God Has Visited His People
.
Luke 7:11-16
11. Soon afterward he went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. 13. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14. And he came 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 he 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!"
Luke 8:40-48
40. Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus' feet he besought him to come to his house, 42. for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him. 43. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by any one, 44. came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. 45. And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!" 46. But Jesus said, "Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me." 47. And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."
So often we read of “a great crowd” surrounding Jesus as he traveled through the countryside, from town to town, and even when he tried to go off alone to pray. The people were starving for salvation! The times were ripe for a savior. History was ready to culminate in the resurrection of a Messiah. And Jesus did not disappoint! Even before his death and resurrection, he amazed, awed and “scared people straight” with his words, and especially with his miracles!
What strikes me about these two passages, though, is the gentle kindness of Jesus. It’s almost a dichotomy—great power and strength to perform a healing, and even to restore life—deployed out of mercy and love. God among us. No, not “A great prophet [who] has arisen among us!” Rather the prophetic fulfillment of 2000 years of history, of waiting, longing, struggling and wondering. Can you imagine! Jesus in the midst of a pressing crowd of human beings! Can you imagine the honor and privilege of touching the fringe of his garment? So much love and power emanated from him, that touching a mere hanging thread of his worn and fraying tunic is all that was required for healing!
The fear that is spoken of here, what causes trembling, is not fear of the inflicting of pain, or of retribution. No, it’s fear/awe/reverence at being in the presence of this man/God! It’s realizing that scripture is being fulfilled in front of your very eyes! It’s wrapping your head around the possibility of the covenant not just being reinstated and fulfilled, but the hope and rejoicing at the greater covenant about to be forged! Our Jesus. Our Savior.
This is the kind of God to whom we can take all our pain, all our doubt, all our fear—and especially all our sin and human frailty. Because he was among us. He walked with us. He laughed with us at wedding parties. He mourned with us at the loss of a loved one. He suffered with us through our infirmities. And he healed us. More than that—he saved us!
My prayer is that you spend today rejoicing in the miracle of Jesus risen, and that you are seized with fear/awe/reverence when you realize "God has visited his people!"
Mary
