daily java

Daily Java:

Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, “A mighty prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people today.” And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside. (Luke 7:11-35)

The woman was bereft. Her son was dead. Now she not only had the loss of her beloved son, she also had no one to support her. She was alone.

Her husband had tried to provide for her but he had died. Her other son had died, and now her last one was gone. Grief and fear ate her up.

If it had not been for the generosity of her neighbors and the little bit she had saved up, she would not have been able to even have a funeral for him. She just couldn’t bear to see him go out like a pauper. So she set herself to giving him this last token of her love: a decent funeral.

But it left her with nothing. Her son had been a good man and had tried to take care of her. He had never married and had always seemed so healthy. Now, he was gone.

And she was alone. And afraid. And full of grief. She didn’t know how in the world life could go on.

What really surprised her was the young stranger who approached the coffin as they carried it through the city to the cemetery. He walked right up to it and looked inside.

Then he looked at her. She didn’t think she had ever been looked at like that in her life. It was almost as if he saw right down to her soul. Tears were streaming down her face and she was sobbing almost uncontrollably.

It was such a surprise when she saw tears begin in his eyes. He said, “Don’t cry.” But how could she not? She had lost the center of her life. As a mother and a homemaker, she had lost both son and home. She had nothing left.

But he walked closer and touched the coffin. The bearers stopped, more in surprise at this odd move of the young man. Then – well, he said, and it is still so hard to believe, even now as she is an old woman and her son is outside playing with his grandchildren – the young man, whom she had never seen before, said, “I tell you, get up.” To her son’s body! His dead, stiffened body.

And he did! And started talking! “Where am I? What’s happening. Why am I in this box? Mom?”

She fell to the ground in fear. Then she felt such joy!. He was alive! Her baby was alive! Alive!

The bearers dropped the coffin, they were so surprised. How could it be?

The young man helped her son out of the box and brought him over to her. At first, she was almost too afraid to touch him. Then she grabbed him and hugged him. Oh, thank God! He’s alive!

People began to shout praises to God and praise to the young man – Jesus was his name! who had raised her son from the dead.

After profuse thanks, which the young man seemed to be almost embarrassed about, she took her son, her live son! home. She was going to fix him a supper he wouldn’t forget for a long time.