Luke 7: 12-13. “Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.”
The most phenomenal event in all history is the resurrection of the dead. It may be the fact of Jesus himself being resurrected, or the promise of believers someday being raised, or of Jesus raising the dead-some men just have problems believing that Jesus can raise the dead.
Jesus entered Nain. This is the only time the city is named in the Bible. It is the same area where Elisha raised the son of the Shunammite woman (II Kings 4:18-37). Therefore, it became an area where the great compassion and power of God had been manifested. Many were present to witness the great conquest of death. There were many of His disciples present, and there were multitudes of people, those who did not believe.
The great compassion of Jesus is seen in that He was touched. Jesus was touched by death. Apparently, the sight of death always touched Him. The fact that men die is what brought Him to earth. Probably the whole scene of sin and death flashed across His mind – the scene of man’s sin and death. The great cost of sin and death, that is, His own death in bearing the sins and death of the world.
“For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. ” Romans 14:9
Jesus was touched by a broken heart, the broken heart of the mother. Note her situation, she was a widow, apparently somewhat up in years with only one child, a grown son. He had just died, and now she was all alone in the world, a world that was harsh and rough on women, offering them little chance for earning a living and little help on a permanent basis. Hereafter, the woman would be without any permanent companion, provider, or protector; and there was no one to carry on the family line. The family name would die out with her death. She was brokenhearted, full of hurt and pain, without understanding and hope. Jesus saw all this and He was touched and moved with compassion.
Jesus has not changed. Jesus is still compassionate today as He was yesterday. To be compassionate is “to be moved inwardly”, to yearn with tender mercy, affection, pity, empathy, compassion. It is the very seat of a person’s affections. It is the deepest movement of emotions possible; being moved within to the deepest part of one’s being.
You can see clearly why you matter to God and people should matter to you. God loves you so very much – the proof is the CROSS! Love Him back, with all of your heart and soul.
Much Love,
Because He is – I am
Presider
