Day 303: Luke 7, 8 and 9

God has come to help his people (Luke 7:16).

 

As Jesus approaches the small Galilean town of Nain, he happens upon a funeral procession exiting the town gates and heading for the nearby cemetery. He is touched by the plight of a woman wailing over her lost son. She is a widow, cared for by her adult son until his untimely death. Not only does she know the grief of losing both her husband and her only son, she is now faced with the bleak prospect of living out her years alone and in poverty.

Jesus’ heart goes out to her, possibly thinking of his own mother and her impending loss. This compassionate stranger approaches the coffin, lays his hands upon it, and speaks unexpected words: Get up! The young man rises, and is given back to his mother. The crowd is amazed: God has come to help his people.

Is there an implied indictment here of the prevailing religious leaders? Since the witnesses are surprised God cares enough to reach out to a grieving mother, apparently helping people wasn’t a high priority for God’s self-proclaimed representatives in Israel, the priests and Pharisees.

In 2 Corinthians 5:19-20, Paul writes that we are God’s ambassadors of reconciliation. That means it’s our assignment to bring help, hope and the good news of Jesus Christ to those with whom we come into contact. Through us God wants to love our neighbors.
                                   
Would your friends be surprised that God cares about them?