Luke 7:11-17 (NRSV)
Read Luke 7:11-17 on biblegateway.com
Verse 11Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. Verse 12As 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. Verse 13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." Verse 14Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" Verse 15The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Verse 16Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" Verse 17This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.
Devotion
The first high school classmate of my son to die was only 20. For many of his friends, sophomores in college, his unexpected death was the first they had confronted. After the committal service, the funeral home staff person thanked us for coming and asked us to give the family a final private moment at the grave. No one moved. A sea of 19- and 20-year-olds stood frozen in place, unwilling to leave a friend to travel those last few feet alone.
I wanted to say to each one, “Do not weep,” echoing Jesus’ words at another funeral. I wanted to remind them of the promise of resurrection. I wanted to remind them of a fact we embrace in faith: their friend is not alone in that place. The connection we each have to him is Christ – Christ with him in death, Christ with us in life, Christ with all believers in resurrection.
Prayer
Living Lord, dry my tears this day. Let me believe in the community of all the saints and in the resurrection to life eternal. This day, empower me to live as one grounded in this faith. As a member of your own body, let me this day be the lips that dispense compassion and hope. Let me be the words, “Do not weep.” Amen.