CROWDS UNITED
Opening Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for the companions on my journey through life.
Read Luke 7:11–17
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Have you ever traveled with a large crowd, on a pilgrimage perhaps? Or been part of a huge gathering? Remember the emotions you felt.I have only twice been to a football stadium—once to a concert and once to hear the sadly missed evangelist Billy Graham. They were memorable but different occasions, both with varying degrees of togetherness, happiness, wonder, and purpose.
Being part of a crowd can be a very powerful thing. It can also be intimidating, a sense of being lost among so many.
Imagine the scene here, where two very different crowds meet. The crowd with Jesus will be optimistic, curious, excited, and perhaps a little skeptical. The crowd with the widow are mourners, sharing in her sadness.
I wonder how the widow feels when they came up against this other crowd (12). Does she feel overwhelmed? In her grief does she notice what is going on around her? Does she even notice this man who is going to give her back her precious son? She is just doing what needs to be done, not expecting anything.
And I wonder if Jesus had thought that morning about who he would meet on his travels that day, and prayed to his Father for them.
Apply
In the midst of the crowd surrounding him, Jesus notices this grieving mother. How might we be alert to the needs of those around us in the midst of our busy days?
Closing prayer
Lord, as I go through my days doing what needs to be done, help me to be expectantly open to Your power and healing, both in my life and in the lives of those around me.
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