Jesus ruins funerals. In Luke chapter 7 he strolls into the town of Nain, sees a funeral procession, walks up to the coffin and brings the dead man back to life.
 |
| Nain, now called Nein |
Upon further investigation we learn that the man was the only son of a widow. This woman was in a terrible spot. Her husband had died and now her only son - all of her support systems were gone, both emotional and financial.
Her desperate situation moves Jesus and so he does something about it - bringing the man back to life and "giving him to his mother." Such actions show Jesus' incredible devotion to meet people in their darkest hours.
These actions are the "feet" of his life mission: "to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the broken hearted" - Luke 4.18-9 from Isaiah 61.1-2, 58.6
 |
| Elijah and the Widow from Zarepath |
The other members of the funeral, noticing the similarity between this action and the great prophet Elijah, who also raised the only son of a widow in 1 King 17, "glorify God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God had looked favorably on his people!"
Jesus' was all about actions that restored a broken world. About bringing heaven to earth. What else is a miracle other than a testimony of how things are supposed to be?
As we enter a season that commemorates the birth of Jesus, how are you bringing "feet" to your life mission? How are you partnering with God in tangible ways to restore this broken world?
2 comments:
not sure if you asked wanting people to answer with their "how," but it is a scary question as its so easy to get sucked into your own life. I do work as a drug & alcohol counselor trying to do what I can with kids, but sometimes I worry that it doesn't "count," as irrational as that sounds, because I do receive payment for this work.
It's a matter of the heart. You are moved to help the world and it just so happens that you get paid to do what you love. I think that is a wonderful thing. Obviously if you were motivated by money you would pry be doing something else :)
Post a Comment