Bible Study Devotional – Day 179 – Commentary Luke 7:14-17 – Has Jesus touched your bier?

Then he (Jesus) went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He 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. They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said, “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country. (Luke 7:14-17)

The book, Impossible, and the movie, Breakthrough, tell the story of John Smith’s drowning and revival. He fell through the ice on Lake Sainte Louise in 2015. After John was without a heartbeat for 55 minutes and twenty-seven professionals used epinephrine, CPR, and cardioversion to revive him, his mother rushed into the emergency room, grabbed his cold gray feet, and prayed loudly for the Holy Spirit to save him. At that moment a nurse reported a force pushing her body away from John’s. God had come to help, silently saying, “Step back and watch what I can do.” Jesus gave him back to his mother, and she’s been praising God ever since. John continues to spread the good news about Jesus at church services on weekends while he studies to become a pastor.

When we’re marching toward eternal death and Jesus touches us with mercy, his words, “Get up!” give us new life. Jesus replaces our sobs with joy and hope.

Father God, thank you for sending Jesus to touch me with Your mercy. Help me, “Get up!” and be part of someone’s miracle.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Study Devotional – Day 179 – Commentary Luke 7:14-17 – Has Jesus touched your bier?

4 thoughts on “Bible Study Devotional – Day 179 – Commentary Luke 7:14-17 – Has Jesus touched your bier?

  1. There are a lot of death to life stories but I have never heard of this one. Jody, do you remember that we lived on Lake Saint Louis while we were in Missouri. I wonder if it is the same lake as in the book. I have read 3 of these types of stories and I found them inspirational because they boost my faith. You asked me to make further comment on faith on Devotional 177. I did do that but I don’t think that you have looked at it yet. I feel as if these types of occurrences are rare. I believe that God knows exactly when we will die, as well as how. So, if we are supposed to die at age 86 from cancer what happens if you are in a terrible car accident and die? Is this when we would see a death to life story or a healing of an illness? You say, “Get up and be part of someone’s miracle.” I think that it would be incredible to be part of a miracle, being the patient, the nurse or the Doctor. It would profoundly change your life and your faith.

    1. Yes, they said it was close to St. Louis. I had never heard the story before either until this morning when I was researching. I am surprised I hadn’t since it was at the movie theatre and I’m usually more attuned to Christian movies. As you pointed out in response to Devotional 177 a lot of miracles occur every day. They usually aren’t healing miracles. I kind of feel like you do about death that God has a plan for us to die. One of the things I’ve been thinking about lately is if God has everything predestined there would be no point in praying, so I don’t think He has everything predestined. I think he has a person chosen for us to marry if we are to marry and how many children we have and when we will die. I sure have no basis for thinking that though. I’m sorry I didn’t comment on your comment right away for 177, but I was thinking about it.

  2. You are right, that if God has everything predestined there would be no point in praying. So, is anything predestined? To my knowledge there is nothing written in the Bible about this. I feel that our choice of spouse and children are free will and not predestined. I guess these are things that we will never know for sure until we are in Heaven but it is interesting to think about.

    1. Perhaps predestined is the wrong word. God is all-knowing, so he knows everything that will happen, but he is also free to change his mind about a situation as he does in Genesis 19. He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and everyone that lived there because they were so wicked. Abraham prays and God tells Abraham he won’t destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if he finds 10 righteous people there. God couldn’t find 10 righteous people — but vs. 29 says, “So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot (his nephew) out of the Catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.” God saved Lot, his two daughters, and Lot’s wife, although his wife ended up as a pillar of salt for looking back on the city when she was commanded not to. Choice of spouse and children are most likely free will, but I also believe God has chosen or will choose someone as a spouse when asked. I try to ask these things of importance for my children and grandchildren ahead of time. It’s not to early to pray that Trey finds the spouse that God chooses for him.

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