Third Sunday after Pentecost
Jesus’ encounter with a widow in the funeral procession of her son at the city gate of Nain is a heart-felt story of compassion. The account is thoughtfully told in Luke 7:11-17.
Having left the town of Capernaum after healing a centurion’s servant, Jesus, along with his disciples and a large group of people, moves toward the village of Nain not too far from Capernaum. Whether this was a deliberate plan of action is unknown since the text doesn’t indicate. One would think, however, that it is. Nearing the town’s gate, they encounter a funeral march making its way to the cemetery. The only son of a certain widow died, in all likelihood, earlier that day. Jewish customs called for burial on the day of the death.
His heart goes out as He makes His way to her. Upon arriving He tenderly says, in the form of a command, “Don’t cry” (v. 13b). I’m sure you, like I, have uttered those words in the past – to a child, a parent, a friend. Maybe someone has uttered them to you.
Jesus goes to the funeral stretcher, on which the young man’s body lays, and touches it, thus making Him unclean according to Numbers 19:11 – “The person who touches the dead body of any human will be unclean for seven days.” When it comes to expressing compassion, Jesus is not going to let the legalism of the Law get in His way. We shouldn’t either. Jesus extends an instruction to the dead child: “…get up” (v. 14c). The deceased sits up and begins to speak. Mother and son are reunited.
Jesus’ action in bringing the son back to life is akin to the ministries of Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:8-37). The Elijah account is especially intriguing.
The townspeople are awestruck. They declare a great prophet from God has come to help people. Naturally, the news of Jesus spreads throughout the region.
This story is hard for a mother (father, parents, grandparents, etc.) who has lost a child in death. I’ve encountered a few over the course of four decades as a pastor. “Why wasn’t my child brought back to life and reunited with me? Is Jesus selective in healing?” Pastoral questions such as these abound. There aren’t many answers. Maybe there are none. The “reuniting” may not occur until all of us rest in the safety and security of Christ’s presence in Heaven. For now, all a mother, who has lost a child can do, is look forward to future resurrection and the sustaining comfort of the Holy Spirit in the present as she gives thanks for the past as memories are rehearsed. In truth, this is all any of us can do.
I am struck by the action of Jesus – not so much bringing the son back to life, but how He conducted himself. He saw another human soul hurting and is moved to a tender response of compassion. Maybe we are not in a position to say, “Don’t cry.” But we are able to “touch” just like Jesus touches the bier.
Today maybe you need to put your hand on a casket at a funeral home or on a headstone marking a grave in a cemetery. Moreover, you may need to offer a shoulder on which someone can rest a tired head and cry, and extend an ear of compassion by listening and saying nothing.
You may need someone to touch you today. Allow that to happen. You, also, may need to touch someone today with compassion. Imitate Jesus and do just that.
“Jesus Raises A Widow’s Son” is three minutes fifteen seconds. It is sung by Col Johnson, who also wrote the music.
My sermon that I will preach this morning at Garden Lakes Baptist Church in Rome, GA, “The Sending Off”, is based on Acts 13:1-3. The church will be blessing Vacation Bible School Servants, who will minister this week in VBS at the church. A group of nine missional journeyers will be commissioned for a week of service in Nicaragua (June 10-17). And Holy Communion will be observed with Sarah Babb receiving her First Communion. Bible Study for all ages is at 9:45 a.m. and the Worship Gathering is at 11:00 a.m. There is no 8:45 a.m. worship this morning.
