Many of us live overly programmed lives. We go through the same routine each day and even our entertainment times are programmed by TV network producers. Not wanting to leave our comfort ruts, we run the risk of denying ourselves divine opportunities.
Jesus was never in a comfort rut. Every time we read about him, he seems to be on the move. Jesus, it seems, was “programmed” by the Holy Spirit.
Today we read about how the Holy Spirit led Jesus to an out-of-the-way city called Nain. As far as I can see it is mentioned only once in the Bible. Jesus’ disciples must have wonder what on earth Jesus was doing traveling there (Luke 7:11-17).
“Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out…”
How “coincidental”! It just so happened that Jesus’ timing was perfect. He arrived just in time. A funeral procession was leaving the gate that he was preparing to enter.
“(the dead man was) the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’”
What was this stranger doing interrupting a funeral procession for someone that Jesus did not know? It was the custom for everyone to weep and wail during a funeral, and yet this stranger walked up to the grieving mother and told her not to weep. What an inappropriate comment considering the circumstances. What was this outsider doing sticking his nose into someone else’s business?
What prompted Jesus to step into the situation? We are told that he was moved with pity for the poor woman. It was tough enough for the woman to be a widow. Now, to make matters worse, she lost her only son. Without having a son to earn a living for the family, she was left with no one to take care of her. The Holy Spirit inside Jesus moved his heart to have pity on her. Now it became clear to Jesus why he was led to the city of Nain.
“He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak…”
Jesus did not touch the dead body, which would make him unclean. Instead, he gave a divine order to the dead man. At Jesus’ command something inside the man awakened and he came back to life, not as a sick man but as one who was able to speak and act like anyone else.
“…and Jesus gave him to his mother.”
We can visualize Jesus helping the man out of coffin, taking him by the hand, and lead him over to his grieving mother. Imagine the mother’s joy! Doesn’t this remind us of what was to take place not many months later, when Mary’s only Son was taken out of the “coffin” of the cross and handed to her? Though Jesus’ body was bloodied, Mary was relieved that her son’s terrible suffering was over, and she knew that before the weekend was over, God would say to Jesus “Arise, come out of the tomb.” What happened at Nain was a prelude to what would happen to Jesus.
“Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, ‘A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.”
Two large crowds had merged, those who followed Jesus and those from the city. No one expected what would happen. No one had ever seen a dead person raised to life. What began as a day of great mourning, became a day of great joy and wonder.
Does it occur to us that Jesus may be going out his way to visit us. Does he see something in us that moves him to pity? Let us eagerly welcome Jesus into the gates of our hearts.
