The Meeting

There was a widow in a small village called Nain, in the time of Jesus.  This woman was in the midst of a very dark time in her life having just lost her son to death.  She and a large procession of mourners were carrying out her only son to the place of burial.  Since she no longer had him for her support, she would be almost totally dependent on charity from others, or whatever acts of compassion would be available to her. This economic reality, added to the grief she felt for her son who she loved, no doubt brought her heart to the deepest despair.

As the crowd made their way out of the village, they met another crowd coming into the city at the front of which was Jesus Christ.  What a sight and commotion that must have been as the two crowds converged. Sorrow, grief, lamenting and despair, met head on with excitement, wonder, awe, and expectation.  Death and all that accompanies it was stopped short and faced the Lord of life and power in Christ Jesus.

The Gospel of Luke records what happened next. " 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."  We can imagine the stir that must have caused, as soon the entire area heard of what Jesus had done. 

The loss of a loved one is certainly cause for sorrow, but there are many other things that we face that may bring us deep into despair and grief.  Is that what you're facing today?  Well, Jesus is at the front of a long procession of people who have experienced His mercy and ability to do for us what we can never do for ourselves. They bear witness, that wherever discouragement or despair is present, He can come in and transform any situation into an occasion for wonder, praise and answered prayer.

The key is getting Jesus into the situation and the only way to do that is to get Him into our hearts, by prayer, faith and repentance.  We must trust His finished work on the cross to be sufficient payment for our sins. Then He enters into our hearts and begins to comfort and guide us.   No need to walk in the procession of mourners, who grieve unnecessarily. Rather, get in step with the multitude who walk with Jesus.  Turn around and go in the direction He is going where there is cause for wonder, glory, and a true worship and reverence for God.