Authority means power, strength, or ability over something weaker and subordinate. Jesus demonstrated His authority and power in this passage over disease and death. Christ’s authority, blended with God’s power, combined with a woman’s daring faith for a result of healing. Christ’s omnipotence, coupled with a father’s daring faith and love, produced life over death.

God will respond with authority in all aspects of our lives if we allow Him to do so.

I read the story about a first-time traveler to the West coming to the banks of the Mississippi River with no way to cross from one side to the other. However, he had to get to the other side. It was winter, and the Mississippi River was covered with ice. He didn’t know how thick the ice was, and he hesitantly started his trek across the river on his hands and knees. When he was about halfway across the river, he heard the sound of singing behind him. There, in the dusk of evening, he could see a man driving a load of coal with a team of four horses across the ice.

Many of us creep across God’s promises, compassion, faith, support, and authority when we should be crossing with a song on our lips and in our hearts!

(Derl Keefer)