Compassion for a widow

Reading: Luke chapter 7 verses 11-18

Luke paints for us a heart-rending scene at the entrance to the city of Nain. As Jesus entered the city, He met a funeral procession. The introductory words to this incident, “And it came to pass”, verse 11, emphasises that He did not stumble upon it by chance.

Intimate details about the chief mourner heighten the sadness of the occasion. The son was a young man, an only son, and his mother was a widow. No wonder the heart of the entire community went out to her, verse 12. However, no one was able to enter fully into her feelings or to remove her grief. Nevertheless, all this changed with the Lord’s arrival.

The Lord saw her, verse 13. The crowds did not distract Him. His eyes rested upon the one person who needed Him most. Although He is now in heaven, it is a comfort to know that He still sees us in all our need.

The Lord had COMPASSION on her, verse 13. He was the only One in the vast crowd who could truly suffer with her. He too was an only Son: “the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father”, John chapter 1 verses 18. He alone understood the ravages Satan and sin had brought to God’s creation, and He knew what it was to weep, John chapter 11 verse 35.

The Lord wiped away her tears, verse 13. The crowd probably regarded it as insensitive to tell her not to weep; indeed, it would have been, if He had not had the power to remove the tears. It is God alone who is able to wipe away all tears, Revelation chapter 21 verses 4.

The Lord touched (grasped on to) the bier (coffin), verse 14. He identified Himself the death that was there. It reminds us of the cross at Calvary, where Jesus tasted death for every person.

The Lord spoke, “Young man, I say unto you, Arise!” verse 14. He sat up and began to speak! Death could not be the victor, where Christ was!

‘Jesus, Thou art all COMPASSION; pure, unbounded love Thou art’.

(Charles Wesley)