Week 3: Death

Aching Empathy

Jesus’s crucifixion is not the first death in the New Testament. In the reading today, Jesus encounters the death of a widow’s only son in the small town of Nain. Surely, it is not the first time that Jesus has encountered death. In fact, we know of a few other specific instances, such as when he raises Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus. Jesus ministers to those who mourn. He comes close to them in the most painful hours of their life when the agony is still excruciating. He doesn’t wait till they pull it together. He cares for them in the ugliness of their distress when the tears come with wordless groans. “Blessed are those who mourn,” Jesus says, “for they will be comforted.”

There are times in the midst of caring for a family during a funeral when I feel most united with Christ. It is easy to turn away from the pain of others during this time, to leave a note or send flowers, but Christ calls us to a compassionate presence. As we are Gospel formed, we often take on aching empathy. In these moments, we minister not only for Jesus but as Jesus.

Still, if a person can zoom out just enough, it’s interesting to think about Jesus encountering death in this passage from Luke 7. Here is the bringer of life, the one who formed all creation, and the soon to be firstfruits of the resurrection face to face with the brutality and pain of a dead child.

It’s hard to know the exact age of the deceased boy. The emphasis of the text is not really on the son. It’s on the woman who is a widow with only one son. The woman depends upon the only son's faithfulness for her own well-being. No welfare program or social security existed in the first-century Roman world. The son was not only a beloved child but also the hope for continued life.

The parallels and foreshadowing soon become evident when we zoom out a bit. Jesus, the only begotten son, the true and faithful heir, resurrects the widow's only son from the grave, giving her hope. The crowd is filled with awe and praises God. Don’t overlook their testimony, “God has come to help his people.” If only they knew how true it was that God would help his people. If only they understood that the one who brought the resurrection was also God's only son who would soon give his life for the help of the people.

As you read through the text today, pay close attention to it. Don’t just read it, but feel it today.

What line or phrase from the text best captures the emotion?

What line or phrase speaks to your emotions today?

In the times of your life when you’ve faced the loss of a loved one, how have you related to Christ?