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!