What Jesus Did! 'No Show, Just Grace' — Matthew 9:23-26

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

When Jesus arrived at the [synagogue] official's home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. "Get out!" he told them. "The girl isn't dead; she's only asleep." But the crowd laughed at him. After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.
— Matthew 9:23-26 NLT

Key Thought

I'm amazed at how often Jesus left the crowds and went off to pray and how he resisted the crowds and still generously shared his acts of compassion. So often today, we have the tendency to think that things have to be big and attract a big audience to be impressive and have an impact on our community. In reality, very seldom is God's work done by a crowd. Jesus' ministry was blessed because of God's grace and Jesus' faithfulness, not because of some slick marketing scheme. Don't get me wrong; I believe we need to find every available means to ethically reach people with the Good News of Jesus. But notice that Jesus' ministry expands, not because he does this miracle to prove something to the crowds, but because he does something to care for a broken family in a private but powerful way.

Today's Prayer

Oh Lord, please open my eyes to Jesus' passion to serve people genuinely and personally. Help me to not only see those around me who need your Son as their Savior, but to also minister to them in ways that will help them know his love for them. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 9:23-26 NLT — "Get out!" —— "The girl isn't dead; she's only asleep."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Isaiah 1:16-17
"Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Everything Comes from Him!' (Ro. 11:34-36)
"For who can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything...."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Preparing Your Heart for Me'
"Dear Friend, My cousin John the Baptist "appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Mark 1:4 NIV)......"
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Grace Even in the Asking' (Ro. 8:26-27)
"[T]he Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!