“Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 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. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’
“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.’ This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.” Luke 7:11-17
A somber delegation accompanied the weeping mother, earlier bereft of her husband, and now her only son. Was there any sorrow like hers? How would she manage the responsibilities, the loneliness? Crowds surrounded her, but the Lord saw her, knew her grief and fears, and spoke. Do not weep. The cause of her tears would immanently be moot, for He was here, wielding compassion, mercy, and power. (Lamentations 1:12)
At the touch and word of Jesus, the dead man sat and spoke. Mouths that grieved now gave glory to this majestic One. God had visited, and they were changed!
We tote many biers in our lives. We rue what once was and is no more, unable to shake both the gold and the ashes of the past. We walk stiffly along with dead emotion, unrequited and now absent love, paralyzed with bitterness. We wail with longing for what might or might not be, unable to be fully present in the now. We bend under the weight of vengeance, crippled by anger and a warped sense of justice. (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Philippians 3:13-14)
The only necessary walk with the bier is to be done with these things. Invite Jesus to apply His resurrection touch. Move at His word, arise from the funk, and live again. Exchange grumbling with gratitude, resentment with rejoicing, grief with glory. Jesus our Paraclete lives to intercede for us and impart new life. (Hebrews 7:25)
What weighs heavy this day? What too-long held habits, hurts, or half-efforts are we parading with excuse, or accompanying with distraction? Would we welcome Jesus into our journey, and trust Him to lift, revive, resurrect? How will we expect to glorify Him?
“Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.” ~Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Lord, enter my day, raise me from all that hinders a free, vital, joyful life with and for You.
As the rain and snow 