Jesus Speaks to Women: Witnessing

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. Luke 23: 55-56

There aren't any speeches in this passage...Jesus is being buried...the only thing that remains is a sense of loss.

The disciples fled.

The crowds dispersed.

The temple shook.

The curtain is torn.

The women?  They followed and stayed for as long as they could.  They witnessed.  In silence, they witnessed how Joseph of Arimathea placed the lifeless body of Our Lord in his unused tomb.  They witnessed the body as it was laid in it.  I'm sure, had they been allowed by the law, they would have stayed, but the Sabbath was upon them, and in obedience, they rested.  However, before the commanded rest was imposed, they diligently prepared the spices and perfumes they would be bringing back to the tomb for The Lord.  Little did they know...

I want to stand as a witness too!  I want to never go to far from Him.  I want to always remember His Words to me and treasure them in my soul, so they can sustain me in times of silence.  Even when all seems lost and hopelessness threatens to fill my heart, I want to remain in Him...for, with Him, all things are possible!

Dear Lord, make me a faithful witness of Your glory regardless of my feelings and circumstances.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: A Lesson on Giving and Receiving

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21: 1-4

Once again, Jesus SEES what is not meant to be seen ... He NOTICES what is meant to be hidden ... He ACKNOWLEDGES what is thought to be too insignificant.

In this society of wealth, advances and progress, where we all seek to update, remodel and move up, gaining the favor of the rich becomes, even for churches and all non-profit organizations in general, a desirable pathway to tap into the means to accomplish our materialistic goals. Attracting donors that can give large amounts to our worthy causes is "a necessity." Funding our missions and projects is a goal that we try to fulfil by cultivating the gifts of those who can give out of their great wealth.

I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with that.  Actually, I believe that is a way to redeem money.  Giving as much as possible to the furthering of God's Kingdom is a command, and obeying it represents a very practical way to show our commitment to being good and faithful stewards of what we have been trusted with while in this life.  Giving out of our wealth is what we ought to do as a sign that we serve the One and Only God.

How often, however, do we ignore or not even notice/count/appreciate the gift of those who give out of their great poverty? 

In the non-profit organizations' world, there are parties thrown to recognize donors who  contribute grand amounts to projects and missions.  Little is the recognition to those who give sacrificially, all they have to live on.

Jesus, on the other hand, sees it all, great and small.  And in His economy, small is big and vice versa.  It's not that He didn't notice the giving of the rich, not at all!  He wants the rich to give, and to give it all.  But, I believe, the point here is to teach us to see that impressive giving not always comes in impressive amounts.  

The example of the poor widow, is used by Jesus to teach us how to truly see.

He is teaching us how to give our offering, but also, how to receive it:  give sacrificially, out of what you need to live on ... and...don't be so bedazzled by the shine of a large offering, receive it all with equal gratitude, acknowledging the gifts that are given in costly and painful obedience to the call of generosity and trust.

Jesus is not recorded as directly speaking this the woman in this passage, but, often, that's the way it is, isn't it?  The woman doesn't seem to know that her gift was, indeed, noticed.  As far as we can tell, by reading this passage, she didn't realize her offering granted her the praises of Jesus.  That's not why she did it.  And that's not why we do it either.  Even when we don't get the recognition that our pride secretly seeks, we can rest assure that there is rejoicing in the Heavens because Jesus always sees it...and it never goes unnoticed even if we are oblivious to His praise.

Dear Lord, may the example of the poor widow in this story guide us in our giving and in our receiving so we can be the good and faithful stewards You designed us to be.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: Misplaced Indignation

14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” Luke 13: 14-16

Do you struggle with jealousy? Envy? Secretly? I know, right?  Who wants to openly admit to such things? I most certainly NOT! I like thinking of myself if not as a woman full of virtue, at least as a woman who knows how to rejoice in the joy of others.  If I'm honest, however...I cannot honestly say that I do that all the time.

Something as simple as a sixth-grade, boys basketball game:  I should feel good that the players are doing well and getting better and better every day...yet...I feel the sting of envy when other boys do better than my own...sigh...ridiculous, right?! Yes...but, I believe, envy and jealousy are part of the fallen nature of humanity, and as such, they constitute some of the struggles we face as Our Heavenly Father, carefully and expertly crafts the new person in us.

The synagogue leaders in the passage above showed some of that sinful nature as they complained about Jesus healing the poor, disabled woman on the Sabbath.  They used the excuse of the Sabbath to justify their poisonous words.  In reality, however, I believe their hearts were green with envy:  "Who does this guy think he is, coming into OUR Synagogue and showing off like that? And on the Sabbath?! Nonetheless!  The day when we have the biggest crowd here...so everyone can see it! How dare he?! What about us!?"

It was all about them, I think.  They didn't really care about the suffering people of Israel who clamoured for a Savior.  Instead of rejoicing in the joy of this woman who had FINALLY been set free...they just wanted to save face so the people would not forget who was in charge there.  Eighteen years had she been there, among their midst, and nobody had been able to help her...but now, in comes Jesus, and, as soon as He sees her...He called her forward out of the crowd and into His presence, close enough so He could touch her...and speak to her...and heal her, to the astonished eyes of the crowd around them.  How magnificent!

Of course the synagogue leaders were jealous, Jesus had taken up all the attention...and they were rendered irrelevant.  How humiliating!  They had to say something, even if their words would do nothing but sink them even deeper into oblivion.  

"You hypocrites!" 

Jesus harsh words to these men contrast with the compassion He offered the woman in her affliction. But the words were necessary because, as He healed the woman, He was also healing the community mindset, freeing it from the oppressive rules that put law above love.  

A daughter of Abraham is worth more than an ox!  The revolutionary words of Jesus not only straightened the woman's back, but made the path straight...the path that leads to equality of dignity among all of God's children regardless of their sex.

Blessed be the Name of Jesus!  May His Words guide us as we navigate through our struggles on the road to sanctification.  Amen! 

Jesus Speaks to Women: Woman, You Are Set Free!

10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.  Luke 13: 10-17

Do you keep the Sabbath?  That is such a controversial question, isn't it?  I am SO not an expert on this topic.  That's why I am going to stay away from it because, no matter what I'd say...I'm probably going to be wrong.  I trust God's Grace on this one, and I pray the Holy Spirit guides us through this topic in our own faith walk.

In this passage above, the issue of keeping the Sabbath is at the core of the story.  However, I am going to look at another thing/person that is also a crucial part of this event: a woman...

Once again, in the midst of a great teaching moment, a woman is at the center.  Not a queen or anybody important...just a simple woman who had been bent over, as if in a permanent bow to the evil spirit that kept her captive for 18 years, is the person who Jesus approaches to perform this healing miracle.  Did she earn it?  No, she did not.  Did she asked for it? There is no record of her pleading for a healing.  This miracle was a gift from Jesus.  Once again, we see another instance of Jesus being the initiator...the One Who Sees...the One Who Sets Free!

I LOVE Jesus' words to this poor woman:  "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."  

WOW!

The precious words of Christ are like a soothing balm that takes care of anything that might be wrong in our world, isn't it?  How I long to hear His voice saying that to me!

But, He does!  We are that woman, bent over in life, bowing down to the wrong things, unable to stand up straight to see the Way, the Truth and the Life!  Until He speaks to us and touches us and pronounces us free, there isn't much we can do other than drag ourselves around, physically, spiritually and emotionally crippled...thinking that this is it...and that no one would ever see us, let alone help us...

Jesus does see us, and not only that, but He comes to us and heals us by the Power of His Mighty Hand!  No matter what!  

Today, I just want to rest on this truth, and let it sink into the darkest corners of my soul, so the Light of His Presence may take away any shadows of death still remaining in there.  Praised be His Holy Name!

Jesus Speaks to Women: At the Home of Martha and Mary

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10: 38-42

Continuing our journey through the Gospels, trying to comment on all instances of interactions between Jesus and fellow sisters, we arrive today at one of my absolute favorite spots: the encounter with Martha and Mary...sigh...

Much have been said about this passage.  I, myself, have written quite a bit on the sisters... a quick search in my blog for Martha and Mary will yield tons of entries.  But the Word of God is a living thing, always new...always fresh.  So, let's see what it tells us this time.

As I have mentioned before, I tend to identify more with Martha.  I'm the distracted woman who is always running around in circles because there is so much to do.  However, I'm not the stereotypical Martha, because I am terribly disorganized.  To me, Martha is the quintessential organizational queen.  Kind of like Marie Kondo, you know her?  The Japanese woman who has made a fortune out of "greeting the house," making people feel miserable about the amount of clothes they have, and telling folks to get rid of their books?   Well, when I think of Martha, I think of that type of person: attentive to detail, each thing in its place, and a place for each thing, rather minimalistic, and always in control.  I. AM. NONE. OF. THAT!

Often I think the reason I'm so busy all the time is because I'm a horrible organizer.  Like, for example, now: the semester is starting tomorrow, and today, I'm already losing my head because I have so much to do.  The e-mail bombarding has started and I don't even know where to begin.  Who do I reply first: my boss or my students?  What do I tackle as a priority: the departmental assessment issues or the individualized instruction assignment calendar? What do I take care of now: compiling a list of short readings for conversation sessions or a problem with the online assignments for my beginners class?

I have to do all of those things, probably today...but I have no clue how...and I'm feeling overwhelmed!

That's why I decided to finish this post that I started this morning instead...

I mean...is that why Martha felt overwhelmed too?  Could it be that, her inability to organize her priorities is what brought her to complain to Jesus about Mary?  I'm telling you, right now...if I were to see someone in my family just chillin', as I'm pulling my hair out in frustration with my to-do list, I would burst!  I'd be certainly yelling...and probably saying stuff like, "doesn't anybody care!???!!!"

Sigh...

So...I wonder, if little miss wonderful, Martha was not as much as Marie Kondo as I was imagining...hmmm...I wonder if she isn't more like...me?

I think if Martha were a leader in organization, she probably wouldn't be so frustrated with her sister.  I bet the answer is in Jesus' words for her.  Let's listen to Him again:

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10: 41-42

I LOVE the "Martha, Martha..."

Boy, have I heard:  "Gisela, Gisela..." a million times in my life... but you know what? In every instance, every time I've gotten a "Gisela, Gisela," it has been from people who are very, intensely and deeply dear to me.  I remember my Dad, my Mom, Rosa and actually, all the people who really TRULY love me being the ones risking the "Gisela, Gisela" bit.  

Sigh...

That's why I see Jesus' love for Martha and concern for her well-being, pouring out in His words towards her.  I also see Jesus' organizational tips flowing as well:  "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed...or indeed only one."  If that is not the best tip on prioritization, I don't know what is:  find the ONE thing that is really important, and do that first.  Weed out the other stuff that worries you and upsets you, and focus on what's truly important: ME!  The Great I AM!  I AM the ONE thing that is worth all of our concentration! And Mary, in her free-spirited soul has chosen Me, and nobody is going to take that away from her...no matter how many loaves of bread don't get baked or how much water still needs to be brought in from the well. 

I don't think Marie Kondo or any of the tons of self-help books out there in the market could ever put it so succinctly:   "Seek. Jesus. First!"

I have to get back to my to-do list now, but I pray that, whatever I do, that I remember there is only ONE thing that is needed:  My relationship with Christ.  May the Holy Spirit guide us as we seek Him first and seek a well-balanced/organized life.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: The Ripple Effects of Healing

Let's conclude the exploration of Luke 8: 40-56 thinking back at one more of the questions I asked at the beginning of this journey:  How many healing instances are recorded in this passage?

Well, at first glance, we might say that there are 2 instances of healing.  However, what do you think happened to those who witnessed the healings?  Think of Jairus.  Do you think he was affected by the healing of his daughter?  What about the messengers of doom?  Those who came to Jairus and told him the girl was dead, and to stop bothering the Teacher...do you think witnessing the healing had an impact?  Remember, for them it was more a resurrection than a healing...the same for all the mourners who were already wailing...and what about those who "laughed at him, knowing that she was dead." (Luke 8: 53)  Who got the last laugh now?  And the disciples, especially Peter, John and James whom Jesus took with Him as He brought Jairus' girl back to life?

Jesus told the girl's parents not to tell anybody about what had happened...but, my guess is that the news spread.  I have a hard time believing that those who knew could keep it a secret, especially the ones who thought she was dead and now saw her getting up and eating!

My point is, I think there was healing all around them.  Yes, the bleeding woman and Jairus' daughter were the direct recipients of the healing; however, imagine yourself as a witness of such events: "she's healed! the woman who had been bleeding forever...Jesus healed her! Wait, what?  Jairus' daughter is up and eating? But, she was dead a minute ago! I saw her! dead!"  And now, alive and well...what do you think witnessing that would do to your own infirmities of the body and soul?

I believe the healing continues to spread as we re-read these stories and allow them to penetrate our hearts with a renewing of our faith!

The ripple effects of Jesus' miracles touch us today, and I just pray that we have the eyes to see, the ears to hear, the heart to feel and the mind to process His Power and Love manifested in His actions throughout Scriptures and in our lives today.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: Custom Made

Do you ever think about how God customizes things for each of His children uniquely and individually?  I marvel at this every time I encounter an example of this truth...like, for instance, He speaks to each of us in ways that make sense to us, but not necessarily to others.  And, I'm not talking just "words" as if in reading the Bible and hearing a message.  I'm talking about everything that surrounds us!  Like, for example, when we are driving down country roads and Dan spots dear...he is fascinated by them.  The way he speaks changes and we can hear the admiration in his voice.  And, as much as we try to share in his enthusiasm for the discovery of the prancing beauties in the nearby field, I know, none of us feels it the same way he does, regardless of how much he tries to communicate the wonder of the encounter.  It just doesn't mean the same to the rest of us that it means to him.

On the other hand, the impact that standing in front of the ocean has for me is not shared by the rest of my family with the same level of intensity that it has for my soul.  Just thinking about it makes me tremble with joy! 

Sigh...

Such is Our Lord, He not only gives us what we need, but He knows exactly what that is, regardless of how different it might be from others.

Just like in the passage we are exploring in Luke 8: 40-56, we see two instances of healing...but very different from each other.

The woman who had been bleeding for over a decade, proceeded to approach Jesus because her faith propelled her.  Jairus' daughter wasn't even conscious, let alone able to activate her faith to seek healing from Jesus.  She was completely dependent on the faith of others...the faith of her father...

And, in the example earlier, of the widow of Nain who was on her way to bury her only son, she wasn't even aware of the presence of the Lord...

But the Lord was aware.  He was aware of what was needed in each of the cases that required His intervention.  The simple and strong faith of the bleeding woman; the dependence of the dying girl on her father's faith; the deep sorrow of the widow/mother which kept her from realizing who was there all along...He met each of these women right where they were and provided what they needed in a unique way. 

Just like the way He touches Dan and I through different scenarios, the result is the same: joy!  The same way His provision may take different forms, but the results are the same, because the Lord is only One, and He never changes.

That's why, I pray we are able to rest in the assurance of His attention to detail.  May the Holy Spirit allow us to see that He will meet us where we are, be it through our own faith, the faith of those who lift us up to Him or no awareness of faith at all.  In Christ Precious Name.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: Never Mind...It's Too Late...

"Never mind...it's too late..." (insert the sound effect of a giant balloon deflating loudly)

This expression is one of those that has the certain ability to, indeed, deflate all of one's hopes and dreams instantly, doesn't it?  I can remember a few "never mind, it's too late" instances that, even though happened years ago, still haunt me to this day.  I'm going to spare you mine, and talk about the one in the passage of Scripture we are paying attention to in Luke 8: 40-56. 

Let's focus on verse 49:

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

Yeah...the finality of the expression has the potential to leave all who hear it, completely demoralized...sunken in sadness, sorrow and hopelessness:  "never mind, your ___________ is dead, don't bother God anymore..." (fill in the blank with whatever or whoever:  Your hope to get that great job/find a spouse/have a child/buy a house/see your children grow up/have a healthy marriage/not to have that disease you dread/an effective treatment/a cure...)

Sigh...

The destructive power of words...

I mean, Jesus hadn't even stopped talking to the woman He had just healed!  He was wrapping up a huge miracle, and in come the naysayers... "never mind...it's too late...don't bother Him anymore..."

Really?  Don't bother Him anymore? What does that even mean?

How could anyone think that communicating one's hurts and deepest longings to Jesus is a bother to Him?  He already knows them, anyway, and...that's what He wants!  He wants us to seek Him first! In every and any situation!  He wants us to pray without ceasing!  Why would anyone believe that coming to Christ with our requests is a bother to Him?  Well...we do.

Whenever we stop believing, we start thinking this way.  Whenever our faith falters we start hearing the "never minds."  Whenever we allow ourselves to focus on the circumstances, and we let our eyes wander away from Our Lord's face, we lose hope.

But...no matter how much we know this, we still go through moments when we surrender to despair and believe the lie that "it's too late."  What to do in those moments, then?  I think, that every time we hear the "never mind...it's too late" thoughts begin to form in our minds or hear the words escape our mouths, that is the moment when we need to remember that it is never too late, too hard or too impossible for Christ! And search for His voice, hidden deep in the noise of fear, saying: 

50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

The reactions that others and ourselves may have to apparent tragedy may serve as reminders that we are neglecting the voice of Our Lord.  The same way He spoke to Jairus, and basically shushed the messengers of doom...He hushes the voices that try to force us away from Him, His hope and His victory!  Let's surrender to Him...not to our feelings and emotions.  Let's allow Him to be God as we become still in His presence.  Let's hear His voice of healing and wait in Him.  Let's not be afraid and just believe!

May the Holy Spirit inspire our faith and filled it with the knowledge that it is never too late for God to act in us and in our circumstances.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: Who Touched Me?

Have you ever been on a crowded bus? Ugh! Not my fave.  I remember, when I was a young woman living in the big city for the first time, I didn't have a car...soooo...yes...public transportation was my only way to get from point A to points B-Z.  And, there is something you need to know about Panama, if you don't know it already:  IT IS REALLY HOT IN THERE!  On top of which, back then, in the last century, when I was a young person, busses didn't have air conditioning.  They were discarded American school busses painted in colorful/creative (some may say CRAZY) designs as if to distract people of how horrible it was to ride on them...it didn't really work...it was still plenty horrible, just in a colorful/creative/crazy way...

At any rate, life was simpler back then, but traveling by bus made it challenging.  Most of the time I had to ride standing up, barely hanging on to my life by the tip of my fingers grabbing to whatever I could hold on to.  People packed so close that air couldn't get through.  Of course, purses, backpacks or any other form of transporting essentials were a big no, no...so, I had to get by with whatever I could fit in the front pockets of my jeans.  I could smell what people had for breakfast, it was so tight... ick!!! 

Anyway...I think about that when I read verse 45 in our passage of Scripture from Luke 8: 40-56.  In that verse, Jesus says:  “Who touched me?”

I mean, it's no wonder that His disciples were puzzled.  Like, back in Panama, if someone had said that on a noon bus in my route, everyone would have been looking at each other, saying:  "not me!" as the first reaction, probably followed by someone uttering a loud what all would have been thinking:  "Come on, man...there are all kinds of people crowding and pressing against you...of course somebody touched you!  Get real! Pff!"

That's kind of what happened in this passage, when Jesus inquired about "who touched Him," they all, first, denied it, and then, of course Peter, said:  “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”  (can't you hear the not-so-faint:  "Come on, Jesus...get real! Pff!" here? )  Well, that would be a very common and logical reaction.  At least from my perspective.  Jesus, however, knew exactly what He was doing.  Of course He was aware of the crowds! Better yet, of course He knew who had touched Him.  And that's precisely why He made a big deal out of it.  

Once again, He wanted to call everyone's attention to what had just happened and use it as a learning moment.  He wanted everyone to be aware of the simple and humble faith of this poor woman who had been hopelessly ill for 12 debilitating years.  Can you imagine?  Bleeding for 12 years straight!  Anemic probably didn't even begin to describe the state of this woman.  But, in all her weakness, she gathered the strength she needed to touch Our Lord's garment.  Such was her faith, that it propelled her to make that bold move.  She knew that Jesus didn't even need to know she was there.  She trusted that His power was so great that it would spill over through the tips of His robe...if she could only get close enough to touch it...and she did...and He saw her...and He wanted everyone to see her too!

47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

She couldn't go unnoticed!  None of us can!  He sees each and everyone one of us...and He heals us...and He calls us "Daughters." 

I wonder what the disciples said afterwards, huh?  I wonder what I would have said, had this happened on any of my crowded busses back in Panama?  Would I have had eyes to see it?  Would I have had the faith to believe it?

Heavenly Father, thank you for seeing us regardless of our state!  May we always trust that You know it is us, even when the world seems so crowded and the needs are so strong.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: The Healing Touch of Jesus

Just like the passage about Mary, the mother of Jesus coming with His brothers to see Him, and Him pointing out to the fact that His family are those who hear His voice and obey His Word, is found not only in Luke, as we discussed it earlier in Matthew, today's exchanges with women are also recorded not only in Luke, but also in Matthew and in Mark's as well.

The fact that three of the Gospel writers were inspired to include these events in their accounts of Jesus' walk on this earth warms my heart and astounds me all at once.  I don't have to repeat the fact that women, back in those times, were worth about the same as cattle...some even less.  So, for the Gospels to contain stories about how Jesus not only answered petitions that involved the healing of women, but more amazingly, often reached out to women Himself and initiated the healing, forgiving, comforting, bring great joy to my feminine heart...and reassures me that in the Kingdom of Christ, it truly doesn't matter who you are.  He looks at the heart, and by His blood and sacrifice He makes us all new.

The passage we are pondering today includes two instances, one, we already reviewed when we encountered it in Matthew 9: 20-22.  The other one, even though it is also in Matthew 9, we set aside to consider it today, with Luke's version of the same incident:  the healing of Jairus daughter.

In both instances, we see the Healing Touch of Jesus.  There are a couple of differences, though, let's read the entire passage as Luke recorded it in chapter 8: 40-56.  We are not going to rush through this, because I believe there is much to discern out of this portion of Scripture, so just take time to read it, and as you do, think about the following:
1.  How many healing instances are recorded in this passage?
2.  What are the reactions of the people who witnessed these healings?
3.  How does Jesus react to what people say to Him?
4.  Are there any differences in the healing instances described in this passage? Explain.

So, let's read and ponder on the questions above.  Then, we'll get back to the passage and the answers in our next meeting.  May the Holy Spirit bring light to His Word and allow us to have understanding of the message that Jesus speaks to us today! Amen!  Enjoy:

40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”

53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.  Luke 8: 40-56

Jesus Speaks to Women: The Door

19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” Luke 8: 19-21

Today's passage offers a rather strange slice in the life of Jesus.  I mean, what might be the point of this scene?  Why is it in Scripture?  It seems like such a mundane and unimportant incident that one might perceive it as superfluous.  The Word is a Powerful entity, though, and always has a purpose:

...my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  Isaiah 55: 11

So, this paragraph is anything but insignificant.  Picture the scene, Jesus' closest kin pressing to see Him, His Mother among them...but Jesus dismisses them and doesn't do anything to grant them access to Him.  Why not?  Some commentaries say that it was because Jesus' relatives wanted Him to take a break from Ministry.  I'm sure if that's the case, at least Mary was probably truly worried about Jesus and wanted to protect Him.  She might have thought Jesus was rather spent and needed to rest for a while.  I can see that.  A Mother's instinct is to nurture and preserve the well-being of her children, regardless of how old they might be.  I don't see any ill-intention on the part of Mary.  Jesus, however, could see right through whatever the motives were, and it is obvious that He chose to use the occasion as a teaching moment that has implications all the way to us, centuries later.

“My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” 

For us, Jesus' words are precious.  He is opening the door of His Royal Family to us!  He is calling us family, us, His followers who hear God's word and put it into practice regardless of birth.  What a marvelous revelation!

I wonder, however, how did Mary feel?

As a Mother, there is little else that hurts more than having one's children disown us in any way.  I think of my own kids, and I remember how hurt I am every time that they express, perhaps not with words, but with actions, that they are a bit embarrassed of me.  Dylan does that to me more often than I would care to admit, and every time it feels like a dagger into my heart.  Even if he doesn't truly mean it 100%, I can't help feeling the deep hurt.  So, I wonder if Mary felt that same sting that day?

I don't think Jesus' intention was to offend His earthly Mother, not at all.  He is just making sure that everyone knows that there aren't any favoritisms in the Kingdom of God.  Nobody has a higher ranking.  There is nothing we can do that would earn us a place in Heaven.  It is all about Him.  He is the One at the door, and He is the One who knocks.  But, paradoxically, He is also the Door.  And, whoever must enter, will enter because He open Himself up, with arms stretched out on the cross.

May the Holy Spirit guide us through the mysteries of God and lead us to enter through His Holy Door.  In Christ's precious name.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: Missions

Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. Luke 8: 1-3

Moving on to chapter 8 in the Gospel according to Luke, verses 1-3, we don't see a record of Jesus words to women, but we do see a record of how women accompanied Jesus as part of His followers.  In addition to the 12 disciples, there is a list of women who walked with Him.  Luke, who penned this Gospel, found it important enough that he, not only mentioned the fact that there were women followers, but he mentioned some by name!  We see Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna.  

These women had experienced the healing power of Jesus, and, I believe, just couldn't stay away from Him.  Therefore, I think, as a sign of their gratitude and love, they left everything behind and offered their care and material provision to Christ as part of His entourage. 

These women gave, out of their means, and travel alongside the disciples.  This makes me think of missionaries, who set aside their own personal pursuits to dedicate their lives and means to the service of God's Kingdom.  In this case, these group of women had been personally impacted by the healing power of Christ, so that might have been their first motivation to surrender their lives.  But, as I imagine, I bet it took them only a little while to forget about any previous aspirations and see no other possible life, but the life of a full-time follower of Jesus.  

That's what I imagine happens to most missionaries when they hear the call to serve.  We have a nephew in Dan's family who is about to leave for the Philippines in a couple of days to stay for one year as a missionary.  He went on a short trip last year, almost as if by chance...and he couldn't resist the call to return, this time for a longer period.  Those of us who have not received such a call, at times, struggle to understand.  But, reading about these women today, reminds me of the irresistible nature of God.  Look at Joanna, in this passage.  She was the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager!  I bet that was an important position not only of great responsibility, but of great privilege as well...and she left that life to walk the dusty roads with Jesus.  I wonder what happened to Chuza?  He is not mentioned as a follower...so I wonder if she just left him after she found herself unequally yoked to an unbeliever??

Whatever her reasons, she couldn't stay away from her calling to serve The Lord, just as our nephew couldn't either.  But it is not just missionaries who leave their lives behind, the only ones called to serve.  We are all called to serve, one way or another.  We are all called to use our gifts, whatever they may be, for the service of God's Kingdom...wherever we may be:  at our workplace, at our schools, at our homes, at our churches, at our local grocery store... The irresistible call of God finds us wherever we are, to do whatever He requires of us.  Now... the question is:  do we hear it? and furthermore, are we willing to answer it?

Sigh...

May the Holy Spirit reveal to us the pathway to our calling and the strength to follow it.  Also, may He be with those who have been called to serve in a mission field far, far away, as they leave their previous lives behind. Amen!

God Speaks to Women: Stronger Faith

50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7: 50

My pondering of this passage of Scripture takes me to a question:  Do I have the kind of faith that moves mountains?

Sigh...

I believe that...in my case, most of my issues derive from... my lack of solid faith.  There, I said it...

I am seeking to be humble this year, so, I humbly admit that I lack the faith that could move mountains.  

What does the Bible say about gaining faith?  "...faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." Romans 10: 17  

Hearing the message?  What message?  Well, the message of salvation!  And how is that message heard?  Where is it found?  in the Word!  The message of salvation and hope and love of Christ is found in Scripture.  But, why would knowing about Christ help us make our faith stronger?  In my opinion, an important element of faith is trust.  And, who do we trust?  We tend to trust those we know, those who have a tangible record of trustworthiness.  So, if it works like that among humanity, chances are, it works the same way in our relationship with Our Heavenly Father.  The more we know about Him, the more we begin to trust Him, for even if we are unfaithful and faithless, He is Faithful Forever!  But, how would we know He is worthy of all our trust if we don't know Him?  Hence, the importance of hearing the message contained in the Bible.

Therefore, we see why the author of Romans insists in staying in the Word:  that's the way to a life of faith, to a life where sight is irrelevant, for we walk by the assurance of things not seen.  

Once God has bestowed upon us the gift of Grace and Faith, reading Scripture becomes part of our walk, because the more we read it, the more we know Him.  And the more we know Him, the more we trust Him and the stronger our faith becomes.

And this has nothing to do with ourselves and who we are.  It is all about Jesus!  He touches our hearts and softens them to receive His Grace as a gift, and with that comes faith.  This sinful woman did nothing to deserve forgiveness.  She didn't have the Gospel either, to read about Christ.  But I believe God called her to Christ, and she said yes, even if it meant going into the Pharisee's house and making a fool out of herself in all of her shame.  That's when she had the encounter that transformed her and saved her.  Salvation doesn't depend on us.  It is a gift of Grace.  But once we receive it, our wheels turn into motion and it is impossible to resist the calling to get closer and closer to the One who paid our debt.  For this woman, it was the daring act of walking into the Pharisee's house...for us, it is to pick up our Bible and eat it like our daily bread.

May the Almighty God who calls us His own give us what we need to pursue a life of faith, inspired by the Word and resting upon the power of Christ Our Lord!  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: Peace, Faith and Forgiveness

50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7: 50

The power of Jesus' words shook those reclining at the table with Him, the woman who received them as well as whoever reads them through the centuries.  He is the Word Made Flesh (John 1: 14) and what He speaks comes into being, so the woman's sins were forgiven, indeed, hence the last three words:  "go in peace."  

Is it hard for you to "go in peace"?  Peace is so elusive for me.  It was my "word" for 2018, but I know that for me to attain true peace it will take more than a year.  For people like me, peace seems just too far away.  Why is that?  I don't know.  Perhaps, because I listen too much to fear constantly shouting in my ears.  Maybe because I'm a control freak.  Or...might it be because I lack faith?

It pains me to admit it...but I think that's the case:  I have a shaky faith.  It tends to crumble and falter at the slightest sign of hardship.  When life takes a turn that I was not expecting,  my faith stals.  Actually, there doesn't even need to be a turn...just the fear of the possibility of a potential turn being remotely coming makes me quake in my boots...sigh...pathetic, I know...

But, what is faith?

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 

Hebrews 11: 1

And, how do we get it?

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10: 17

But, what is it based on?

so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power. 1 Corinthians 2: 5

And, that's why Jesus says:

“Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11: 22-25

Jesus is God, and this sinful woman had faith in Him, which means that she was confident that His power is sufficient to give her assurance of His forgiveness, and as she heard Him speak to her, her confidence rested on His power to do what He said He'd do; therefore, she had peace...

It's complicated, I know, but what I want to take away is that faith does not rest on me or on the wisdom or power of anyone in the world.  Faith is wholly dependent on the power of God and His power is limitless, so even mountains would obey and jump into the ocean at His command.  The thing is, however, that the prayer of faith must be accompanied by forgiveness.  Jesus states it, in verses 24-25 in Mark 11.  As we pray and lift our petitions to Him, we need to do an introspection:  who do I need to forgive?  And actually, forgive.

Yeah...that's another biggie for me...

I'm too proud and forgiveness evades me.  I hold grudges.  My memory is very long when it comes to remembering offenses.  My ego is too fragile and I don't recover easily when someone crushes it.  I think too highly of myself, so, I demand respect, and when I don't get it, I hold it against them...

Sigh...

I think I need to pause here right now and continue to ponder because this text is so rich, I don't want to get confused.  For now, I pray that the Lord in His great mercy, would look upon us with love and forgive our trespassess as we forgive those who have committed trespasses against us.   Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women...even Sinful Women...

And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7: 48

For some, this expression may represent a re-birth...a healing...a permission to breathe again.  Yet, for others, it might be an occasion to mistrust.  This is the contrast between the two characters in the passage that contains this wonderful verse: Luke 7: 36-50.  

On one side we have the sinful woman who came to Jesus with her alabaster jar of ointment and, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. (Luke 7: 38) On the other hand we have the Pharisee who invited Jesus to dine.

Jesus uses both to teach a magnificent lesson: faith.

The way I see it, both, the woman as well as the Pharisee were drawn to Jesus.  The difference is in the details of their intentions/reasons as to why seeking Jesus. The Pharisee invited Him to his home to eat and hang out.  The sinful woman entered the house of the Pharisee to seek out Jesus and worship Him.  The Pharisee, accustomed to sitting among important people, used the invitation to call attention to himself, to his power, to his position of influence:  look at me, look at me, I have the hottest celebrity of the moment dining at my house, aren't I amazing?  The woman, sneaking into the room where Jesus was reclining, surrendered her tears, her hair, her precious ointment, weeping, ashamed, broken...

For the Pharisee, it was all about himself.  He wanted to make himself look good, and he also wanted to prove how smart he was, "Hey, if Jesus really were who He said He is, He'd know better..." (my paraphrase of verse 39)

For the sinful woman, it was all about Jesus.  Notice she didn't even say anything...she didn't ask for anything...she just wanted to get near Jesus.  In contrast with Mary in Matthew 26, this woman washes His feet.  I believe, she didn't feel worthy of anointing Jesus head, so she, in great humility, took the the most humble of tasks:  cleaning a man's feet...with her tears...and her hair.  I mean, her hair!  A precious commodity for a woman.  Back then, women weren't even allowed to show their hair in public.  Their hair was reserved only for her husband.  I think of today and the great pains that women go through to fix their hair just like so...how much we wrestle with our hair...how much money we invest in our hair...I'm sure women back then did the equivalent too...and to use her precious hair to wipe the dirty feet of a man who had been beating the dusty pathways for days?  I mean, Jesus didn't even have like a permanent residence...how many times a week you think He got to wash His feet?  They are Holy feet, I know...but even Holy feet get dirty...don't you think?  And to use one's hair to wipe them?!  WOW!  That is surrender...that is worship...

How much are we willing to surrender when we worship?

Sigh...

I would like to pause here to ponder for a while.  May the Holy Spirit speak to us and reveal to us what He wants us to learn, appreciate, and discern in this passage.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: Tasting the Greatness of God's Love!

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. Luke 7: 14-17

I remember hearing someone say a while ago something like: "you can't outgive God."  At the time, I wasn't sure what she meant by that.  She gave me an example of something that had happened to her that involved money.  But the phrase continued to intrigue me until right about now... I can finally see a better picture of the potential of such an exclamation about the nature of our Heavenly Father.  

In what happened to the widow of Nain I see a vivid picture of God's love for us manifested in the person of Jesus the Christ.  His capacity to give of Himself is limitless, and our limited minds struggle to grasp so big a concept. So it is in His actions that we get a glimpse as to what it's meant when the Bible speaks about the immeasurable riches of our God. 

In this passage we see such a glimpse.  I mean, really!  As if Jesus' mere presence, compassion and words weren't enough, He goes on to do something spectacular:  He raises this woman's son from death and gives him back to her...

Praised be His Holy Name!

Can you imagine?  Can you picture yourself there, at that moment?  I imagine myself, not so much as the widow, but as one of the mourners?  That's where I place myself...as a witness, seized by fear, mesmerized, astonished, but at the same time, unable to keep quiet.  I would certainly hope that my taste for chatter would propel me to be one of those spreading this report throughout the area and beyond!  How could anyone keep quiet!? Right?

The thing is...many do keep quiet.  Often, we are in the presence of God's glory and we don't realize it.  We are too distracted to see it.  We are too cynical to recognize it.  We are too self-conscious to publicly acknowledge it.  We are too resentful due to previous hurts to gratefully receive it and gladly communicate it to others in need to hear it.  We have allowed sorrow to swallow us up, so from the depth of our pit of pain we are unable to perceive God's love...

I can see myself being hung up on the fact that the boy did die.  "But he is alive now! Rejoice!"  Yes, but...he did die...why couldn't God keep him from dying and spare me the suffering?  You know?  If He planned to raise him back up again, why go through the hurt?  

Yeah...I can see me standing on this type of toxic attitude...Lord, help me!

I have a hard time moving on.  I don't drop things easily.  Forgiveness doesn't come quickly to my heart.  Fear has a firm grip on my nerves and when something I dread happens...I am so petrified that I can't move beyond the point even when things have resolved.  I keep thinking, "what if it happens again?"  

Sigh...

Well, today, I see, we cannot outgive God.  He is the Supreme Giver of all things, and if He gave once, He will give again, and again, and again.  It's not like He is going to run out of His giving ability.  He not only gives us what we need, but He gives us Himself...even when we don't even have the presence of mind to ask Him for anything...He sees us, He knows what we need, He speaks to us, He provides ultimate comfort and, He restores us...the pain, the suffering, the hardship, the hurt...it is all intended to get us closer to Him and to clear our vision so we can see, taste, feel, breathe, touch, hear and proclaim the magnitude of His love.

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 

Ephesians 3: 16-19

Jesus Speaks to Women: Luke 7: 13

When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Luke 7: 13

"...and He said, "Don't cry":  this is the culminating point of this magnificent verse...He said.  Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, The Christ, not only saw the woman and suffered with her, but He actually spoke to her.  

In the events that happened right before this encounter with the widow of Nain, we don't see any reference showing Jesus actually speaking to the Centurion...they might have, eventually, but Luke doesn't record it.  In part, this is because the Centurion doesn't feel worthy of even being in the same place as Jesus, let alone talking to Him or presenting a request in person.  Instead, He sends those whom he believe might be more acceptable to enter in the presence of the One even a Roman officer realizes is Someone Holy.  

Here, in the scene with the widow, a woman lost in her grief and terrified of the empty life that lay ahead, a woman who hadn't even noticed Jesus was there, and if she did, didn't even have the clarity of mind to ask Him for a miracle...here, it is all about Jesus.  In the passage before, it was about the faith of the Centurion.  Here, it is about the compassion, love and power of Jesus, praised be His Holy Name forever!

He speaks to her, a woman.  For all purposes, and depending on the situation, widows were among the lowest in the societal hierarchy of Jesus' times.  But He doesn't care.  Jesus is not impressed by title or wealth.  He loves the Centurion as much as He loves this desperate woman.  These two passages are a study in contrast.  On the one side we have a Roman Centurion, who commanded soldiers by the hundreds, a figure of authority, on the other we have a woman, already an entity that was negated most benefits and privileges that world had to offer, but on top of that, a woman who had lost her husband and now her only son...a woman without a man was less than a donkey in those days.  And what does Jesus do?  He sees:  He sees the heart.  He sees the pain.  He feels:  He feels compassion and suffers along with them.  He speaks:  He speaks profound words of teaching...or simple words of love: "don't cry."

I am completely moved by the words of Our Lord here:  "don't cry."  

Like I said earlier, we wouldn't know for sure if she was crying, we assume she was, but we wouldn't be certain if it weren't for Jesus noticing.  I imagine Him gently approaching this woman, and rather whispering the words.  I believe this must have been a personal exchange, heard only by those in close proximity.  It was meant for her to hear, not as a demonstration of might.  Of course, what follows will become a great demonstration of power...but I think, not this moment.  I think this was a more relational moment between Jesus and this widow...meant to express the love that overflowed in the compassion of His actions.  

Wouldn't you love to hear Jesus whisper to you:  "don't cry"?  In your hour of deepest darkness and sorrow, wouldn't you give anything to hear His voice saying to you, directly, "don't cry"?

The good news is that He does!  For, at times, we are the widow of Nain, and it is in those moments when Jesus' voice becomes audible in this verse.  The utterance:  "don't cry" was meant for her, but it is recorded in the Bible so it is meant for you and me as well!  That's the gift of Scripture!  If God found it important enough to be recorded, it is because it's meant to be a message for us.

Therefore, I cling to this verse as if it was written for me...because I believe it was and as such I will treasure it for as long as I live!

Thank you, Dear Lord, for seeing us, for demonstrating compassion for us and for speaking to us always, but especially in our hour of the most darkness and in the moments of the greatest of needs.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: Luke 7

13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Luke 7: 13

Today, we continue breaking down this magnificent verse, as we see the next segment:

His heart went out to her:  this is a phrase we hear quite a bit, but, what does it really mean? Well, I was curious to see if other translations of the Bible used this phrase too, so I went to my favorite online Bible site, the Bible Hub, to check, and as it happens, the NIV is about the only translation that uses it.  Out of the 28 versions that the Bible Hub shows, 21 of them use the word "compassion" to express what Jesus felt for this widow.  The other 7 use words that are often associated with compassion, like pity or He felt sorry for her. But none of them use "His heart went out to her."

Hmmmm...

I love the word "compassion."  It's a word I recognize immediately.  It's a word that evokes a world of truly positive images, feelings, emotions when I hear it or see it.  It implies a deep awareness of others' suffering and distress, but it goes beyond just being sympathetic...the word is also associated with a deep desire to do something about it...to do something to make the suffering of another end.  I believe the deep desire to alleviate the other person's suffering comes from the fact that, true compassion means we feel their pain too.  Like I heard in a movie once, compassion is "to suffer with."  So, when we have compassion, we are suffering with the one our compassion goes out to.  What a magnificent demonstration of the goodness of the heart!

So, of course I love the translations that say, "He felt compassion for her."  Given all that the word involves, this means Jesus was not only completely aware of the widow's suffering, but He felt it too!  He suffered with her.  He was one with her in the pain.  And He was moved to do something about it...as He certainly did.

But, then...what about this intriguing way of phrasing this idea:  "His heart went out to her"?  Why did the NIV choose to convey the meaning of compassion using this idiomatic expression?  I think it is just a nuisance that doesn't really change the meaning of what the writer was communicating about Jesus' feelings.  But, I find it interesting because we say that, don't we?  We say "My heart goes out to you" often, and it is always said in the context of deep sorrow.  It is a phrase that creates with words, a picture in our brain and in our souls that show how one's heart has ceased to be separate, and it is joined together with the heart of the one who is suffering, so we are connected, sharing every bit of that state of sorrow that the other one is experiencing...just the same...just as if it was ours.

Can you imagine?  Jesus' heart joined together with that poor widow's to share in the sorrow as if it was His.  And the most remarkable truth...He does that with us too...

Sigh...

Let's ponder that for a while.  Let's see the picture in our minds...and let's remember it next time we are the ones walking in sorrow like the widow of Nain.

Dear Lord, may we never, ever take for granted the fact that You are a compassionate God, whose heart fuses with ours at all times, especially in our times of great distress.  Amen!

Jesus Speaks to Women: Luke 7

13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Luke 7: 13

We are back on Luke 7, and today we are going to focus on verse 13...let me just start by saying...WOW!

Let's take this verse one portion at a time:

When the Lord saw her... is it silly to start every sentence with "WOW"?  It probably is.  And I would probably break some kind of golden rule of appropriate writing...but...WOW!  The Lord saw her!  He saw her!  Jesus. Saw. Her!  

He is the Lord Who Sees.  That is one of the Names of God that I treasure the most.  Like Hagar said in Genesis 16: 13-14, He is the God who sees me.  I don't even have to make a peep.  I don't even have to call out His name.  I don't even have to know He is there.  Regardless of all that I am or that I am not, He sees me.  He sees me in my lowly estate.  He sees me in my sin.  He sees me in my faithfulness.  He sees me in my failings.  He sees me in my triumph.  He sees me in my joy.  He sees me in my sorrow.

In a small measure, it is like when you are a parent.  I know it might sound cliche, but it often feels as if you are granted some kind of sixth sense about your children, isn't it?  I mean, we know...and even when they pretend, we can see them.  We can see that something is not OK.  Even if they can't articulate it, parents can see it, because we can't help it...we always see them.  How many times does a parent go check up on their kids when they are asleep?  As a parent, do you know where your toddler is at all times around the house? And as they enter adolescence, what parent doesn't try to stalk their sons and daughters on social media to make sure they know what's going on in their lives?  

We go through great lengths to make sure we can see our kids regardless of how old they are. I now understand the total heartbreak my parents must have suffered when I announced I was leaving the country for good all those years ago.  Back then, it didn't even occur to me to stop to think about their pain.  Now, as I'm sitting here, with less than 2 years until my older son takes those dreaded steps out of the home into the world of college, my heart is already feeling the hurt of the approaching blow.  And why is that?  Well...perhaps because a parent's heart it's not his/her own.  It belongs to the child that they hold in their arms.  And when it is time to let go...the heart goes too.  We love them so much.  And loving is seeing.  So, when we can't see them...we mourn.  

Our Heavenly Father doesn't have to go through the sorrow of separation because He is always here.  He always sees us.  No matter how far we think we have wandered, He always sees us.  And He sees us because He loves us.  He sees us because He cares.  

Jesus is no different.  As the visible manifestation of the Father's glory, Jesus is with us always.  He sees us regardless.  And the same way He saw that poor widow even without her calling out to Him or begging Him for help, He sees us even when we don't know what to do or forget that He is there.  Even when we don't know what to say or even that we could say something...the Holy Spirit takes care of that:  

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 8: 26

Let's never forget that He sees us.  The same way Jesus saw this widow, the same way the Angel of the Lord saw Hagar, in our moments when we feel as if the world has ended, let's rest in the assurance of His presence and in the fact that He sees us because He loves us and because He cares.

Jesus Speaks to Women: Luke 7

11 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.” Luke 7: 11-12

As I return to my search for how Jesus spoke to women in the Gospels, I run into this passage above which I have to admit, I don't remember much.  However, O how I love it now that I've found it!

The reason why I love this passage so much is not only because of the miracle that Jesus performed on the widow's son...but because of the miracle of witnessing Jesus compassion.  

Right before this scene, we see Jesus miraculous healing of the servant of the Centurion.  In that case, the Centurion sent some elders to seek Jesus out and plead earnestly to Him to heal the Centurion's servant friend.  We see how Jesus goes with the elders and before he arrives at the house, the Centurion sends yet, another committee to receive Jesus on his behalf, presenting Him with these poignant words:

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

Luke 7: 1-7

Jesus responds with great admiration to the Centurion's words spoken through his friends, and turns the entire event into a magnificent teaching moment which speaks to us as loudly today as I'm sure it did to the crowd that heard it a couple of thousands of years ago:

“I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Luke 7: 9b

Then, Jesus healed the servant even before He reached the Centurion's home...

With this widow, however, what marvels me and what I love the most is that there was no request.  There is no record of the widow saying anything.  The text doesn't even specify that she was crying.  We would not know she was if it were because Jesus noticed.

I mean, obviously, she must have been crying:  a widow + losing her only son = total despair.  

However, I find it intriguing that the writer/recorder did not made it known with more detail.  Perhaps, and this is just me speculating here...her grief was so immeasurably strong that shock overcame her and her crying and sorrow were more inside agony rather than outward manifestation.  Have you ever been there?  Has life ever shaken your circumstances so much that you can't even cry aloud...allowing the sorrow to visibly show?

I remember one instance for me:  when I received the call that my Dad had died.  It was as if someone had removed the floor from under my feet and I was perpetually falling into an abyss where I was voided not only of stability, but also from the ability to express my deep sadness for a while.  

That's what I imagine this widow was going through in this instance...only about a million times stronger...

Sigh...

I'd like to stop here and ponder on the widow's situation for a while...to then, dwell on the magnificent words Jesus offers to this woman...for now, I just pray that the Holy Spirit makes His presence known to us in supernatural evidence so, especially in our moments of deep sorrow, we can be assured that He is, and always will be, the Emmanuel, God With Us!  Amen!

God's Messages through Other Believers

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Luke 2: 33-35

Have you ever wondered why it's difficult for us to listen to what others have to comment/say to us about our circumstances or situations?  Maybe you are not plagued by this issue because you are a kind person, with fully matured fruit of the Spirit.  Me, on the other hand...not so much.  I'm very much like my children.  They never EVER want to hear what I have to say:

Me:  Why don't you do your homework now, so you can be free the rest of your afternoon and evening?

Child:  But I'm tired! I need a break.  Besides, I don't have much homework, just 2 questions.

Me:  Well, if it is so short, just do it now, so you can be free!  It won't take you long and you're done!

Child:  Let me finish this episode/game/song/movie...fill in the blank with whatever other activity he wants to do now... and then I'll do the homework.

Inevitable turn of events:  child doesn't do homework until later that evening.  He becomes enslaved to it because it takes longer than he anticipated, and the whole/entire household is in a tizzy because nobody knows how to solve Problem C in the worksheet.  

So...we know that there are many reasons why we/me/my kids don't want to listen:  because, usually, listening involves stopping a current behavior/trend.   And, we don't want to let go of what we are currently doing and the enjoyment it brings to us regardless of how harmful it might be for us. Besides, it is non of their business!

But...why do others want to communicate those messages to us?  More importantly, why does God want to send us messages either directly, through angels or through other believers?

Well...the way I see it, there is one basic/umbrella reason under which two general objectives sit:

Basic/umbrella reason:  God sends messages to us because He loves us!

Objective #1:  He wants to spare us from heartache that is avoidable.

Objective #2:  He wants to prepare us for heartache that is inevitable.

That's what I see in Simeon's words to Mary, especially the last part:  And a sword will pierce your own soul too...

The spear that pierced Jesus' side on the cross (John 19: 34) doesn't only go through Jesus' flesh...it stabs Mary's heart and soul as she witnessed it...

The plan God had for Mary was grand, indeed!  However, it was also full of hardship and sorrow.  Her suffering cannot be endured without God's presence and voice constantly sustaining her.  Hence the angelic visitation, the prophets words, the pondering... God prepared Mary for the inevitable heartache she would feel and carry with her for the rest of her terrestrial life. 

I believe God doesn't just do this for Mary.  He does it for us too.  He speaks to us through His Word in the Bible, through teachers, through brothers and sisters in Christ, through His direct messages to us because He wants to spare us from avoidable hardship or He wants to prepare us for the ones we must endure.  He never leaves us, nor forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31: 6) He is an ever-present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46: 1)

Therefore, what are we to do?  Listen! We must lend our ear as much as possible and ponder...seek wisdom to discern the way that He is trying to show us and the strength to walk on it.  Let's not so quickly dismiss the messages we receive, for we don't know if they might be exactly what we need to hear at that precise moment...regardless of our reluctance to accept them.

May we realize that God's actions towards us are always moved by His Perfect and Unique Love! Amen!