Luke 7:1-17

The thing that sticks out to me in both healing stories in this passage is the heart of the people. Look at the centurion man, He did not think himself worthy to come to Jesus. We are told by his servants that he is worthy and he loves the nation and built a synagogue for them. Clearly this man is somebody of great honor and value in the community. But he regards himself humbly before Jesus. Not only that but he recognizes Jesus‘ authority. He doesn’t even go to meet Jesus himself. 

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I recognize Jesus‘ authority too and if I knew He was down the street from me, I would rush to go see Him myself. But this man, he is such a good man, and his heart is only for his servant to be healed. He is truly not thinking of himself. And possibly there is some fear about having Jesus come to his house since he understands who Jesus is. But even that speaks of his understanding of how worthy Jesus is, and how unworthy he is. And yet, he summons the courage to ask for the healing of his servant. He has faith Jesus will do it and that Jesus cares. 

The second story shows a widow grieving for the loss of her son. We know historically this means that she is alone now and likely has no one to care for her. She is now the lowest of the low culturally. Orphans and widows - the rejects of society. But, being a mother myself – I know that the grief she was feeling also had to do with the fact that she had lost her son. I’ve seen friends lose their children, the grief is unbelievable. Children are not supposed to die before their parents. It’s a pain we should not have to bear, but our cruel world continues to inflict this pain. So there she was, stuck in her own suffering - focusing deeply on her own sorrow. Scripture says the Lord saw her and went to her. It doesn’t say that she saw Him first. Of course that is pure speculation - but we know that He went to her and told her, “Do not weep.” What a very strange thing to say to someone who has lost the last person who meant the world to them. But probably before she could even question Him, He raises her son from the dead. 

The centurion who cared for others and was focused on them, the mother who was buried in her own grief and focused on her loss. He saw them. He cared.Isn’t this good news?! It is to me. God cares about me when I care for other people. And God cares about me when I forget all about everything but my own grief. This is good news that is still applicable for today.

The character of God doesn’t rest on me or how I am performing. He is who He is regardless of who I am. We aren’t use to this in a world where we react to each other based on how someone else treated us. But God is not like that. 

Do you believe that God cares? Is there an area where are you lost in your own grief? Take a breath. Do nothing else but wait. He’s coming.