Power Had Gone Out from Him
We are living in an age of unlimited power. With the flip of a switch our lights come on, our furnace kicks into action, our dishwashers go to work for us, and our vacuum cleaners begin to clean our carpets. Do we realize the power of electricity? What about the communication power we have? We press our TV remote and see live scenes from all parts of the world, and we activate our cell phones to make instant contact with people far away from us. And what about the chemical power of medicine to heal us?
With such power at our disposal no wonder people see no need for God. There is the belief that no matter what problem might arise, someone will concoct an invention to solve it.
But, what about death? Do we have the power to keep someone from dying or to raise someone from the dead? And what about chronic illnesses that doctors, try as they may, are unable to solve? What about being set free from sin? We are not as powerful as we sometimes think we are.
God sent his only Son to earth to release the power of heaven among us. This power was able to multiply loaves of bread to feed thousands of people, to change gallons of water into rich wine, to enable man to walk on water. Today we see God’s power at work (Mark 5:21-43).
A synagogue official fell at Jesus’ feet and said:
“My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.”
As Jesus set out to the man’s house, a woman with an incurable hemorrhage came up to Jesus.
“She said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.’ Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed from her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in crowd and asked, ‘Who has touched my clothes?’”
Though many people were pressing in on Jesus, when the woman touched his cloak, he sensed divine power going out from him. Immediately this power from heaven cured a woman who had spent twelve years and all of her money on doctors.
As Jesus went on his way, some messengers came to tell the synagogue official that his daughter had died. It was too late to have Jesus come and cure her. Jesus said,
“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
Jesus continued his journey to the man’s house.
“So, he went in and said to them, ‘Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.’ And they ridiculed him…entered the room where the child was. He took the child and said to her, ‘Talitha koum,’ which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise!’ The little girl…arose immediately and walked around.”
Jesus did the impossible! With a two-word command he brought the dead girl back to life.
These amazing miracles demonstrate a power from heaven that surpasses anything we humans can duplicate. Yet Jesus has a power much greater than this. It is released every time we go to confession. He has the power to forgive our sins and free us from the grip of sin. The power to touch and heal our innermost beings goes beyond what any physicist, chemist, doctor, or engineer will ever be able to do.
Do we really believe in Jesus’ power?
