Tuesday 16 September 2008
- Bible Book:
- Luke
] said, 'Young man, I say to you, rise!' The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, 'A great prophet has risen among us!' and 'God has looked favourably on his people!' This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country." (v.15-17)
Background
Here we see two large crowds converging on each other.
One is a funeral procession leading out of the town - a crowdoverwhelmed by the bitter inevitability of death. The other isheading into the town, following behind Jesus.
We can imagine the crowds mingling and the hearts of some of Jesus'followers going out to the sorrowful and sharing their pain. Butwhat seems inevitable is not inevitable - Jesus has compassion forthe widow and restores her son to life.
This compassion echoes the compassion of God in sending Jesus tohumanity, to rescue us from sin and death. God knows that we werenot made simply to die or to live partial, unfulfilled lives. Wewere made for eternal glory as daughters and sons of God.
And it is Jesus who restores our rightful place. Whenever Jesusheals it is always a direct communication, person to a person,hands on. Jesus touches the bier and addresses the young mandirectly...
"I say to you, rise!"
That which is dead is brought back to life.
To Ponder
What do you accept as inevitable that God maybedoesn't?
What can you do to open yourself to a personalencounter with Jesus?