Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
Luke 7: 11-17 NIV
In this passage, Jesus went to a town called Nain. The moment he arrived in town, there is a funeral happening. A widow’s only son had passed away. In those times, men were the main income earners of the family. With the widow losing her only son, she was destined to a life of poverty. It was a great tragedy.
Seeing all this, Jesus had compassion on this widow. He didn’t have to. Jesus raised her son from the dead. He didn’t have to. But Jesus did both. The people of the town didn’t even know who Jesus was but Jesus did it anyways.
You see, this was an act of mercy for the widow. Death is a natural occurrence and Jesus had every right to let things be. He could have just said to the widow, “Sorry”, but he didn’t. He did it to give the widow another chance to have her son in her life.
When God created us, He made us in His own image. We were to have an intimate loving relationship with God but we chose to go another way, a way that lead to eternal separation from God. God could have left us that way, but He didn’t. In his great mercy, He himself came to earth and redeemed us through the cross. Through the blood of Jesus, we have a second chance to have an intimate loving relationship with God.
Today, when you see situations where you can make a positive difference, you don’t have to, but you can. Where would we be if God decided not to?
Dear Lord, I pray that you give me discernment everyday to see what situations I can have a positive influence on. Please give me the courage to take up your call in those situations and to not be afraid. Thank you for your mercy shown on me and may I show mercy to others. In Jesus name, Amen.
