“When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus[c] gave him to his mother.” Luke 7:13-15
I love to watch those videos of soldiers returning to their families after long deployments. Surprise or not, these reunions fill my heart with joy and bring a smile (and tear to my eyes).
This morning as I sit here meditating upon the times Jesus raised the dead makes me wonder what these reunions must have been like. We get a small snippet of the excitement in the Gospel stories but there must have been so much more. Imagine the mother (widow) in Luke, she has all she loves and who loves her torn away. She must be in utter despair – enough that just seeing the scene moves Jesus to have compassion for her. Jesus walks in and raises her son from His incredible compassion – He wasn’t asked nor do we hear He even knew this mother or boy.
“Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement.” Mark 5:40-42. In Mark’s Gospel, we see distraught and saddened parents. They come to seek Jesus’ healing for their daughter but it’s too late. She dies before He can arrive and heal her. The people in the room even laugh at Jesus. In the presence of the parents and “those who were Him.” Ever since my daughter’s illness and close calls, this story brings tears to my eyes.
In John, Mary and Martha are broken-hearted, the disciples are bewildered. If only Jesus had been there, all would have been ok. But, Jesus waited long enough for Lazarus to die despite the tears and broken hearts that would come. When He told them to roll back the stone the called Lazarus from the tomb, imagine to looks of consternation and confusion. Then, out walks a living Lazarus. I can see Mary and Martha running and jumping into their brother’s arms.
“When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”” John 11:43-44
Imagine the joy and tears flowing from stunned and overwhelmed hearts of the widow, parents, Mary, Martha and disciples. The reunions of soldiers to their families in these YouTube videos hold nothing to the joy of their hearts.
New can all guarantee that someday we will die. When we breath our last and close our eyes, we will be reunited with God. We will come to see Him again and rejoice – I can only imagine the joy when i see Jesus again and can bend my knee before God the Father in all His glory.
Oh, yea! And, immediately after meeting God, I’ve imagined a great reunion. I can see that moment when I feel someone close at hand. I turn at a tap on my shoulder to see a grin of joy as the Essex Mother winks and points to my dad standing there beside her. As I leap into his embrace, I see all those I’ve loved most and who have loved me standing around us. Group hug!!!!