Have you ever felt the weight of grief pressing down on your heart, leaving you with little hope for the future?
In Luke 7:11-17, we encounter a scene of profound sorrow and unexpected joy as Jesus performs a miraculous act of compassion that brings hope to a grieving widow and transforms a funeral procession into a celebration of life.
Reconnect: In the Gospel of Luke, preceding this passage, we witness Jesus healing the servant of a centurion in Capernaum, demonstrating His authority over sickness and distance. This theme of compassion and authority continues in Luke’s account as we delve into the miraculous raising of a widow’s son in the village of Nain.
(Summarized and continued after scripture)
11Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. 12Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. 13When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” 15The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people!” 17This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.
Summary Key Points:
- Jesus encounters a funeral procession in the village of Nain, where a widow is mourning the loss of her only son, her source of support and security (Luke 7:11-12).
- Filled with compassion, Jesus approaches the grieving mother, touches the open coffin, and commands the young man to arise, restoring him to life (Luke 7:13-15).
- Witnessing this miraculous event, the crowd is filled with awe and recognizes Jesus as a great prophet, declaring that God has visited His people (Luke 7:16-17).
Call to Action:
- Embrace Compassion: Let us follow Jesus’ example of compassion by reaching out to those who are grieving or in need, offering them comfort, support, and hope in their darkest moments.
- Believe in Miracles: Just as Jesus demonstrated His power over death in this passage, let us trust in His ability to work miracles in our lives and in the lives of those around us.
- Praise and Give Thanks: As we witness God’s miraculous interventions in our lives, let us respond with hearts full of gratitude and mouths filled with praise, glorifying His name for His wonderful deeds.
Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the compassion and power displayed through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us the courage to embody His love and mercy in our interactions with others, especially those who are suffering or in despair. Strengthen our faith to believe in the miraculous work You continue to perform in our lives. May our hearts overflow with thanksgiving and praise for Your mighty acts. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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