Scripture - Luke 7:11-17 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. 12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. 16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying,"A great prophet has risen up among us"; and,"God has visited His people." 17 And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.
Observation - Luke is the only writer that mentions this encounter. Matthew briefly discusses the fact that many were raised from the dead. I wonder what the reaction must have been that day as the people were carrying a coffin around the city on their way to the burial place. Ready to give it all up and follow through with the ritual of burying their dead. Putting this young man - whose life was cut short for what ever reason. The only son of his mother - her only way of taking care of herself in her old age - was now gone. She must have been at her wits end thinking what shall I do now? There is much despair in the early portion of this scripture. The dead body - carrying the coffin looking for the burial site. Then Jesus comes on the scene and changes everything. He touches the young man and speaks to him and brings him to life. This one act affected so many lives. The young man was now living, the mother now has her son and hope for the future, the people standing by get to see God in action and expand their faith.
Application - I think so many times in life we walk around with coffins in our hands looking for places to bury the dead things in our lives. We are in some ways like the mother who has no hope for the future. Everything I was working on is dead. Everything I love is dead. Everything I was hoping for is dead. We are walking around with that coffin in our hand looking for the proper burial place - we think it is all dead. But there is hope if we allow Jesus to touch our lives. He spoke words of life to the young man - "Young man, I say to you get up!" This is an exclamation. GET UP! I really believe that some times we just need to be told to GET UP!. Let God breathe life back into our dead lives and our dead situation. Just because it goes beyond human limitations does not mean that God is finished with it yet. Let Jesus touch your life...
Prayer - Father, I love you so much. I am so thankful that you can touch my life and bring life to otherwise dead circumstance. Even though I have packaged it and prepared it for the burial site you have the power to bring life back to it. God I place everything in my life in your hand. Tell me to Get Up and I am up.
