October 25 “Don ’t Cry”

Luke 7:11-15 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 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. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don't cry.” 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.  
 
HOW wonderful it is to hear from the Master his eternal words of comfort. “Don’t cry.” Jesus said to the bereaved mother. Certainly, she heard these words as a meaningless attempt from an ordinary man to comfort her. How could she have known that the Lord of Life was speaking to her, promising resurrection for her son?
    Lovingly, Jesus revealed his power over death. He revived the mother’s son, and released her sorrow. “Don’t cry.” became the mother’s heart truth that Jesus is Savior. “Don’t cry.” is a simple sentence Jesus transformed into his eternal truth.
   The mother’s experience is a picture of those who experience Jesus’ salvation. We first see Jesus as a man speaking to us with empty, powerless words. But then the Holy Spirit acts to reveal Jesus in such a way that many experience and believe in his resurrection power over grief and death. Yes, Jesus’ words that day are for any person who mourns their sin and its deadly consequences. If you believe in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, you will continually receive his comforting assurance. “Don’t cry.” becomes your personal comfort amid the death of one precious to your heart. Hear and believe, “Don’t cry.” as you lose material comfort, physical health or a beloved relationship. Know Jesus’ words are meant to raise you up into his presence for eternal life.
   Do you believe this? Many who saw Jesus heal and heard him preach did not believe in Jesus when he walked the earth. Our Lord mourned the Jews’ unbelief as recorded in John 5:39 “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” Such who refused to go to Jesus would live a mournful eternal life in the deepest depths of crying: Matthew 13:41 “The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
   Turn your ear today and hear Jesus say, “Don’t cry.”  Know he speaks of his eternal power to resurrect mankind’s dead souls to everlasting life. You have been given a great assurance and promise. Trust him as your Lord and Savior. Rejoice in this eternal, comforting promise of no more crying: Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
   Don’t cry. Rejoice and be glad! The Lord of Life has destroyed death. Believe in him and live.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your eternal words of comfort offered to a mother and her son so long ago. I pray I truly know your comforting promise in all I do as I live for you. Amen.