God Cares for You - The Widow of Nain
Luke 7:11-16
This message is for the struggling women this Mother’s Day who might say, “As a little girl, I had hopes and dreams of what I thought my life would be when I was older, and this is not the way I thought it would be.”
It is my desire that women, especially those of this category, might be aware of the fact that Jesus is looking on you right now with love and compassion.
What do we learn from the movement to support and empower women?
• Women historically have been treated as being inferior, of less value, than men.
• Jewish teachers of Jesus’ day (called rabbis) considered females to be almost less than human and in daily prayers thanked God that they were born a man.
• Even men who read scripture today have misunderstood leadership in the home in terms of dominance and power rather than the sacrificial and serving love displayed in Christ’s love for the church. (Eph 5)
For consideration:
• How does the gospel change the world’s way of devaluing women?
• Observe God’s concern as reflected in Christ’s treatment of women.
• How do we reflect the high place God has placed on the role of the woman in the church and in the home?
• Jesus came to tear down walls, and in a society marked by contempt for women he broke the power of that contempt by his example and teaching.
Luke 7:11-16 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
There were two processions in this event:
There was a procession of death - It carried the sorrow and groaning of creation’s curse.
There was a procession of life - It was led by Jesus Christ, the victorious prince of life.
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
For reflection:
When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her (a heart of compassion) and he said, “Don’t cry.” Luke 7:13
Can you see Jesus seeing you in this way?
What part of this story has spoken to you today?