Luke 7:11-17
Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorably on his people!” This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.
The story continues. And deepens.
As Jesus’ journey continues, his authority to stand with and for life only extends. In the previous scene we watched as he healed, even from a distance, a man who was close to death. In this scene, the man is not just close to death, but actually already has died. And so we witness the Lord of Life restoring life to one who is dead.
But it’s not just a story of authority or about the power of life. It’s also a story about tenderness and compassion. Death is always hard; this one more grievous than most. In Jesus’ day, women depended on their relationships for support, and most often these were relationships to men: first with a father, then a husband, and then, if widowed, to a son. This woman is already a widow, bereft of the economic support of her husband. And now she has lost her son, her only son, and so has nothing and likely will soon be destitute.
Until Jesus intervenes, not only bringing her son to life but also restoring to this grieving mother her very future. Hence the poignancy of the description that “Jesus gave him to his mother.”
So, yes, it is a story about Jesus authority and power and his spreading fame. But it is also the story about Jesus seeing – really seeing – the plight of this woman and, as Luke describes, feeling compassion for her.
Luke never claims to tell us everything that Jesus said and did, and so when we read the various stories he shares, we can think of them as various snapshots he collected, each displaying something of the larger picture and story of our Lord and Savior. Last time, we were reminded that Jesus can heal and help even when not physically present. This time, we’re reminded that Jesus sees us and has compassion for us in all of our varied circumstances.
Thanks be to God.
Prayer: Dear God, remind us that you do, indeed see us, have compassion on us, and love us. And so fill us with your love that we see and have compassion for others in turn. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Recent Comments