“For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.” Psalm 86:10

There is something about the word marvelous that I like and yet do not say. Maybe because the word seems reserved for what is not ordinary. When I read it this morning, I thought that our world is in need of a “great and marvelous deed” that only our God can do. The number of people getting sick and those dying keeps rising and rising. Will keeping our distance and staying home make it stop? Will the people in those jobs deemed necessary remain healthy?

We are in need of healing and are desperately asking God to do a marvelous deed in our day. He’s done it many times before, He can do it again. There was a time when Jesus was surrounded by a lot of people, but one man made his way to Him, “and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet.” (Mark 5:21). He was a synagogue leader and his little girl was not well. He made a bold request. “Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” (vs. 22). With all the people wanting His attention, He agreed to go to this man’s home. And I love that on the way, a woman who had been suffering for twelve years was also healed (vs. 25-34). I wonder what is being healed during our day as we journey towards the goal, ending this virus?

Before Jesus and Jairus got back to his home, news came that his daughter had died. Words of Jairus are not recorded, but Jesus’s are. He said, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (vs. 36). This was a defining moment in my opinion. One where Jairus could stop believing and turn Jesus away or follow the feet he had just bowed before. He chose to follow. He would share being laughed at by the people who were previously crying outside his home. They laughed because Jesus said, “The child is not dead but asleep.” (vs. 39). How could their emotions change so quickly? Perhaps they did not know who they were laughing at, but they soon would. The perfect setup for a marvelous deed!

Just the parents and His disciples, that had come along, were allowed to see what would happen next. “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).” (vs. 41-42). For all the years of this child’s life, the woman had suffered, but both were healed on the same day. What a day that had to have been! We could use one of these days.

After seeing such a miracle, I wonder how Jairus’ job was impacted at the synagogue? How could you go back to normal after you had been face to face with the One you worship? Also, what about this woman and little girl? How were the rest of their days lived out after such an encounter? I can only speak from being spiritually dead, but once you are born again, you are never the same. And when you have suffered, for what seems like a lifetime, but come to know Jesus in an even deeper way, you can say it is worth it. I would have to say, “My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You.” (Job 42:5). He is so much more than I ever imagined, and closer than I can comprehend.

When I hear of people suffering today with the Coronavirus, I pray for their healing. I ask the Lord to give them another chance at living. For those who do not yet know Him, I ask the Lord to give them another chance. I ask for Him to let them borrow the breath that He breathed into them for just a bit longer. Give them enough time to fall at His feet, confessing that He was born, crucified for our sin and rose again. Believe that He will return, after He gets our home ready. I ask that today be a day of marvelous deeds. Will you join me?

*This is a picture of one of our boys who accepted Jesus’ invitation to be born again a year ago yesterday. This was indeed marvelous!