"God Pause Daily Devotional" The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 2 June 2016 with Scripture Luke 7:11-17
Luke 7:11 The next day Yeshua, accompanied by his talmidim and a large crowd, went to a town called Na‘im. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead man was being carried out for burial. His mother was a widow, this had been her only son, and a sizeable crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he felt compassion for her and said to her, “Don’t cry.” 14 Then he came close and touched the coffin, and the pallbearers halted. He said, “Young man, I say to you: get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Yeshua gave him to his mother.[Luke 7:15 1 Kings 17:23] 16 They were all filled with awe and gave glory to God, saying, “A great prophet has appeared among us,” and, “God has come to help his people.” 17 This report about him spread throughout all Y’hudah and the surrounding countryside.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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Jesus and a funeral procession collide on the outskirts of Nain. This gospel scene has the feel of a showdown between life and death. You can almost see the tumbleweed scurry over the dusty road between the bier and Jesus? As this drama unfolds, what will happen when life interrupts death?
In our daily lives, we've become accustomed to experiencing the opposite--death interrupting life. Hopes, dreams, and relationships are all casualties of death's intrusion upon our lives. But Jesus does it differently; Jesus impedes death's path and stymies the normal pattern of things. With a touch and by a word Jesus brings life out of death. This is the greatest of all interruptions. Death is stopped in its tracks. Death is rendered powerless. Death is undone. Indeed, death does not have the final word. The final word belongs to Jesus. "Rise!" Jesus says to you and to all, "Rise!"
Resurrected one, interrupt our dying by the promise of our living into your abiding love. Amen.
Justin Lind-Ayres
Augsburg College Campus Ministry, Minneapolis
Master of Divinity, 2003
Luke 7:11 Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him.
12 As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town.
13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep."
14 Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!"
15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
16 Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!"
17 This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. [New Revised Standard Version]
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Jesus and a funeral procession collide on the outskirts of Nain. This gospel scene has the feel of a showdown between life and death. You can almost see the tumbleweed scurry over the dusty road between the bier and Jesus? As this drama unfolds, what will happen when life interrupts death?
In our daily lives, we've become accustomed to experiencing the opposite--death interrupting life. Hopes, dreams, and relationships are all casualties of death's intrusion upon our lives. But Jesus does it differently; Jesus impedes death's path and stymies the normal pattern of things. With a touch and by a word Jesus brings life out of death. This is the greatest of all interruptions. Death is stopped in its tracks. Death is rendered powerless. Death is undone. Indeed, death does not have the final word. The final word belongs to Jesus. "Rise!" Jesus says to you and to all, "Rise!"
Resurrected one, interrupt our dying by the promise of our living into your abiding love. Amen.
Justin Lind-Ayres
Augsburg College Campus Ministry, Minneapolis
Master of Divinity, 2003
Luke 7:11 Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him.
12 As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town.
13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep."
14 Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!"
15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
16 Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!"
17 This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. [New Revised Standard Version]
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