Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. Now 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. When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep." And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited His people!" This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.
(Luke 7:11-17)
"Do not weep." Are you kidding me? This widow was grieving the death of her only son and Jesus told her to stop crying. Doubly damaged by death's piercing blow, if anyone had a need to cry it would seem that this widowed mother surely did. So why do humans have a need to cry? Perhaps tears have their origin shortly after mankind fell into a sinful state and discovered they had suffered a great loss by rebelling against their Maker. They lost the intimate comfort of God's compassionate presence. He withdrew His nearness from the man and the woman. The price they would pay for sin was the introduction of death into the realm of life. It seems to me that tears began to fall as a result of the Fall, symbolic of wounded souls that are slowly bleeding to death. This widow must have surely thought she would die herself in her grief. And I believe if we were to receive the full force of our grief of any loss we suffer, we may indeed die. At least I have seen some who wish they could. Living has become too hard for them. This is the heartcry of the broken human condition. But then there comes One who says, "Stop weeping." Suddenly He demonstrates how what seems to be an impossibility becomes a new reality. The funeral march stopped in its tracks. One day the services of a funeral director will no longer be required in the land where God's people abide. All funeral processions will come to a screeching halt...just as the one in Nain. Funeral interrupted!!! No more weeping!!! The power of Christ puts a stop to the graveyard commute. And the reason for the cessation of all cemetary activity that day? When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her... Our God cares about His people. Life has put death to death...its just a matter of time. We agree with the news flash that went out all over Judea and beyond: God has visited His people.
Stop weeping. Our King is coming. And if you're a mortician...now may be the time to get retrained. You'll need to know how to serve the Creator in more creative ways. The soul will hemorrhage no longer. Hearses will roll no more. As someone once sang...No more crying there...we are going to see the King...or more accurately the King will see us first!
(Luke 7:11-17)
"Do not weep." Are you kidding me? This widow was grieving the death of her only son and Jesus told her to stop crying. Doubly damaged by death's piercing blow, if anyone had a need to cry it would seem that this widowed mother surely did. So why do humans have a need to cry? Perhaps tears have their origin shortly after mankind fell into a sinful state and discovered they had suffered a great loss by rebelling against their Maker. They lost the intimate comfort of God's compassionate presence. He withdrew His nearness from the man and the woman. The price they would pay for sin was the introduction of death into the realm of life. It seems to me that tears began to fall as a result of the Fall, symbolic of wounded souls that are slowly bleeding to death. This widow must have surely thought she would die herself in her grief. And I believe if we were to receive the full force of our grief of any loss we suffer, we may indeed die. At least I have seen some who wish they could. Living has become too hard for them. This is the heartcry of the broken human condition. But then there comes One who says, "Stop weeping." Suddenly He demonstrates how what seems to be an impossibility becomes a new reality. The funeral march stopped in its tracks. One day the services of a funeral director will no longer be required in the land where God's people abide. All funeral processions will come to a screeching halt...just as the one in Nain. Funeral interrupted!!! No more weeping!!! The power of Christ puts a stop to the graveyard commute. And the reason for the cessation of all cemetary activity that day? When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her... Our God cares about His people. Life has put death to death...its just a matter of time. We agree with the news flash that went out all over Judea and beyond: God has visited His people.
Stop weeping. Our King is coming. And if you're a mortician...now may be the time to get retrained. You'll need to know how to serve the Creator in more creative ways. The soul will hemorrhage no longer. Hearses will roll no more. As someone once sang...No more crying there...we are going to see the King...or more accurately the King will see us first!
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