Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 16, 2016
By Tripp Prince
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.” Luke 7:12-13
Can you feel the heartbreak in this story? Can you for a moment imagine the overwhelming, debilitating grief that must have seized this poor woman? As a widow, she was already living with the painful loss of her husband, the one with whom she had shared her dreams, hopes, and future. When all of that was lost, surely she clung to her only son, the living connection with her spouse and the joy of her life. Yet the pain she lived with was soon to be deepened and new wounds opened in a heartbreaking way.
Jesus arrived in town on the darkest day in this woman’s life. As he approached the city gate, this scene of anguish unfolded before him. This widow who has suffered so much was grieving yet again. As the young man who died was carried out, Jesus saw the source of their grief, and joined in their sorrow. Yet in the midst of his deep compassion and love for this widow, he said something unexpected: “Do not weep.”
How can Jesus possibly expect this woman to not weep in a moment like this? Wouldn’t you expect him to say anything but this? “I’m so terribly sorry,” perhaps. “It gets easier with time,” also more likely. But “do not weep,” really?
The only way Jesus could tell the woman to not weep and still have genuine compassion for her, was if he also planned on healing her pain and restoring that which was broken. The beauty and power of the gospel is that is exactly what Jesus did and what he continues to do today.
Since Jesus has power over sin and death, when he tells this woman to not weep, it isn’t wishful thinking or ignoring her pain but is in fact a glorious statement of victory! Do not weep… for I have come that you may have abundant life (Jn. 10:10). Do not weep… for I have triumphed over the powers of this world (Col. 2:15). Do not weep… for I hold the keys to death in my hands (Rev. 1:18).
In life’s darkest moments, when we find ourselves gripped with fear, heartache, and loss, we do not need the Lord Jesus to offer us empty words of solace. We do not need a condolence card from the Almighty but a cry of victory spoken over us and our world! We need to know that through the cross and resurrection, he has defeated death and promised that we too may share in his victory. We need to know that even in our pain we are never abandoned and hope is never lost. Therefore, hear his words spoken afresh to you this day: “Do not weep.”
“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!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 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.” Luke 7:14-16
Prayer
Father, come and speak your word of victory over our lives that we may know the love of Christ that heals every wound and dries every tear.Application
What wounds or pain do you carry in your heart that need to encounter afresh the love and compassion of God?Related Reading
Acts 2:27-28; Romans 6:9; 1 Corinthians 15:54-55; Revelation 21:4Post/Tweet today
In our pain and in Christ, we are never abandoned and hope is never lost. #WisdomHunters #donotweepWorship Resource
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