#40 Luke 7:11-17 His Heart Went Out to Her

On October 10, 2021 by Amy Burgin

Joy:
Episode#40 Luke 7:11-17

Welcome

Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin.

Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin

Amy:
If you’re anything like us, you desire God’s presence and divine direction every day of your life. This podcast makes space for that. Here, we offer few words of our own and make room for Christgazing, the act of looking steadily and intently at Christ. Each week we focus on one passage from scripture as Joy reads it several times and creates stillness after each reading to consider who God is and who we are to him.

We are in a series that takes us through the book of Luke, focusing on the things Jesus said and did when he walked the earth.

Pour Out Your Heart to God

Amy:
Before we begin, take the next minute to give God the things stored up in your body, your mind, and your heart. Maybe it is thanksgiving, exhaustion, conflict in a relationship, grief, peace, love, doubt, or fear. Whatever your body feels, your mind thinks, or your heart desires, name it and bring it to the Lord in these next few moments.

[Pause and pour out]

What Does This Passage Say About God?

Joy:
I’m going to read today’s passage two times. As I read, consider the question, What does this passage say about God?

Luke 7:11-17 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 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. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her, and he said, “Don’t cry.”

Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers 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.

They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

Again?

Take the next few moments to answer the question, “What does this say about God?”

[Pause and know]

What Does This Passage Say About People?

Joy: As I reread the scripture, consider the question: What does this passage tell you about people?

Take the next minute to answer the question: What does this passage tell you about people?

[Pause and know]

Lord, What Would You Have Me Know or Do Today?

Joy:
As I read for the last time, ask God the question, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”

Take time to ask God, “Lord, what would have me know or do today?”

[Pause and listen]

Blessing

Joy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. May you keep your face turned toward Jesus today and know him more.

One Response

Amy:
Right outside the town gate, two crowds meet. One is entering the town, following Jesus and his disciples. The other is exiting the town, following a young, dead man and his broken-hearted, widowed mother. The eyes of Christ see her. The heart of Christ leaves his chest and goes out to her.

The body of Christ follows his heart straight to her, and I see the leaders of these two crowds stand face to face. I see his hands extend forward, palms up, as an invitation for her to draw closer. A widowed woman, now alone with no other sons, reaches out to meet his hands with hers, glad to grab on and receive strength and consolation from a good man of authority. Perhaps they held on to each other and communicated much through tear-filled eyes, her tears streaming down her cheeks and onto their hands.

From his heart, his mouth speaks an imperative, “Don’t cry.” Perhaps the words puzzled the people. One filled with such compassion, such empathy would have tear-filled eyes himself. Yet, he says, “don’t weep, don’t lament.” He follows the puzzling imperative with an action, a reason not to cry. He goes up, touches the bier they were carrying the dead son on, and the pallbearers pause. They stop. They stand still. In Jewish tradition, a funeral procession proceeded with three to seven pauses. Deliberate stops for the express purpose of making room to lament the loss. But this stillness was not meant to make room to know lament. This stillness was meant to make room to know God.

Closing

Amy:
Joy and I will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.