“Now they were all weeping and lamenting [expressing deep grief] for her; but Jesus said, “Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep.” And they began LAUGHING AT HIM, KNOWING that she had died.” (Luke 8:52-53)
It seems, for the moment that the devil’s will was being done!!! He successfully afflicted them with the “Ya, Right” spirit! What is the devil’s will for us? That we would NOT BELIEVE in the ability of Jesus TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE! You see, this girl was declared dead, no longer breathing, no longer alive! All the people there knew that and were weeping with the family who suffered this loss! So, what did Jesus do as proof for His bold statement?
“…he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” (Luke 8:54)
and then, what do you suppose happened? “Her spirit returned, and AT ONCE she stood up…” (Luke 8:55)
Let’s look at another incident to help us to see more clearly the “Ya Right” spirit, the disciples were going with Jesus to see Lazarus, thinking he was sick… “So, then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I AM GLAD I was not there, so that YOU MAY BELIEVE. But let us go to him. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. JESUS WEPT.” (John 11:14-15, 34-35)
Think about this, Jesus told the disciples “Lazarus is asleep…” Just as he said about the young girl He raised up, when we die in the flesh our “life” is transferred into the Lord’s hands and to Him we are just sleeping. So, Jesus may choose to wake us up, it is not too hard for Him! Jesus was not weeping because of Lazarus’ condition, He was about to wake him up, and restore his rotting flesh! It was so much unbelief that made Jesus weep!!!
“Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that IF YOU BELIEVE, you will see the glory of God?” So, they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that THEY MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU SENT ME.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.“ (John 11:39-44)
Nothing is too hard for Jesus!!!
Help us Lord to get rid of the “Ya Right” spirit…Bill Stockham