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HIS HEART WENT OUT TO HER

Luke 7:11-17

Recently we looked at the way Jesus reached out to a man suffering from leprosy.

Then.. last week.. we watched as Jesus met the need of a paralyzed man.

Why focus on Jesus like this?

Because we live in a multicultural society with many religions!

Speak of God and people will think of God as He is in their religion.. or in their own view.

Speak of Jesus and many will think of their own picture of Him.

I believe this means it is very important we refresh our picture of Jesus.. that we seek to look at Him with fresh eyes.. remembering that He said, Anyone who has seen Me has seen God.

Today we look at one of the most moving stories in the Gospels: Luke 7:11-17..

There are three vivid pictures here.

à A PICTURE OF DESPERATE NEED.

Luke writes.. Luke 7:12..

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.

Jesus was approaching the town gate.. the public meeting place.. where people gathered to talk.. conduct business. As He approached.. met by a funeral procession coming out.. dead person was being carried in a coffin.. not closed.. but more like a wooden stretcher.. people followed.. just about the whole town.. weeping loudly.. His mother.. walked in front.. weeping [Tyndale]..

Luke sums up her agony in these powerful words.. a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.

She had at some earlier time lost her husband.. and now.. she had lost the son she loved.. the son she had expected to care for her.. support her.. and carry on the family name. She was totally alone.. destitute!

Her loss was a heart-breaking loss. And now she was in desperate need!

As we picture this scene today.. we see how deeply Jesus cared for the needy.. and we cannot escape the challenge to reach out to the lonely, the homeless, the poor.. any one in need..

We are also reminded of a far greater need.. a desperate need.. a need that every human being shares.. our own desperate need.

Many of us will have experienced the loss of a loved one and very few will be spared such a loss. AND not one of us here today will be spared death – unless Jesus comes again before we die.

We live our lives in the shadow of death!

How do we cope with this? Some cope by saying that death is just a part of life.. my loved one is now at peace.. and one day I will be at peace, too. There is some comfort in that.. but is that true? Does death bring peace? What does the Bible teach?

The Bible teaches us that death is followed by judgment.

In Hebrews 9:27 we are told..

Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..

Our actions, thoughts, intentions, motives.. all will be laid bare.. and every single one of us will be found guilty!

So not only do we live in the shadow of death. We live in the shadow of the judgment that follows death. Our need is a desperate one!

A picture of desperate need.. and then..

à A PICTURE OF GREAT COMPASSION.

As Jesus approached the town gate the funeral procession was coming out.. Was this mere coincidence? Or was this what we might call a Divine Appointment? The latter.. for Jesus seems to be fully aware of this woman.. who she was.. and her need.

Luke writes.. Luke 7:13..

When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

He saw her.. really saw her.. took it all in.. her great loss.. her great need.. and His heart went out to her. He was moved deeply with compassion.. pity.. empathy.. Stop crying.. no need to cry..

Remember that Jesus said.. Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father - God.

We are seeing God here, the God we read about in

Psalm 103:13,14..

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

God sees us.. God cares deeply for us.. God loves us.. His heart goes out to us! Believe that today.. take it to heart.. and find strength to face whatever it is that life is throwing at you today.

As I ponder the way Jesus was deeply moved by this woman's need.. my mind forms another picture..

A picture of Jesus.. before He was born.. in heaven.. seeing the whole human race.. seeing us.. living in the shadow of death and judgment.. and when He saw our desperate need.. His heart went out to us!

A picture of desperate need.. then.. great compassion.. and now..

à A PICTURE OF AMAZING VICTORY OVER DEATH.

His heart went out to her.. and He acted.. without being asked..

Luke 7:14,15..

Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

He touched the coffin.. something that few would do.. because it would defile him.. bar him from the temple.. until cleansed.. but He did it.. and.. He said.. Young man, Get up. The young man sat up and began to talk. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Imagine you were there..??

Jesus is Lord. Luke wrote.. When the Lord saw her.. the first time he calls Jesus Lord in his gospel..

Here we see the Lord.. of the Universe in action.. speaks.. and what He says is done!

He gives the son back to his mother.. and restores her family.. her support.. her hope.

Jesus took the initiative.. raised her son.. and reunited them!

As I picture that my mind turns to what He has done for all of us..

Before He was born.. Jesus was in heaven.. at the right hand of the Father.

He saw us.. His heart went out to us.. and He took the initiative.. and reached out to us.

He came as a babe.. lived as one of us.. died on the cross for us.. and rose again.

And because He did.. today.. He forgives our sin.. and lifts the shadow of judgment.

Romans 4:25..

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Acts 13:38,39..

Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

When we believe in Him.. He takes away our guilt.. gives us peace!

And He gives us hope. He lifts the shadow of death itself..

1 Peter 1:3..

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.. or.. into a life full of hope.

Beyond this life is another life.. a better life.. and just as Jesus reunited mother and son.. He will re-unite us with fellow believers..

2 Corinthians. 4:14..

We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

With Jesus.. with you.. reunited in His presence. A glorious hope!

When we turn to Him in repentance and faith.. He drives away the shadow of death and judgment.

He gives us peace in the place of guilt..

confidence in the place of fear..

hope in the place of despair!

He gives us a life.. full of hope.. and purpose!

We have been watching Jesus help a widow in desperate need.

We have glimpsed our own desperate need.. glimpsed God’s deep compassion for us.. and glimpsed Him meeting our desperate need.

For some of us this will be a reminder.

If it is.. let it move you to turn afresh to God.. renew your trust in Him.. and leave this place stronger than when you came in.

For others these great truths may have caught our attention for the first time.

If that is so.. believe that Jesus died for you.. and rose again.. and come to Him.. willing to change.. and put your trust in Him.. He will forgive you.. and give you hope.. He will take away the fear of death and the fear of judgment.. and give you the calm assurance.. that beyond this life.. is another.. where you will be with Him.. and with all those who have believed in Him.

This week I was reminded of the confidence the Apostle Paul had in the face of death.

He was in prison.. facing possible execution.. and said he was unsure whether he would live or die..

but said.. to die is gain.. to be with Christ is better by far! [Philippians 1:21-23]

WITH CHRIST…BETTER BY FAR!!

When we have that confidence.. whatever life may throw at us.. we will be okay.