Reading:  Luke 7: 11-18

Jesus Raises a Widow's Son

11  Soon afterward he went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.

12  As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her.

13  And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."

14  And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."

15  And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.

16  Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"

17  And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

18  The disciples of John told him of all these things.

COMMENTARY

At times the world seems to be an uncaring, unsympathetic place.  People are often cruel and indifferent, not giving a second thought to the plight of their suffering neighbors. Wrapped up in their own interests, they don't seem to notice the anguish and despair that is at their very doorstep.

This could not be said of the Lord Jesus.  Time after time the New Testament says that He met the needs of suffering people.  Our Scripture reading for today tells us that when He saw the widow stricken with grief over the death of her son, He "had compassion on her" and healed the boy.  Earlier, when He saw a man who was "full of leprosy" - despised, ostracized and no doubt terribly disfigured - He made him whole.  Still today, Jesus looks upon human need with compassion.

A little girl's mother had been taken to the hospital, and she was spending the night alone with her father for the first time.  Soon after the lights were turned out, the girl asked quietly, "Daddy, are you there?" "Yes," he assured her. A moment later she asked, "Daddy, are you looking at me?" When he said yes, she fell asleep.

Likewise, every child of God can depend on the Savior's look of love.  No matter how painful the problem or how deep the sorrow, we know that His eye is fixed upon us.  While the world may turn its eye from suffering, we can be assured that we are always under the watchful gaze of our compassionate Savior.

NEWS

PRAYER (Say together)

HEAVENLY FATHER, thank you for salvation, for your mercy full and free; take my all in consecration and glorify yourself in me.