Scripture
It wasn’t long after this when Jesus entered a city called Nain. Again all of His disciples accompanied Him, along with a huge crowd. 12 He was coming near the gate of the city as a corpse was being carried out. This man was the only child and support of his widowed mother, and she was accompanied by a large funeral crowd.
13 As soon as the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her.
Jesus: Don’t weep.
14 Then He came to the stretcher, and those carrying it stood still.
Jesus: Young man, listen! Get up!
15 The dead man immediately sat up and began talking. Jesus presented him to his mother,
Luke 7:11-15 (The Voice)
The Gist
We take a look at the deeper meanings found within the Luke 7 story - what it says about us and what it says about Jesus that His compassion gifted this widow an uninvited and unrequested miracle.
Every other healing in the gospels involves some form of approach - someone coming to Jesus, reaching for Him or His cloak, crying out, or sending word. But here, in this story, Jesus crosses the distance on His own initiative.
Jesus: Notices the one, is often moved before He acts, comes to us, and restores us.
The direction you are walking doesn't determine whether Jesus can find you! This unrequested miracle strips away every transactional framework we quietly attach to God's goodness. We can subtly believe (without saying it) that miracles flow to the spiritually prepared, those who have prayed enough and just right, believed enough, and positioned themselves correctly. This story of the widow dismantles ALL of that!
Digging Deeper
Is there a place in your life where you have accepted a loss as final - something you have given up on or stopped asking about because the procession is underway? What would it look like or mean to let Jesus meet you there - not because you pursued Him, but because He sees you and is moved?
