Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” Luke 7:16 NABRE
Jesus is entering a small town through the city gate not too far from where he has grown up. There is a funeral possession, the son of a weeping mother is being carried out of the city to his grave. Jesus is moved with mercy for the mother, who is already a widow. He knows she has lost all means of support having lost her husband and now her only son. Jesus intervenes, he moves to the open coffin and tells the young man to arise and he does. After raising Jesus gives the son to the mother. All who saw where amazed. Fear seized them and they gave glory to God. They proclaim a great prophet has arisen in their midst, that God has visited his people. It is exactly the connection Jesus wants people to make. When He does a good work, or when we do a good work, all glory should go to God. The language Luke uses in writing this story can appear to be a foreshadowing of Jesus death. Jesus is a son of a mother who is a widow, and he will arise from the dead. Like the son who has arisen to help his mother, Jesus will arise and help all of humanity. Jesus rising will make it possible for all to arise, taking the power away from death. Just as the widow’s son only needed a word from Jesus to arise, all people only need a word from Christ to arise as well.
Jesus moved to mercy helped this widow who had nothing. We may not have the power to raise a widow’s son or husband from the dead, but are we mindful of the widow who may need help? Sometimes just a friend is all that is needed.
Psalm 146:9 says, “The LORD protects the resident alien, comes to the aid of the orphan and the widow,” do you too? Would you want help for your mom in this circumstance?
Psalm 146:9 says, 'The LORD protects the resident alien, comes to the aid of the orphan and the widow,' do you too? Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity#dailybibleverse@YouVersion#BeAnEncourager#mercy#arise#Luke#everybodyalways#god#jesuschrist#jesussaves#godisgood#dailydevotion#biblestudy#scripture#bibleverse#verseoftheday#pray#prayer#goodnews#loveeachother#godisgreat#thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways