March 31, 2024
Daily Devotion:
"Great Compassion"
Luke 7:16
(ESV)
16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”
Jesus performed two miracles. These miracles were very different, involving almost opposite situations. But the circumstances did not matter. What mattered was who Jesus is and what He was willing and able to do.
A centurion whose slave was very sick had heard of Jesus. He knew Jesus had healed many, and he believed Jesus would do the same for his slave. This man was a Gentile and a Roman military officer. He did not go to Jesus himself, but he sent Jewish elders to ask Jesus to heal his slave. He displayed great faith by insisting that Jesus
didn’t even need to come to his house to perform the miracle. He knew all Jesus had to do was speak and his slave would be healed. Jesus healed the slave and
commended the centurion for his faith.
A widow had lost her only son. Unlike the wealthy centurion, this woman had no social standing and, in
that time and culture, no means of providing for herself without a man in her family. She was without protection or provision. This woman did not ask Jesus to heal her son, but, when Jesus saw her, He had compassion for her. He healed her son because of His great compassion, not because of any great faith on her part. The people who witnessed this resurrection gave glory to God. They
recognized that only God Himself has the authority and power to perform such a miracle. The people also recognized that He was more than a prophet, Jesus had
great compassion for this woman, and He did a miracle for her. God truly had come to help His people.
Whether we are broken by loss or grief, or whether we can display incredible faith, God has come to help us. Regardless of how we approach Him, how we present our needs, or what our future holds, He has compassion for us. He has come to help you, and He sees exactly where you are today. Let Him overwhelm and surprise you with His great compassion and care for you.
