JESUS INTERRUPTS A FUNERAL PROCESSION
When Jesus encountered the crying widow of Nain walking behind her only son’s coffin in a funeral procession, he interrupted their progress (Who does that?). He was moved with compassion for the widow whose only link to a hopeful future lay in the casket. The rights and possessions of her husband belonged to her now dead son. She would be left destitute and alone. But Jesus interrupted the funeral and told the widow, “Don’t cry!” How offensive this would be if he were only telling her to deny her feelings. After all, what else could she do? She had no power to overcome death. She had every right to those tears!
Who is this that he would stop a funeral along with its tears? He is Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life. And when death meets Life, Life wins. So, Jesus touched the coffin and told the young man to arise. And the dead boy arose and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Jesus has defeated sin, death, and the grave. He is able to turn our mourning into laughter and our tears into joy.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for Jesus. For because of Him, we grieve the loss of our loved ones, but not as those who have no hope. For we have the hope of the resurrection through Jesus our Lord. He is our eternal hope and our reward. In His name we pray, amen.