URC Daily Devotion 31 December 2024

St Luke 7: 11 – 17

Soon afterwards Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him.  As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town.  When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’  Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, rise!’  The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.  Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen among us!’ and ‘God has looked favourably on his people!’  This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

Reflection

Two large crowds clash at the town gates: one trying to get in, one trying to get out; one celebrating recent events, one mourning recent events.  This could be the recipe for a riot in many circumstances today.  But the leader of one group sees and has compassion on the leader of the other group.  Jesus sees the tears of the grieving widow and mother, and is moved to intervene from a place of love.

Jesus comes forward and touches the open bier where the son’s body is visible to all – a shocking action as touching a dead body is the most ‘unclean’ act imaginable.  He directly addresses the dead young man (just as he will a dead girl in Capernaum and his friend Lazarus in the tomb) and suddenly he is alive.

This takes place just over the hill from Shunem where Elisha raised a woman’s son, and has strong echoes of Elijah raising the widow of Zarephath’s son.  Jesus’ act fits the tradition of the great prophets, restoring life, repairing families, renewing hope.  No wonder the crowd proclaim ‘A great prophet has risen among us!’.  Indeed, this is the last of the acts that will shortly be reported to John the Baptist in prison as signs of hope that the kingdom is coming.

A young man’s resurrection is a present joy and a future hope.  His mother, as a widow, would have been dependent on him financially for security, as well as emotionally.  There are resonances of the compassion Jesus will have on his own mother in his dying moments, when he will offer provision of love and care through his closest disciple becoming a surrogate son.  These intergenerational bonds are truly precious in the kingdom of God.

I wonder what the young man had to say on awakening in his own funeral?

Prayer

Jesus give us eyes of compassion.
This New Year’s Eve 
help us mourn with those who mourn 
and laugh with those who laugh.
May we be and seek signs of life restored, 
families repaired, hope renewed.
As the year turns, 
Jesus give us ears attuned to the young as well as old.
May we give you praise and glory 
as we see your kingdom come in the year ahead.
Amen.