Miracles on Sale: $1.11

April 18, 2022

Why were the disciples so surprised that Jesus rose from the dead? Do you remember what Jesus told them at Caesarea Philippi? He said, "the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again" (Mark 8:31). The Bible records a number of other times Jesus tells them he will suffer and die.

It is so hard for us to think outside the box. We get something in our head, we think we know what is normal, and anything else confuses us, or we struggle to see what is happening at all. Jesus said he would die, and then be raised in three days. He raised Lazarus after four days (John 11:38-44). He also raised the widow’s son Luke 7:12-16) and Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:41-56).

Jesus does not want us to be afraid of death. He came to show us that his resurrection from the dead frees us from sin, death, and evil. But many in our world focus on what they see, and that is death, but resurrection just seems to be thinking too far outside the box. Are you stuck in a world defined by death, or is the miracle of the resurrection something you are open to? Jesus wants us to see that God is doing miracles all around us, like giving new life to people all the time.

Tess was eight when she heard her father talking about her brother Andrew illness. They would have to sell their house and move to an apartment to pay their bills, and they were out of money for any more help for Andrew. She heard her father whisper to her mother, "Only a miracle can save him now."

She went to her room, and poured all her money on the floor to count it. She carefully placed the coins back in the jar and slipped out the back door and walked to a nearby drug store. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was talking to an important looking man. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. There was no response. Finally, she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

In an annoyed tone the pharmacist asked, “What do you want? Can’t you see I’m talking to my brother?”

Tess answered back, “What a coincidence! I want to talk to you about my brother. He’s really, really sick… and I want to buy a miracle. His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head, and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?”

The pharmacist looked confused and responded, “We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.”

Tess responded quickly, “I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.”

Then the pharmacist’s brother stooped down and asked Tess, “What kind of a miracle does your brother need?” Tess didn’t know. “How much do you have?”

“One dollar and eleven cents,” Tess answered barely audibly. "And it’s all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.

“Well, what a coincidence,” smiled the man. "One dollar and eleven cents–the exact price of a miracle for little brothers. He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said “Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need.” That well dressed man was Dr. Canton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn’t long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. "That surgery was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?" her Mom whispered. Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost: one dollar and eleven cents plus the faith of a little child.

Do you believe in miracles? When was the last miracle you experienced? When was the last time you asked God for a miracle? Are you stuck in a world defined by death, or is the miracle of the resurrection something you are open to? May God bless you with a few miracles this Easter.