Luke 7:13

New International Version

When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

For Meditation

She was going to bury her son, her only child—a widow in a small town called Nain, a few miles southeast of Nazareth, Jesus’s hometown (Luke 7:11-17). That was not a secure situation for anyone in that culture and time. Neither could she hope for any meaningful help from anywhere. Life had become bitter for her, like Naomi, except she had not traveled to Moab.

I am sure many of us can relate to times like that when everything collapses around us. It gets tough at such distressful times when the tunnel gets darker each day, and there seems to be no way out, and there is no glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. That is the time for Jesus, the Carpenter from Nazareth, Messiah, King Eternal. He showed up at Nain—and on time.

For the poor widow and grieving mom, that was no time for any interruption. Let the pallbearers get the body to the graveyard and end it all. She would say her last goodbye and go to a cold, lonely home. So, “who is this man who looks at me and tells me not to cry, moves to the coffin, and halts the march of the pallbearers by touching it?”

Your day has come, woman! Heaven has recognized you, and the man who came from heaven to give life to the dead—the resurrection and the life—has noticed you. You have touched His heart, and His compassion is flowing to you. You will never forget this day in your life for what will happen in the next few minutes.

With absolute authority, He commands the dead man:

“Young man, I say to you, get up!”

She runs and embraces her risen son, sitting on the bier. Tears of joy come in a ceaseless flow from her eyes. In awe, the mourners praised the Lord and spread the news like wildfire (14-17). Never forget that a tragedy in life is not the end of your story. Losing a dear one should not devastate your life. There is hope for you. The light of God from His Son, Jesus Christ, will beam through the dark tunnel that has become your home and left you in despair.

So, take courage and look into His face, where He sits in majesty—at the right hand of God in glory. He still ministers compassion to the brokenhearted like you, and He will hug you with His warmth. The bottom has dropped out for you, but now Jesus comes and will revive your life again. Amen!

Shalom and god morning