Luke 8:49-56
“Notice what you notice.” Today is the second half of Luke’s account of the raising of Jairus’ daughter. And her spirit returned and she got up at once. (v. 55) I have often heard the phrase “body, soul, spirit” applied to humans as a person’s physical body, personality, and life, respectively. These words from Luke confirm that ordering. Jairus’ daughter was not breathing and had no heartbeat, so the friends and relatives naturally would presume that she was dead. In fact, she WAS dead, except that Jesus understood our human ordering far beyond his peers. Her spirit WAS gone – otherwise it could not have “returned”. But Jesus’ taking her by the hand and speaking to her brought her spirit back and she got up. By bringing back her spirit Jesus brought her back to life.
So, every living human being on earth is also composed of body, soul, and spirit. I think of that iconic “holy grandmother” whose last words fully reflect her personality before she dies – before her spirit passes on. We are all spirit beings – until we die. But are we “Holy Spirit beings”? Are our lives transformed by the Holy Spirit working within us? If you were not in church this past Sunday, go online and listen to Tim Tennent’s sermon. It’s all about the Holy Spirit, effectively about how little “press” the Holy Spirit gets, but how powerful He is. Dr. Tennent opens up the Holy Spirit for us, in the Old Testament and the New. It’s a powerful message! Or come to this Friday’s “First Friday Prayer and Praise” service (6:30 pm), where we will be “Experiencing and Sharing the Transforming Power of the Holy Spirit”. God has us on earth with a job to do. We need to be “Holy Spirit filled” Christians to get that job done!
Slava Bohu!