Restoration

If only we could solve someone's problem when we offer them help!

Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. 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. 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 gave him to his mother. 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!” This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. - Luke 7:11-17

What was Jesus trying to teach his disciples when he raised the young man from the dead?

The woman was a widow and her only son had died.  She was now alone, with no means of support.  She was now poor and would be totally dependent on the Temple treasury which was supposed to care for the widows and orphans.

Jesus did not offer her money or support.  Instead, he remedied her situation by bringing her son back to life.

He restored her.  He gave her back what had been taken from her.  He didn't improve the situation she lived in before, but simply returned her to it.

That's important.

It is what we should try to do when we help someone, return them to the state they were in before their loss.

Isn't that all we want, when we lose something?

When I lost my job, I wanted to get a new job, preferably one that brought in the income I made before, but that may not have been possible.

I want a chance to earn what I made before, or at least start on that path.  

Sure, it would be great to find a better opportunity, one that made it possible for me to stop worrying about tomorrow, but that doesn't always happen.

Jesus taught his disciples to look at the situation and see what they could do to help restore the person in need.  

When someone is hungry, we should see him in them and offer them food.  He didn't say we should make them dependent upon us for food always, but we should do what we can to address their need in the moment.

For most of us, restoring someone to their prior state could be as simple as sitting with them and sharing a meal, offering a coat in the cold, being with them when they are sick or lonely.

What we do brings them comfort and shows them God's love.

Then, it is up to them to take it from there.

We may not be able to bring someone back from death to life in the literal sense, but we can so do something.

And if they come back tomorrow hungry again, we can have another meal ready.

More to come...