the sicknesses that are healed, among many others, we should learn to count our miracles. Sometimes, we fail to appreciate the miracles in our lives because we fail to consider those things as miracles. In the early church, the dependence on God was so great that they encountered diverse instances where only God could have done those things. From miraculous rescues, healing the sick, raising the dead, encounters with great personalities and many others,the church thrived under the knowledge that God is working through them. At that time, the church in Joppa faced a challenge. They sent for Peter and their challenge became their testimony.

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. (Acts 9:40)

The apostle Peter travelled around strengthening the churches. He went to Lydda where Aeneas was miraculously healed. There was another group of disciples in another city close to Lydda known as Joppa. In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor (‭Acts 9:36). Tabitha had a good reputation and obviously she was so much loved by the church. According to Acts 9:37-38, about that time that Peter was doing his church tours, Tabitha also became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” Tabitha’s death was a major loss to the church. The church wasn’t ready to let go. In fact, they requested for Peter to come around. When Peter arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them (Acts 9:39). Tabitha’s life had been a miracle. She had constantly provided the needs of the widows.

The widows needed a miracle. They had lost their spouses and Tabitha had been a source of inspiration for them. She had also provided their needs. Their tears were legitimate, they wanted Tabitha alive. Peter might have been moved by the testimonies concerning Tabitha. He sent the widows all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, Peter said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up (Acts 9:40). The dead woman was raised from the dead. A great miracle happened in Joppa. Peter took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive (Acts 9:41). This miraculous encounter would have brought joy to all the believers in Joppa. Other than the joy it brought to the church, this miracle also became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord (Acts 9:42). When miracles happen, lives are transformed and many people are turned to the Lord.

Imagine the next church service in Joppa after Tabitha’s miraculous restoration. The meeting place would have been full. Many people who were skeptical about the Jesus movement would have believed and joined the church. Tabitha’s testimony was enough to send a message to them. Whenever believers experience miracles, it is not just for them but to make known the power of God to others. Pray for daily doses of miracles,  and pray that each miracle will draw someone closer to the Lord.

Persecution and miraculous release

Have you ever discovered your ability to do something new? What was your reaction towards it? For most of us, when we find a new passion, we spend quality time improving it or working to make it better. Some people spend sleepless nights on their hobbies. For some, it could even be playing games on the computer. As mundane as this activity is, it is able to take quality time away from doing other important things. Players are always in a hurry to be engaged on the computer. Whatever joy and satisfaction they derive from playing games is enough to keep them glued on their seats for hours. There are many other activities that also engage participants and people involved for hours. But, we need to be mindful that whatever is taking our time is worth the sacrifice. Time is money, it is precious and when lost, it cannot be recouped. Therefore let whatever engages you, be important enough to merit your attention. Let’s consider how the disciples used their time for something they believed was worth dying for.

They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”‭ (Acts 5:18-20).

The arrival of the Holy Spirit came with power for ministry.  The disciples filled with the Holy Spirit performed many signs and wonders among the people. They knew that they were being watched by the Sanhedrin, yet, they were so bold and determined to spread the message of the gospel. The arrest of Peter and John and the subsequent warnings they received to stop preaching in the name of Jesus did not hinder them. They were so zealous and ready to let everyone know about Jesus. It is important to note that, although their ministry was no threat to the life of anyone, the Sanhedrin still took it upon themselves to crush this ministry. According to Luke’s account in Acts 5:17, the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. The disciples’ fame was something the ruling party couldn’t deal with. Therefore, they decided to crush the disciples at all cost. In their desperation, the Sanhedrin arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail (Acts 5:18). This act of persecution was meant to weaken the apostles and bring fear in them. However,  the bars and the walls of the prison were not enough to hinder the apostles from their passion.

As they kept the apostles in prison,  something miraculous happened. During the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. The angel told them this: “Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people all about this new life.”‭ (Acts 5:19-20). The apostles, passionate about their new ministry, did not delay. At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” ‭(Acts 5:21-23). This report might have taken the Sanhedrin by surprise. If the guards are still on guard and the jail is still securely locked, then how did the apostles escape? The Sanhedrin thought they were crushing a human movement but they missed the point that they were fighting God’s purpose. As they pondered over how the apostles had escaped under guard and lock, someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” ‭(Acts 5:25). The apostles had gone back to do the same thing that landed them in jail.

The wise counsel from Gamaliel led to the release of the apostles. Gamaliel’s counsel was this: “Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (‭Acts 5:38-39). Even after being flogged and warned not to speak in the name of Jesus, the Apostles just rejoiced and “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” (‭Acts 5:42).

Like the apostles, we have been called to proclaim the message of the cross to the world. Even when we are persecuted and mocked, our passion for the task remains the same: Jesus is Lord and Saviour of the world. We are passionate about letting the world know this!

Justify your inclusion

When I was little, during inter-schools sports competition, there were training sessions that were aimed at selecting the best people for each activity. These sessions are usually named “Justify your inclusion.” I realized that for the ‘Justify your inclusion’ training sessions, the players give out their best and try as much as possible to please their coaches. Similarly, every interview is an opportunity for the applicant to justify their inclusion. Each person who is invited for an interview puts up their best to make an impression. In the Bible, a Greek woman proved to Jesus that although she wasn’t a Jew, she had good justifiable reasons to benefit from the miracles of Jesus.

“Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:28‬)‬‬

Jesus went to the vicinity of Tyre and a Greek woman who heard about Jesus’ presence came to present a petition. This woman’s little daughter, possessed by an impure spirit, came and fell at Jesus’s feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter (‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:25‭-‬26‬). This was Jesus’ response to her; “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”‭‭ (Mark‬ ‭7:27‬). The woman’s reply was this, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”‭‭ (Mark‬ ‭7:28‬). Jesus, shocked by her reply said “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone (Mark‬ ‭7:29‭-‬30‬). What lessons can we learn from this story?

Do not be quick to anger: My first impression after reading this story for the first time was this: “Did Jesus compare the miracle performed for non-Jews to tossing the children’s bread to the dog?” Infact, I had to pause and reread a couple of times to make sense of it. Imagine the woman who received the message at first hand, she understood the implications of this message but she wasn’t perturbed. She wasn’t angry, she didn’t show signs of feeling rejected. All she did was to justify her inclusion in the miracles of Jesus. How we deal with very sensitive matters can worsen the case or calm nerves. If the Syrophoenician woman had replied in anger, her daughter’s case would have remained the same. ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19:11‬ ‭state that “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” The woman wasn’t offended at all and the result was that her patience led to her receiving her miracle.

Give reasonable reply: Imagine if you were the one Jesus told, “First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”‭‭ What would have been your response? I think I might not have been so reasonable as the Syrophoenician woman. Sometimes, the best we can do to mitigate any situation is to give a reasonable reply not with malice intent. The woman’s reply, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” was a perfect response. Jesus amazed by her response told her “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”‭‭ (Mark‬ ‭7:29‬). Suddenly, the woman’s daughter received a miracle. ‭‭Mark‬ 7:30‬ states that when the woman went home, she found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.

Your faith should depend on Jesus not what you see: “What you see is what you get” in computing means the display on the screen is what you get in print. This is good enough for computing language but not for a believer. Faith teaches us that you don’t need to see it to get it. You just need to have the assurance of what your heart and spirit yearn for. The woman’s faith from the recovery of her daughter was in Jesus not any other thing. Irrespective of what she heard from Jesus, she still knew that Jesus had the power to make her daughter well. She saw a hesitant miracle worker but her faith was over Jesus’ hesitation. She saw discrimination based on nationality but her faith was in Jesus. She heard the allusion to children and dogs but her faith was in Jesus. Sometimes, when we hear certain information, our faith dies totally. We fail to believe that Jesus is the Lord over everything. You might be seeing a fragile body but the Bible says, we are healed by His stripes. Your account might be empty but scripture reminds us that Jesus became poor so we might be rich. What you see now is not your situation. Put faith over fear and rise above your worries because you are a child of God.

Submit to the Lord always: What do you do if your wil do not align to God’s will? The answer is, “You submit to the will of God.” We don’t submit when it favours us alone. We have to submit all the time whether it favours us or not. We learn from the Syrophoenician woman that submission to the Lord is an important aspect of our faith journey. She submitted to Jesus’ Lordship, authority and power. When Jesus told her to go because the demon had left her daughter, she didn’t argue and she didn’t ask for a sign. She just did as she was told and her daughter was well by the time she got home. The miracle meant for the children was passed on to the Gentiles because the woman justified her inclusion through her submission.

Jesus is still in the miracle business but He doesn’t work on our terms. As you trust Him to change your life, be willing to stay under His feet in all humility as you await your elevation. May God help us.

Mary: The mother of John Mark

The beginning of the church was not without persecution. In fact, the church’s persecution was initiated by the religious leaders who also orchestrated the death of Jesus Christ. In Acts 7, Stephen, an ordained deacon, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5) became the first martyr of the church. After Stephen, Herod also arrested James (one of the twelve apostles), the brother of John and put him to death with the sword. When Herod saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also during the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Acts 12:2‭-‬3). Imagine the fright and the fear within the church. The church was yet to recover from the death of James. Before they could recover from the shock, another apostle was arrested. If the church had thought of ways to rescue Peter, they possibly did not consider physically breaking the jail. After Herod arrested Peter, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each with the intention to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover (Acts 12:4). In this post, we will consider a woman who opened her house to the church during such a difficult period.

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. (Acts 12:12)

Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, was one of the early believers of Jesus. We are not told when Mary became a believer but let’s consider two possibilities: first, Mary could have been one of the many women who had followed Jesus while He was on earth and second Mary could have come to faith through her son John Mark. Often called Mark, John Mark was the author of the gospel of Mark and believed to be the young man reported in Mark’s account of the arrest of Jesus: “A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.” (Mark 14:51‭-‬52). Mark was instrumental in the early church and thus, like to have contributed to the conversion of his family. Mary’s faith was practical; in the midst of intense persecution against the church, she was fearless enough to open her house to the church for meetings. So, while Herod kept Peter captive in prison, the church was earnestly praying to God for him (Acts 12:5). Meeting in the house of Mary, earnest and fervent prayers were made.

These would have been quite emotional meetings. Herod had just killed James and proceeded to arrest Peter. Both James and Peter were core members and leaders of the church. Mary’s home might have been a popular place for cell meetings. However, this time around, it was the place of intercessory prayers. While the church prayed, Peter miraculously escaped from prison. Peter’s escape was so miraculous that at first, Peter thought he was seeing a vision. When it dawned on Peter that he was in no vision but he had been rescued, he said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” (Acts 12:11). When this had dawned on him, Peter’s first point of call was “the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying” (Acts 12:12).

Peter could have been killed by Herod just like James if the believers had failed to pray. However, Mary’s home became a house of prayer. Intercessory prayers were poured out by the believers and God listened to their prayers. Imagine if all the believers had shut off their homes for fear of Herod, they wouldn’t have been a place for corporate prayers. Remember, there were no virtual platforms to host online prayer meetings in the 1st century. The moment of this prayer was a difficult period for the church. Thus, meeting for this prayer meeting was also an avenue to strengthen one another and encourage one another.
Mary’s home cell meeting saw miracles that even led to commotion among the soldiers. When we open our homes to other believers, the priority should be to build up one another, to edify each other and intercede for one another. However, we are more likely to engage in fruitless conversations when we meet up with fellow believers in our homes than to spend time building one another. Maybe, we need to make some changes. Let’s consider ways to be a blessing to each other when we meet. Less talking and more building up!

The crippled woman in the synagogue

The women in the Bible experienced the challenges we face in our days. Sicknesses and body frailty was common as it is in the 21st century. However, the technological advances we have seen in the 21st century has made life easier in certain ways. Some of Sicknesses that rendered people unclean in the olden days have now become easier to cure. We bless God for the wisdom given to men to bring advances that have made life more comfortable. Imagine living in a generation without x-rays and scans and having issues with your bones that cannot be fixed by physicians. How would you feel if you have experienced a certain health condition for eighteen years and suddenly become well? This is the story of one woman who encountered Jesus and went back home whole. She left home as a sick woman and returned as the woman who has been made whole.

and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. (Luke 13:11)

One day, Jesus went to the synagogue to teach on  Sabbath. There Jesus encountered a woman whose story He changed for good.  According to Luke 13:11, the day Jesus went to the synagogue to teach, “a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.” For eighteen years of the life of this woman a spirit had crippled her. How can medication cure spiritual illnesses? Thus, there was no way this woman would have received her healing from medical treatments. The root of her sickness wasn’t a broken bone, the root of her sickness was a spirit holding her captive. Imagine the number of physicians who would have tried to help. Imagine the amount of money this woman would have wasted in the eighteen years trying to look for help but the sickness remained. When Jesus saw this woman, He saw a woman in bondage. Jesus couldn’t watch the evil spirit dominate a daughter of God. First Jesus called this woman to come to Him and He said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” (Luke 13:12 NKJV). Jesus laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God (Luke 13:13 NKJV).

This astounding miracle was so visible because all the people who had known this woman for the past eighteen years knew her as the crippled woman. She was happy and she gave the glory to God. You expect that this miracle would have brought joy in the synagogue. However, not everyone was happy about the miracle that happened. The ruler of the synagogue wasn’t happy that Jesus had performed the miracle on the Sabbath. Luke 13: 14 (NKJV) states this, “But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” Imagine the shock on the face of the woman. Her local Pastor (synagogue leader) who probably had prayed with her for the past eighteen years or less wasn’t happy that she was made well. More worrying was the reason given by this synagogue leader: that the Sabbath is not a day for God to work a miracle! The synagogue leader and the other Jewish leaders held to this view so much that they had several clashes with Jesus over the Sabbath. 

This was the reply of Jesus to the synagogue leader: “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” (Luke 13:15‭-‬16 NKJV). In one of Jesus’ encounters with the Jewish leaders concerning the Sabbath,  He said that the Sabbath was made for man but man wasn’t made for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). God does not cease to perform miracles on Sabbath. In fact, the Sabbath was God’s own way to help humanity understand rest. And Jesus said that He is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). If man is so kind enough to feed animals and rescue stray animals on Sabbath, what of the Creator of man?

God works everyday, but there is always a specific day, an opportune time and a moment for miracles. If we stop going to church because of infirmities and challenges, the spirit behind these things only gets stronger and more powerful. Imagine if the woman had missed going to the synagogue on that particular Sabbath, she would have ultimately missed her miracle. For eighteen years, the woman who was bent managed to go to the synagogue until she met Jesus. There will always be people like the synagogue leader who will make life uncomfortable but remember, Jesus has never left His church. Maybe you haven’t met Him yet. Don’t quit, maybe next Sunday is your big miracle!

Simon’s mother-in-law

The visible manifestation of power characterized the ministry of Jesus. He healed the sick, raised the death, had power over nature and taught the word of God with power and boldness. The followers of Jesus received their miracles and they saw others receive their miracles as well. Jesus taught as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law and the people were amazed at his teaching (Mark 1:22). As the people experienced the phenomenal encounters of Jesus’ ministry, they were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” News about Jesus spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee (Mark 1:27‭-‬28). The people Jesus chose to be His apostles also had their own share of miracles. From abundant catch of fish, multiplication of food, a massive transformation of mindset among many others, Jesus turned ordinary Jewish young men to generational changers. Imagine the impact of the transformation. Two thousand years later, the message of Jesus is still transforming lives. Simon Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus, encountered miracles right in his house.

Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. (Mark 1:30)

Jesus had gone to the synagogue to teach. There, He had delivered a man from impure spirit. From the synagogue, Jesus and His team went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. When they got to the house, Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her (Mark 1:29‭-‬30). The apostles had just encountered a miracle in the synagogue. The Bible does not indicate whether Simon’s mother-in-law believed in Jesus or not. She was sick with fever and she needed help. The woman did not reject the help from Jesus and the apostles told Jesus immediately about the condition of the woman. Their response to the sickness wasn’t that of delay, they were quick to alert Jesus about the woman’s need for a miracle.

Sometimes, believers consider Jesus as the last resort. We go to Him when medical expertise fails us. I don’t disapprove of anyone seeking medical attention. The point being made here is that Jesus should be involved in every situation. When we go to the doctor’s, we should pray for God’s wisdom for them to be able to diagnose well and give the best prescription. While we take medication, we still pray for God’s intervention. Simon’s mother-in-law probably had taken medication prior to the arrival of Jesus. But, the fever was still there. Remember, Jesus would have been aware of the state of Simon’s mother-in-law but He made a move when the people informed Him. Until He was informed, nothing happened. When Jesus was notified, Mark 1:31 states that He went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. The woman who was sick and laid on the bed received strength to serve Jesus and His followers. The sickness left her body at once. She was made whole again. What a joy this miracle would have brought to the family. No wonder a ripple effect of miracles followed that evening. “That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.” (Mark 1:32‭-‬34).

Jesus is still in the business of miracles. There is power in His name to heal every form of sickness. Instead of turning to Jesus as our last alternative, let’s make Him the first. May we receive mind-blowing testimonies as we commit our ways to Him.

The widow of Nain: Divine restoration

Divine restoration is one of the themes that runs through the ministry of Jesus. When one receives Divine restoration, something that was lost is returned back to its original state. Jesus made it clear in His ministry that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10; Matthew 18:11). Bringing the lost back to their old state is the divine restoration. Jesus also performed amazing miracles such as healing the sick and raising the dead back to life. These miracles were very significant to the people who benefited from it. Also, Jesus’ fame spread far and wide because the testimonies of these miracles were shared in the surrounding towns and cities. One beneficiary of such an extraordinary encounter was a widow. This woman would be referred to as the widow of Nain because her real name was not mentioned in the Bible. Nain is only mentioned in the Bible in connection with the miraculous encounter between Jesus and the restoration of the son of the widow.

As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. (Luke 7:12)

According to the gospel of Luke, Jesus’ encounter in Nain happened sometime after the miraculous restoration of the servant of the centurion. Jesus and His disciples went to a town called Nain, and a large crowd went along with him (Luke 7:11). Obviously the fame of Jesus had spread abroad so everywhere He went, people followed Him to catch a glimpse of God’s power at work. Luke 7:12 states that, as Jesus approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out and this dead person was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Following the widow and the bier carrying the dead son was a large crowd from the town. Imagine the pain of this widow. She had lost her husband and now her only son was dead. Thus, her lineage was at risk of being cut off. Who would extend her lineage? The only lamp of hers had been snuffed off. The widow would have been extremely sad and hopeless. Walking behind the bier, this widow would have questioned God and her faith in the God of Israel.

The people walking along with her might have tried to comfort this widow. Her pain might have touched the heart of the town. She had no husband and no one to take care of her. In this very sad and hopeless situation, Jesus intercepted the bier carriers. When Jesus saw the widow, His heart went out to her (compassionate) and He said, “Don’t cry.” (Luke 7:13). At that instant, Jesus’ words might have calmed the widow briefly but she would have still been sad within her. The widow might have heard of the fame of Jesus or she might have not. However, she allowed Jesus to intercept her mourning. She didn’t rant at Jesus for interrupting the funeral of her son. Sometimes, we need to leave the situation into the hands of Jesus and allow Him to interrupt our own plans. The plan for this funeral was to carry the dead man and to bury Him. That was not the plan of Jesus. If the widow had stuck to her own plan, she would have missed the perfect miracle. Our plans without God could potentially lead to doom.

Jesus went up and touched the bier they were carrying the dead man on, and the bearers stood still. Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother (Luke 7:14‭-‬15). Imagine the shock and the happiness! The man was being carried to the grave but Jesus gave a change of trajectory. The dead man was restored back to life and instead of the grave, he went back home with his mother.
This was no small encounter. The people were all filled with awe and praised God saying: “A great prophet has appeared among us. God has come to help his people.” And this news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country (Luke 7:16‭-‬17). The power of Jesus brought divine restoration to the hopeless widow.

Nothing is impossible for the Lord. If we give Him the first place in our plans, and allow Him to interfere with our plans, His results are always mind-blowing testimonies. Remember, until the widow met Jesus, her son remained dead. But, after she encountered Jesus and allowed Him to take charge of the situation, the story changed. Who is in charge of your life? Who is driving the affairs of your life? Jesus or you?

The Syrophoenician woman: Faith that restores

The ministry of Jesus was filled with extraordinary miracles. Most of Jesus’ earthly ministry was done in Jewish communities. He went to places such as Samaria and the Decapolis but all these places had the presence of Jewish people. His miraculous power was at work at all the places He went. In one of Jesus’ ministry days, he encountered a Canaanite woman whose faith Jesus recommended to his disciples. The Bible doesn’t mention the name of this woman. She is referred mainly as a Canaanite woman or the Syrophoenician woman. This woman understood that her daughter’s challenges could be resolved if only Jesus is willing to help. She might have heard of the miraculous power of Jesus through the different narratives people would have shared about Jesus. She heard that Jesus was in her neighbourhood and she wisely took advantage of it.

Jesus had explained to his disciples on things that defile (Matthew 15:1- 20; Mark 7:1-23). The Pharisees and some teachers of the Law had accused the disciples of Jesus for eating with unwashed hands. Jesus later explained to his disciples about being really defiled. In Mark 7: 21-23, Jesus says: “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” This explanation might have seemed new to these Jewish disciples because their understanding of defilement even included associations with non-Jewish and people tagged as sinners. No wonder the leaders of the people were surprised to see Jesus feast with tax collectors. After this encounter with the religious people, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. (Matthew 15:21). There, He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret (Mark 7:24).

Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” (Matthew 15:27)

According to Mark 7:25-26, as soon as the Syrophoenician woman heard about Him, She came and fell at His feet. The woman’s little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia and thus a Syrophoenician woman. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. Jesus said to the woman, “First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” (Mark 7:27). This comment relegated the woman to the margins. She didn’t qualify for God’s miracle because she wasn’t a child. I am not sure if Jesus was testing her faith but the woman clearly wasn’t disturbed by this comment. She had heard so much about Jesus and she wouldn’t let go. She replied Jesus, “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” (Matthew 15:27). In her response, she acknowledged that Jesus is right about first giving the children’s food to the children. Then she said the dogs lying under the table get the opportunity to eat the crumbs that fall from the table.

Her reply amazed Jesus. The woman understood that every entity close to the master’s table has a chance to enjoy, whether the main meal or the crumbs. Jesus had just explained defilement to His disciples prior to this encounter. In fact, the religious Jews would stay away from foreigners so they would not be defiled by the practices of these foreigners. Jesus had redefined defilement and the Syrophoenician woman’s strong faith would have demonstrated to the disciples that even the foreigner has access to God’s presence. Jesus replied to the woman and said, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter” and she went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone (Mark 7:29‭-‬30). The Syrophoenician woman received an instant miracle for her daughter because of her persevering faith. She wasn’t moved by the religious barrier. She understood that religiosity could only hinder her from assessing the master’s table. Her faith was in the channel of power (Jesus) not the limitations of her race.

We need to understand that God loves the world but He doesn’t force Himself on anyone. Whosoever believes in His Son Jesus and accepts Jesus as their Lord and Saviour has accessed eternal life. When we come to Christ, we need to understand that we need faith to tap into the storehouses of the kingdom. There are times that we would face barriers but we should keep pressing. We need persevering faith. If it doesn’t happen today, we shouldn’t pack our bags and leave. We need to push through with perseverance. Remember, that the Master’s table has all sorts of goodness but you need to be seated around, or even be under the table to benefit from it. Yet to all who did receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God (see John 1:12). Let us go confidently to the Lord’s table, understanding that what defiles us is not our past but the evil that comes from our hearts. Therefore rend your hearts not your garments and return to the Lord (Joel 2:13).

The woman with the issue of blood: Perseverance and Faith

The power of Jesus to heal and restore is not limited to selected few. Whosoever comes to Jesus with genuine desire to encounter His power will definitely encounter God’s power. Many times, we seek to hoard the power of God believing that God can be constrained in our hearts alone while others run about seeking for Him. The Omnipotent God cannot be constrained in His dealing. Therefore whenever you find the power of God at work in your neighbourhood, know that Jesus is able to enter your abode too. Make every opportunity count. Your blessings will drop to you when you least expect. The power of God is still at work! In the previous post, we saw how Jairus ran to Jesus to seek His power to restore his daughter. While Jesus was on the way to the house of Jairus, another person genuinely seeking for the miraculous power of Jesus intercepted them.

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
(Matthew 9:20‭-‬21)

This woman had a huge need and she might have heard of the miraculous power of Jesus and she did the impossible. The Bible doesn’t mention her name but she is widely referred to as the woman with the issue of blood. Maybe the people within and without her neighbourhoods knew her as the woman with the issue of blood. Her condition would have rendered her unclean and as such it was a risk she took to come close to Jesus. This story is recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Mark. Let’s consider Mark’s account: “And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” (Mark 5:25‭-‬29)

First we need to understand that this woman tried to fix her situation with medical power. Medicine and the advancement of science is good. We bless God for Doctors and all the health professionals. However, this woman’s pain couldn’t be curtailed by doctors. Instead of getting better, she got worse and poorer because she had to spend all her money (Mark 5:27). This woman understood that Jesus carried power that is beyond medicine. She also understood that if Jesus is the custodian of power, then by her faith, she can tap into this power by just touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. Remember, there were many other people pressing on Jesus but none had this spiritual instinct that Jesus embodies power and a touch of His clothes can release power. I am sure the disciples who had been with Jesus all these while had at that time not thought of the possibility of touching Jesus’ garment as a conduit for power to be released.

God honoured the faith and perseverance of this woman. As soon as she touched Jesus’ clothes, her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering (Mark 5:29). Not only that, even Jesus felt that power had left Him to another: At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” (Mark 5:30). The disciples showed their ignorance of the principle used by this woman and answered Jesus: “You see the people crowding against you, and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” (Mark 5:31). In other words, they were puzzled that Jesus made such a statement. The woman knew what had happened, Jesus knew what had happened but the disciples failed to see. Jesus knew someone had received the power that left Him and He kept looking around to see who had done it. The woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” (Mark 5:32‭-‬34).

Imagine all the people in the crowd looking forward to seeing the celebrity Jesus. They were just interested in following Him. Even the disciples didn’t know that the power in Jesus was transferable by a positioned faith ready to receive. Even the head of the synagogue, Jairus didn’t know that Jesus could have just spoken and the power would have gone ahead to heal his daughter. Thankfully, the Roman centurion knew that:
So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” (Luke 7:6‭-‬9).

Jesus is clearly in the neighbourhood. Don’t just run to see a celebrity Jesus. Run to have an encounter with the Man of Power. Your faith and perseverance will propel you from behind the crowd to be a recipient of power. Don’t miss this powerful encounter. May your faith tap the power of Jesus and you will never remain the same.

Jairus Daughter: The dead shall live again!

The demonstration of power was strongly manifested in the life and ministry of Jesus. Everywhere Jesus went while he was on earth, there was massive transformation in the society. Many people came to experience the kingdom of God through the transformative messages of Jesus. Many others received their miracles and even some people had their dead members brought back to life. Jesus traveled with the message of the kingdom of God. One thing we see in Jesus’ ministry was the powerful ways He demonstrated authority over the seen and the unseen. Throughout the ministry of Jesus, He was strongly opposed by the religious leaders and it was the religious leaders who sent Him to be crucified. However, some of the religious leaders also believed in Jesus’ ministry. John chapter 3 shows a powerful conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus (he was a teacher of the law). We encounter in the gospels Joseph of Arimethea who went for Jesus’ body from Pilate and buried it in his own tomb. One other religious leader who showed his trust in Jesus was a man named Jairus.

While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” (Matthew 9:18)

According to the gospels of Matthew and Mark, Jairus was a synagogue leader. Jairus had heard of the works of Jesus and he believed that Jesus could restore his daughter to life. Jairus’ daughter was sick and at the point of death. She was very weak and the physicians declared her hopeless. However, her father did not give up on her. Jairus knew that Jesus could help his daughter. Matthew and Mark record how Jairus came to Jesus to ask for help.
Matthew 9:19 says this: While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”
Mark 5:22-23 says this: Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”
Jairus’s daughter had been declared dead according to Matthew’s account, yet Jairus went to Jesus because he knew Jesus has power over life and death. Jesus did not refuse Jairus but Jesus went with Jairus and a large crowd followed and pressed around Jesus (Mark 5:24).

When Jesus went into the house of Jairus, the professional mourners were already playing their pipes and there was a noisy crowd wailing (Matthew 9: 23). When Jesus said “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep”, the crowd laughed at Him (Matthew 9:24). Jesus took with Him Peter, James and John the brother of James and the child’s parents and went in where the child was (Mark 5:37‭, ‬40). As Jesus came to where the girl was laid, “He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.” (Mark 5:41‭-‬43).

Jairus’ daughter was back to life. Indeed the dead shall live again. This incident wouldn’t have been a secret as the people in the neighbourhood who saw her dead could testify to this phenomenal miracle. Throughout her life, the grown up Jairus’ daughter would have been a symbol of the miraculous power of Jesus. Her life would have been a living testimony of the power of God. If she had married and had children, her descendants would have known her significant miracle of divine restoration. Jesus’ ministry was for three and half years but living testimonies such as the daughter of Jairus would have been too significant to be ignored.

As we consider the tremendous miracle of divine restoration, I pray that God restore unto you every dead situation. It is time for us to check out the mockers and naysayers. They can hinder our faith and cause us to miss our miracles. Like Jairus, go to Jesus even when all hope is lost and people have given up on you. Jesus will never give up on us.