He Feels Your Grief

Luke 7:12

New King James Version

And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.

For Encouragement

She grieved through her husband’s death for a period that the Bible does not show. Losing her spousal support made her extremely vulnerable economically and socially marginalized as a widow. Life might have been difficult as a single parent, raising their only son, if he had been a dependent child. She would have struggled through childcare with all its difficulties in that economy. The boy had become a young man and probably assumed the role of caring for his mother, but now he is dead. What is her life going to be like? Her loss of her only son at such a prime age must have been devastating. Her world had fallen apart a second time, and her grief, multiplied with intensity—the kind Naomi went through in a foreign land (Ruth 1:1-5).

The sorrow and extreme grief must have shown in this widow of Nain’s face when Jesus met her at the town gate in a procession to the cemetery to bury her son (Lk. 7:11-12). All hope was gone as the bearers carried his cold body on a bier. Her sympathizers couldn’t bring her son back to life, despite their comfort. However, the Master could, and that must have been the reason for His presence.

Our God is compassionate. A defender of widows (Psa. 68:5); His Heart went out to the poor woman.

“Do not weep,” Jesus said (Lk. 7:13).

Then Jesus did the amazing thing. He touched the bier, and the bearers stopped. Ceremonial defilement had no effect on Jesus. His divine power instantly dispelled the aroma of death.

“Young man, I say to you, arise” (14).

Jesus commands the dead to arise and live again because He is God. Elijah and Elisha had to pray to God to raise the dead in their time (1 Kings 17:17-22; 2 Kings 4:32-37). He is the Resurrection and the Life (Jn. 11:25), and the dead respond to His command to arise. So, the young man on the bier rose from the dead and sat up, and spoke. The widow received her son back alive (Lk. 7:15). Though she remained a widow, she was no more sonless. What a mighty God we serve!

He feels our pain and grief in a manner no one else could. The songwriter says He sees each tear that falls and hears us when we call. Our needs are all before Him, and because of His infinite love for us, His redeemed, He meets them all (Phil. 4:19). His grace delivers them in abundance and flows without ceasing from His throne on high to bring life to us by faith (Eph. 2:8-9). That, my friend, is why we have hope for glory (Rom. 8:30; Col. 1:27)

So, are you grieving? Jesus sees and feels your pain. Has your loss left you vulnerable and needy? He knows your situation and how to meet your needs. Our Savior can breathe life into your dead situation and call those things that are not into being, making the impossible possible. He will meet you at the city or town gate for a reinvigorating experience. Just have faith in Him, walk righteously with Him, and wait patiently for Him. Shalom.

Pray with Me

Your works are wonderful and uplifting, O Mighty and Everlasting God! Who in all the universe is like you, who gives life to the dead and renews the life of your grieving children? May your compassion embrace us anew and refresh our lives as we wait for the redemption of our bodies in glory. There, we shall live with you forever with no more tears, nor death, nor mourning, nor crying, nor pain; for you will make all things new. Thank you, Jesus, who has made it all possible by the cross and your resurrection. In His matchless name, amen.

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