Don't cry

Luke 7 :12 - 15

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 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.

After walking all day Jesus saw a widow who had lost her son. There was a large crowd with her.

He had compassion for her. He would have had to go to her to be heard. In front of them all he walked over; A stranger to her and to them. You know her friends were watching so this stranger wouldn't hurt her.

(Any one who wants can just walk up as a stranger to a large crowd and speak to the one they escort. Not on this planet, nope, I don't think so. But He did. It shows bravery to me. Even used to a crowd when I sing, I still have trouble if I speak. I like to be expected, at the least.)

Touched by her grief, on tired, dusty feet, not having so much as a sip of water for his needs yet - he went to her. He cared. He approached her. He might have just walked by - no, not him.

No one had called to him. They didn't know him. No one told him. He had just gotten to town. He saw, he cared. He made the effort and went where he was drawn.

With all those eyes on him, He spoke to comfort her. His words to her touch my heart -

"Don't cry."

How I miss hearing them. There have been those that love me enough to say that to me. It doesn't happen now. How would she feel hearing them again, words that mean, "I care. I hurt when you hurt." Who was this man? Why would a stranger care if she cried or not?

She was no stranger to him. She was a mother in grief over her son's death. He could not change that loss for his mother, it was beyond his power. He changed it for her.

He went to where her son lay dead, touched the bier and spoke. He didn't just offer comforting words. He did something to provide real comfort. The man sat up and talked.

"Jesus gave him back to his mother. "

He may have helped the man up and walked him back over to her. Can you even imagine the joy she felt to see her son walking toward her?

A huge crowd of people saw this, a mother given back her son who was dead. Can you hear the absolute silence as the two of them met and hugged? Can you hear the sudden cheers as the crowd realized what they watched happening? Can you see the tears the mother shed still, but these running in joy?

Why would Jesus do this?

It is not just how he is. He walked here for the one he called Father. He saw, he cared, he went, he spoke, he touched, he healed - not because He was asked - because He saw and cared.

No where does it say if they thanked him. Knowing how shocked they both were I expect they didn't. If they turned to do so I bet he was gone, lost in the crowd now seeking him.

Not one prayer raised to him that day, not one request that he step in. No one even knew to ask. They did not know him. His joy was in the giving of joy. His thanks to the Father that granted the power to Him.

Then He went on to die, in terrible pain, in front of the eyes of his mother. He could only call to John and ask him to care for her. He could not change his path, not even for the heart of his mother, however much he cared. He knew this was coming to her, soon.

In time he died. Three days later, God raised him. He gave him back to his mother. It was in His power to do that. He did. She saw her son lived.

God saw, he cared, he spoke, he gave; Another mother got her son back from death. We were given proof we live.

In His love, each of us will be given back all those we love - forever. They live, safe, with Him.

"Don't cry." He cares.