Only Son

Sadness filled the scene. A mournful crowd walked with the grief stricken widow. She had already done this funeral thing before, she remembered the pain of losing her husband all too quickly. Today felt like a double insult, her broken heart was pierced again. How could it be that now she was preparing to lay her only son to rest? Her tears were endless, she was moving with the crowd but felt herself as numb. She probably paid no attention to the One who saw and felt her grief. She may have continued to walk right by, but He could not have her go unnoticed. He felt compassion for her and gently said, "Don't cry." Next, the Lord came and touched the coffin of her son. The whole procession stopped. Then He said, "Young man, get up, I say to you, arise!" The dead man sat straight up and began to speak. Jesus gave him back to his precious mom. The mourning of the crowd now turned to one of fear and wonder; with many glorifying God, some thinking that a great prophet had arrived, still others recognizing that God had indeed paid them all a visit.

It was a simple act of love and tender care. There was no evidence of faith by any of the ones involved. No one had an agenda for Jesus to complete, no one was looking for a miracle. No one even asked for Him to intervene. He just did because he felt compassion for the hurting Mom.

It occurred to me in a way I don't think I have recognized before. God has a special heart for Moms and only sons. Sometimes if you are the parent of an only child, whenever families are talked about, you are led to believe that if you don't have a whole carload of kids, you really don't know much about parenting or about what it means to be a family. But God gets it, He knows the special bond that ties a Mom and son. After all, God has an unique intimacy with only sons; and yet He gave His one and only Son so lovingly, so freely, just for us. . .