Monday, March 20, 2006
Colliding Crowds
V12. Now as He approached the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her.
On a collision course we have two crowds approaching one another in opposite directions. We have Jesus approaching the gate of the city and a sizable funeral procession coming out of this same gate. As verse 11 describes the incoming multitude, this verse describes the crowd coming from the city. The reason for their leaving the city was that tradition dictated that the dead were to be buried outside the city.
We see a dead man being carried out on a stretcher by at least two bearers, possibly more. The real tragedy is seen in the only surviving family member. This is his mother and the dead man is her only son. But the horror of it all is that she was widow now left on her own dependent upon the mercy of others for her providence.
V13. And when the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep."
This verse gives insight into our author, Luke, as he records the words: “the Lord”. Luke was not an eyewitness to the events that he recorded but relates to his readers that Jesus Christ is personally the Lord. Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2. just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word have handed them down to us, 3. it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4. so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. He also records that He, Jesus, felt compassion for this widow whose hope is now exhausted.
The impact of these colliding multitudes is felt in the Lord’s words to the widow as he said to her, “Do not weep.” This interruption is viewed as anything but compassionate to the funeral procession. And, would be because hired mourners accompanied these events; He is putting an end to the gravity of this tragic situation by creating a calamity. The multitudes from both directions would be aghast at the lack of solemnity.
On a collision course we have two crowds approaching one another in opposite directions. We have Jesus approaching the gate of the city and a sizable funeral procession coming out of this same gate. As verse 11 describes the incoming multitude, this verse describes the crowd coming from the city. The reason for their leaving the city was that tradition dictated that the dead were to be buried outside the city.
We see a dead man being carried out on a stretcher by at least two bearers, possibly more. The real tragedy is seen in the only surviving family member. This is his mother and the dead man is her only son. But the horror of it all is that she was widow now left on her own dependent upon the mercy of others for her providence.
V13. And when the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep."
This verse gives insight into our author, Luke, as he records the words: “the Lord”. Luke was not an eyewitness to the events that he recorded but relates to his readers that Jesus Christ is personally the Lord. Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2. just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word have handed them down to us, 3. it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4. so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. He also records that He, Jesus, felt compassion for this widow whose hope is now exhausted.
The impact of these colliding multitudes is felt in the Lord’s words to the widow as he said to her, “Do not weep.” This interruption is viewed as anything but compassionate to the funeral procession. And, would be because hired mourners accompanied these events; He is putting an end to the gravity of this tragic situation by creating a calamity. The multitudes from both directions would be aghast at the lack of solemnity.
# posted by Castusfumus : 4:45 PM
