We Follow Life

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:

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. (Luke 7:11-17, NIV)

REFLECTIONS:

Jesus is compassionate, fearless, and powerful. Because of these traits, a young man will live; a widow's future will be secured; and God will be glorified.

Two groups of people approached the city gates of Nain; each will bear witness to God's favor. One group follows Life; the other follows death. Jesus' disciples and a large crowd have traveled with him to Nain. Mourners have followed a funeral procession carrying the body of a widow's son through the same city, and these two groups meet at the city gates.

Jesus connects himself with the lives of the townspeople by acknowledging the widow, encouraging her not to cry. He could've easily ignored her, letting the funeral procession passed by. Not only does he speak to her in compassion, but he steps up fearlessly to the funeral bier that holds the body of her dead son. Now Jesus is connected to death and considered unclean for having touched the bier.

With the death of her son, and having no husband, this woman has lost her future. She has no one to care for and no one to care for her. She is bereft. Jesus knows this and determines to redeem her life, as well as that of her son. "Young man, I say to you, get up!" Jesus speaks the son into life, giving him back to his mother.

The followers of Life and the followers of death joined together in praise and in worship, as the power and glory of God overcomes them. "God has come to help his people!"

This is the Jesus we follow—the compassionate, fearless, powerful Son of God who sees what we may not want to see, who takes risks that we may not want to take, and who speaks power where we may be afraid to speak. This is the Christ we follow. We follow Life.

PRAYER:

God of courage, teach us to be compassionate, fearless, and powerful as we seek to follow you. Throughout this week, we have seen you show yourself faithful. You provided exactly what was needed to Elijah, the widow, and her son. You empowered both Elijah and the widow to live in faith. You showed yourself to be the God of Life. You stirred our hearts to sing a new song of praise to you. And now, today, you have called us to follow your Son in bringing your Life into this world. Strengthen us by your Spirit and use us this day for your glory and for the good of this world.

WHO AM I?

I am Tres Sansom, and I yearn to be used by God to bring his Life into this world of sickness and death. I want to join with God in bringing his shalom into this world of harried craziness. In big ways and small ways, I want to refresh the lives of my wife, my kids, my friends, my neighbors, my fellow man. I want to walk with my eyes open to the needs of those around me, and I want to step out in faith and courage and compassion to bless the lives of those God brings across my path. Today, I want to follow Jesus and be used by him. Join me and, by God's grace, let's bring his Life into this world.