6 June 2010 Luke 7:11-17

Luke 7:11-17

Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he 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.
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This story takes place soon after Jesus healed the centurion's daughter. When you read this passage, try to get a mental image of the scene at the town gates of Nain. Two large crowds are approaching each other. One crowd is leaving the city carrying a man who had just died lead by the dead man's widowed mother. The text points out that he was an only son. The second crowd, lead by Jesus, is approaching the city gate. Jesus sees the woman, has compassion, and commands the young man to rise. The man sits up and begins to speak.

Take a moment and imagine this scene from the window's viewpoint. Now imagine it again, from the viewpoint of someone else in the group from Nain perhaps seized by fear. Imagine it again, this time from the viewpoint of one of Jesus' followers glorifying God. Imagine it one more time, now from the viewpoint of someone from another town that just happened to be passing by. What is similar about the viewpoints? What is different? Which viewpoint is most objective?

What part of you is akin to the widow whose only son has died, vulnerable and perhaps destitute? What part of you has died and only needs your compassionate healer to revive it? How are you a spectator in the crowd seized by fear?