LUKE 7:12

When you think she had gotten over the grief of her husband’s passing – tragedy strikes again. Not only was she dealing with a sorrowful past, but she was now inevitably facing a most bitter present set of circumstances. Now her only son was being carried out for burial! Probably it’s only those who have been there could really understand the full intensity of her grief. She was now facing another season of inexplicable trials, and once again, sorrow like a covering cast spreads itself over her soul. She is now face-to-face with death again.

In this passage, Luke introduces us to this lonely widow. She is surrounded by crowds but yet so painfully alone, emotionally devastated, and inconsolable (v12). The fact is, many people could be all around us, and yet one can be so indescribably lonely and powerless. The passage tells of the real pain of a broken heart! One could only imagine how bleak and hopeless the future looked for this widow, with the only source of her comfort and help now suddenly cut off.

However, amid all the pain, gloom, and darkness she was now experiencing, Luke hastens to point out “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said unto her – “Weep not” (v13). He gave this strange command as the only One who could undeniably change her circumstances. Luke emphasizes for us, not only did He see her as someone to be pitied, but He saw her, really saw her, to the point of being moved with compassion for her, not just to speak comfortingly to her, but to move supernaturally on her behalf. As He saw her, something moved within Him.

Firstly, Luke tells us that Jesus came, and He came nigh (v12). He came and secondly, He saw her (v13). He took notice of her. He perceived her. He discerned her to the point of truly understanding her pain and moved to alleviate it. He felt her pain. He experienced her suffering. It registered. He picked up on her intense grief. Most of all, He refused to leave her in that most painful condition. What an amazing high priest! Scriptures authoritatively declare, “We have not such a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus came and touched the bier and they that bare him stood still (Luke 7:14). Then He spoke to the dead as He spoke to the living “. . . young man, I say unto thee arise” (14). How amazing is that, speaking to the dead as to the living. When He touches anything, you have change and transformation, miracles and deliverances! Jesus gave him back to his mother (v15). Everything changes when Jesus comes!