Jesus Cares For The Lonely

Last week we walked with Jesus in Capernaum and reviewed his care for outsiders, namely gentiles who weren’t members of the Jewish ethnicity or religion. He demonstrated this care by healing a Roman centurion’s dying servant, and he proclaimed and foreshadowed that Gentiles would be accepted as GOD’s people through Faith in himself. Today we are going to observe as Jesus demonstrates his care for those who are lonely. And I would like for everyone to deeply reflect on your greatest loss of a loved one and how it made you feel. With every dear loss, there seems to always be a deep sense of loneliness because death creates a separation from that or those individuals. As disciples of Christ, we must learn from his character to support those in that state of mind and emotion. Likewise, be encouraged that Jesus cares today when we feel lonely and has given/will give us a hope to fill the void that exists.

Not long after Jesus heals the centurion’s servant, he began traveling toward a city called Nain. His disciples were with him, the twelve plus many more, and a large crowd of people. Most likely some who had just heard him preach the sermon on the mount.

Food for Thought: Something I want to briefly highlight is what it meant in their context to be a disciple. We often hear that a disciple is merely a student or learner, implying learning teachings that influence my intellect. However their understanding of disciple was much deeper because it went beyond just the intellect. It involved the whole person. One would subject him/herself to the purpose and direction of the teacher. Why? Because the process of being a disciple involves a corresponding personal relationship with the teacher. So becoming a disciple first involved a fellowship/friendship/relationship/clinging to/deep admiration of the person, and as a result that persons teachings (whether by word or deed) will have a deeper impact on the disciple.

So some of these people are just with Jesus for many other reasons, but his disciples are there because of a growing admiration of him and everything he does and says, and to equally strive to become just like him!! Well let’s examine what they see about Jesus in this scene.

Jesus had an on the go kind of ministry, meaning he didn’t need to set up shop to carry out his divine given tasks on earth. Rather as he moved throughout life, wherever he went his ministry was active! As he gets closer to the gate of this city called Nain, Luke wants to draw our attention to something significant that caught Jesus’ attention. LOOK!!! Is essentially what Luke says. There’s a funeral procession coming out of the city gates! It is the funeral of a man, who was the only son of his mother. In addition, she was a widow. Now this family must’ve been well known because there’s a large crowd of people at this funeral. Why is this so significant to capture the readers’ (our) attention? Because it was sadness upon sadness. The history of the term widow simply means “left empty”. It came to be known as left without a husband (or spouse). For a woman in their context, it was especially associated with: shame and reproach (disapproval) - , much grief - , and injustice. If a woman didn’t have a child and became a widow, she was either to return to her parents or their family, or she could live with her husbands family, in which she would typically be deprived of rights to marry again and incur much disrespect. She could not continue living in the house of her husband. Essentially she was a deprived of provision and protection - civil rights, financial, food, housing, etc. Poor and in much need. Thus in this woman’s case, all of this was setting in because she just lost her only son, which allowed her to maintain all of her provisions and protection. Moreover, she’s already lost her husband, now her son, and next everything else!!! How devastating!!! How lonely she must’ve felt!!!

Application: How many people do we daily see in a similar condition today? People are hurting because they just feel empty! Loneliness is sadness due to ones lack of companionship. They are at a loss inside and outside. No-one to turn to, call, lean on, love, laugh, cry with, shop, eat, sleep. There’s a fear that goes with it too, because who will protect me. Who will fight these battles with me. Who will ride with me. Who will help me bring in groceries, furniture, etc. I have no one to bear life with me! And even though this crowd is here at the funeral, they don’t understand that my life has now become a funeral. This is the devastating reality of true loneliness!!

Again, Luke writes in order to draw our attention to this devastation. But then he wants us to see the great character of our Lord! “When” the Lord “saw” her - Jesus was a great observer of ones circumstances. His focus is not on the crowd, and really not even her son at this point. His focus was on HER! Seeing her as she cries loudly leading the funeral procession. When he fully observed HER, he was moved deeply inside concerning her sadness. She doesn’t know him nor does he know her (in the relational sense).

Application: Many times, even I

Application: The great character that Luke reveals is Jesus’ observation and compassion. Many times, even I can see someone in such a sad condition and am affected briefly until my life continues as normal. But as disciples of Jesus, who should have a deep connection with him, that directs us to become like him, we must develop deeper compassion toward those who are impacted by loneliness. And that deeper compassion will not be void of the decision to act!!!

Jesus’ first action was to encourage the woman to stop crying! How absurd of Jesus right! She doesn’t even know him! Besides, this was an appropriate time for her to mourn as much as necessary. It was a funeral! Then the next action of Jesus was astounding, because he then got close to the coffin and touched it! According to the law given by Moses, this would have made Jesus ceremonially unclean! Requiring him to separate himself from Jewish community for days to restore his cleanliness. But Jesus doesn’t concern himself with ceremony, he then tells the man to get up!

Application: The next lesson we learn from Jesus is to do something! I fully understand that we can’t raise anyone, but the question then becomes what can we do? Jesus did this because he had the divine power to do it. That means we must focus on doing what GOD has given us the power to do, and not what we don’t have the power to do! We have the power to encourage! We have the power to help in so many ways that are needed. Call, listen, bear with, ride with, etc. So many actions to address someone’s loneliness. GOD has blessed so many at Swope to act and help. But also, watch this, even with people we don’t even know. How many news stories, co-workers, etc that we don’t know as well that we should do the same.

The man sat up and started speaking, which signaled life his unique life had returned. Then Jesus gave him back to his mother. This demonstrated that the power of resurrection resides in Jesus. Imagine you were a disciple witnessing, or of the crowd, how much would this cause you to gravitate to, embrace, and love Jesus! This woman was at a loss, never thinking or expecting to encounter Jesus and that he would do such a compassionate thing. Her grieving lasted while it did, but in due and unexpected time, she received her son back. The power to restore loss in death and rejoin you to your loved ones is in Jesus. He will rejoin us to those we’ve loss, that’s what our faith and hope are in! He didn’t come to stop the physical death process, but to give us a living hope beyond it!

Application: Watch and notice this! Jesus raised her son, but not her husband! What is the significance? He gave her something back to fill the additional void. Likewise, we can’t give everyone everything back, but we can give something back to help fill the void!

Jesus had just spoke in his sermon that we should let our light shine before men that they may glorify GOD. Immediately after he restores this woman’s empty loneliness, the whole crowd began glorifying or praising GOD, be certain that GOD has shown care for his people. Having an audience or prestige didn’t drive Jesus to do what he did. Rather it was compassion. As a result, people recognize GOD and give him glory! Amen!

I want us all to strongly consider people we know have lost a lot recently, or maybe even suffering from a loss from longer ago. Does it move you, like your heart is dropping to your waist. Don’t let that feeling go to wast, but consider what you can give to help fill the void of someone’s loneliness. Observe, Be Compassionate, Encourage, and Act to Give Back, to bring our GOD glory in all things!