A widow’s only son dead. Jesus sees this grieving mama. The funeral procession is at hand. There she is amidst the crowd. Jesus’s heart is stirred. Stirred to great compassion for this wounded woman. As he touches the biers holding the body of her one and only son, he commands the dead, young man “Arise”. And arise the young man did. What inexplicable joy this mama must have felt to have her one and only son back.

Jesus is saying the same to you and I. Arise. He sees our dead spaces, our stuck places and he is crying out to us, “Arise. Come and partake of new life in me. Share in my joy. I rejoice when another life is saved. I rejoice just as this widow did. Let me rejoice for and with you.”

Will you answer the call today? Will you arise and let Jesus make all things new?

[Luke 7.11-17]

11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ How is this miracle a foreshadowing of what is to come for Jesus? His mother?

+ How does this miracle foreshadow what is to come for each of us as believers?

+ Put yourself in the shoes of the crowd. How would you feel if you witnessed this miracle and why?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ In what way is God calling me to arise?

+ How might the Lord be calling me to act in light of eternity to those in my sphere of influence who do not know Christ as their Savior + Lord?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Who can you share with about Jesus miraculous healing power this week?