Through The Bible in a Year - June 24, 2026
"They came to the other side of the sea... And immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit... And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue and implored him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death…. He took her by the hand and said to her…, 'Little girl, I say to you, arise.' And immediately the girl got up and began walking." - Mark 5:1-2, 21-22, 41-42
In this one chapter, Jesus moves through three completely different worlds.
He crosses the sea and enters the spiritual realm—casting out a legion of demons from a man who had supernatural strength and no peace. The spiritual world is real. The battle for souls is real. And Jesus has authority over all of it.
He returns across the sea and enters the physical realm—healing a woman who had bled for twelve years, restoring her body and her dignity and her place among God's people. The physical world is real. Suffering is real. And Jesus has authority over all of it.
And then He enters the eternal realm—raising a girl who had died, calling her back from the dead with simple words: "Little girl, arise." Death is real and lasting. But Jesus has authority over that too.
Spiritual. Physical. Eternal. Three realms. One Lord over all of them.
Abraham Kuyper spoke memorably about the total authority of our Savior over all the realms of our existence: "There is not one square inch of this universe over which Jesus does not stand and say, 'This is mine.'"
There is not one square inch of your existence – not one corner of your spiritual life; not one part of your physical body; not one moment of your eternal future – that is outside Jesus’s rule and authority. There is not one relationship, one career move, one diagnosis, one struggle, one loss, one moment of your infinite existence as an immortal soul over which our God does not exercise control. He stands over all of it and says, "This is mine."
NFL linebacker Demario Davis was once fined $7,000 for wearing a headband that said "Man of God" during a game. He responded with a faith in his Lord’s rule over everything, even a fine for a headband. He said, "Any time the conversation about God is brought up, especially in these times, it is always a positive. If He can get glory from it, He is in control of the whole situation. God and I are still good."
He is in control of the whole situation. All of it. The spiritual battle you can't see. The physical suffering you can't fix. The eternal purposes you can't fully comprehend. All of it is under the authority and providential care of the King of all realms.
Respond: Which realm feels most out of control to you right now?
Is it a spiritual battle—confusion, deception, a sense of being overwhelmed by forces you can't see or name?
Is it a physical reality—a diagnosis, a body that won't cooperate, a situation that won't resolve no matter how hard you try?
Is it an eternal fear—death, loss, the unknown future, wondering if any of it ultimately matters?
Jesus walked into all three of these realms in Mark 5. He has authority in all three today. Today, take your specific realm of struggle and with the confidence of Mark 5, knowing that Jesus "Has authority here too. He stands over this too. He’s got this."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you had Jesus cross the Sea of Galilee to demonstrate authority over the spiritual realm, the physical realm, and even death itself. Nothing is outside His authority. Not one square inch our existence. So, I bring to You my specific struggle now, knowing that what is spiritual, or physical, or eternal has been committed to Christ’s care and authority. Help me believe this. He stands over every realm and says, "This is Mine." I trust Him as King of all realms—infinite in power, intimate in care. He is never distant from my reality, but entered it completely for my sake. Bring Christ’s rule over the realms of my struggles. In Jesus name, Amen.