¹¹ Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. ¹² As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. ¹³ When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

¹⁴ Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” ¹⁵ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

¹⁶ They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” ¹⁷ This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

Inconvenience Store

It has been difficult over the summer to post because the routine has got messed up.  We have to get the children and the family to multiple venues for multiple events.  I find myself just wanting to detach from all of the events, like today’s adotion ministry picnic/cookout, and spend time in the basement playing computer games.  However, I would be neglecting the children, I wouldn’t be supporting my wife and I wouldn’t be forced to grow to develop the capacity to serve others.

Jesus spent himself on others even when they had little or no faith.  He spends himself on me.  The words and deeds that we realise always point more deeply to him, but that is the basis of life.  It is the reason we are alive.  Jesus raises the widow’s only son because it points to him being the only Son of the Father.  He has been raised.  As a very large sign said next to Interstate 65 yesterday, “Jesus is alive!”

However, the life-giving essence of Jesus mocks the drab shell that I become in spite of my busyness.  I run from one thing to the next as if I was alive, but I am less alive to him.  The highway sign cut a little bit.  I had to think, ‘Is Jesus more than a tonic that I take because I want to feel better?”  Is Jesus once more for me an idea rather than a person?  Is the Bible a collection of myths which comfort us in the face of a complex and incomprehensible reality?  The truth is found in simplicity.  The truth is found in a touch.  Although it may prove inconveniet, we need to lay still, like a dead son, and let Jesus raise us up one more time into the life we were created to live.

Prayer

I believe you live but I fear my life forgets you.  I have known you to touch me and raise me up.  I don’t want to go to the picnic that my wife has organised today, so I pray that I would reach out and touch someone there in a way that would be more than ‘one more thing to do’.  Be light and life to me.

Questions

1. What problem does Jesus solve?
2. What does it show about Jesus?
3. What did the people believe God was doing?
4. How do you know that God has come to help his people?
5. In what ways does Jesus touch your life and bring revival?