What would become of her?
As she walked in the procession, surrounded by a crowd, she had never felt so alone and uncertain. She was already a widow—a heartbreaking reality—but now, the utterly crushing grief of losing a child was compounded by the fact that her only close male relatives were gone. If she had daughters, what would become of them? Would relatives take them all in? Would they be cast to the margins, too?
But then, in a wild turn of events that she couldn’t have possibly seen coming, her Messiah walked through the gates, and “his heart went out to her” (Luke 7:13, NIV).
That phrase in the original language means, “to be moved as to one’s inwards, to yearn with compassion.” Jesus’ humanity was on full display in that moment. He knew the unbearable grief she felt and the crippling fear of a very uncertain future. He felt compassion for her deep in His bones. He could have simply brought her son back to life—and He did—but He also felt with her. He entered her pain and took notice of her.
And he does that for us, too! Take a moment today to open your Bible to Luke 7 and read her story in verses 11 through 15. Let our Messiah’s response to her sink into your heart and mind.
As you walk through this life and undoubtedly face the hard things, the gut-wrenching things, the things that feel like they may break you—He is there. You may not feel it at the moment, but hold on closely to this truth: Jesus walks with you in your pain, and He does more than sympathize–His heart goes out to you.
May we take comfort today from the compassionate heart of our Savior who never leaves our side.
