The Cloud

 

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight"Acts:1:9

 After giving the Disciples, the Great Commission of proclaiming the Gospel Jesus was then taken up into the Heavens and enveloped with in a cloud. At the Accession of our Lord Jesus Christ, he was enveloped by a cloud which hid him from his Disciples immediate view.

Like many things that our Lord did and said, at first the Disciples, and we, may not have fully grasped the import or the message. Nothing that Jesus did, or does, is an accident. Everything that relates to Jesus is of great importance and speaks to us about who our Lord is and what he does.

What message do we find then in our Lord being enveloped by a cloud? What does this teach to those who follow our Lord?

To understand why Jesus was taken into a cloud we need to return to the Old Testament, the body of writings that we are told speaks to us about Jesus. John: 5:39-47, Luke:24:25-27,44-45

The Cloud in the Wilderness

That is, all the Old Testament speaks to us about Jesus Christ. The Old Testament is the Incarnation Anticipated as the New Testament is the Incarnation Accomplished.

Jesus is found throughout the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. The Writers of the New Testament understood this, and after the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit to give them inspiration and understanding, they began to see our Lord throughout the Old Testament.

Jesus is there, even in the wanderings of the Children of Israel. St. Luke , in his history of the Apostolic Church records the sermon of the Deacon St. Stephen to the religious leaders. St. Stephen’s message points away from the Temple at Jerusalem and toward the person of Jesus. St. Stephen is insistent that Jesus, and not the Temple, is the focus of God's purpose and our relationship with God.

 St. Stephen declares that Jesus is and always has been this focus, even citing that Jesus is God and, as such, Jesus is the very one who led Israel in the cloud that went before them, which was manifesting the presences of the Lord.

"This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spoke to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give to us" Acts:7:38

St. Stephen is telling the Jews, and we, that it is Jesus who there in the cloud. This cloud which was a visual manifestation of the Lord's presences and is found in several places in the Scriptures.

This cloud is the Shekinah, in Hebrew it means to dwell or to inhabit. It shares a common entomology with the Hebrew word Mishkan, a form which is used for the Tabernacle, where God dwelt, where the people of Israel met their God. 

Meeting God

Moses met God as the cloud descend atop the highths of Sinai. The manifestation was one of power and was accompanied by the blast of a heavenly trumpet. Tempest and lighting and roaring of thunder. The whole of the mountain was shaken, showing that the Lord God was present.

"The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said."Ex:19:9

"On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.

The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain."(16-20)

Moses met the Lord in the Tabernacle as the cloud descend to it.

"And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses."Ex:33:9

The Cloud on the Mountain

The one who descended there upon the mountain was the very one who came in the Person of Jesus Christ, there the Lord "proclaims the name of the Lord" to Moses.

"And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children's children, to the third and to the fourth generation. And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. And he said, If now I have found grace in your sight, O LORD, let my LORD, I pray you, go among us; for it is a stiff necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance." Ex: 34:5-9

 Moses met the Lord surrounded by the cloud, and hears God's word and Moses' responds by worshiping.

 When the Cloud Moves

As the Lord God led Israel through the Wilderness toward the Promised Land, Israel would encamp and stay in a given place until the cloud moved, when the cloud moved Israel moved, when it stopped, they stopped. This tells us that God was controlling the overall direction of the people of Israel. At the close of the book of Exodus, after a display of the glory of God, we read.

"And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys." Ex: 40:37-38

 Cloud On the Temple

At the dedication of the Temple at Jerusalem the very presence of the Great God, the same that is seen leading Israel, is here, descended to the sound of Trumpets as one hundred and twenty priest sing hymns of praise to God in unity, and fills the Temple with his glory so fully, that the Priest could not stay in the Sanctuary but were forced to go out into the court.

"And came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were in unity, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endures forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." 2Chron:5:13-14

When they were in unity, then the glory filled the Temple, the presence of God was manifested in a powerful way as they worshiped and gave glory to the God of Israel. We see ,that in this moment at the Temple of God what is spoken of in Psalm:22:3- "God inhabits the praises of His people". This speaks of that where our Lord is praised his presences is manifested. 

Our Praises does not "work up" God's divine presence, it simply brings us to realize that he is present. Jesus is with us. He is within the Temple of his church.

 Where He Meets Us Still

 Like in the Temple and Tabernacles of ages past, our Lord still meets us today within his church, the living Jesus who came and dwelt among us as one of us in his incarnation still meets us.

 "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." Jhn: 1:14

We meet our Lord in the Tabernacle of His humanity. It is here that God reveals himself to each and all in the person of His Son Jesus.

“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from  you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me" Jhn:17:6-8

Jesus in the Cloud

The very one who led the people of Israel through the self-illuminating cloud of the Shekinah is the very one who came to humanity in the person of Jesus.

This truth is also seen atop the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus is seen glorified by the overwhelmed Disciples. Here the voice of God affirming the divine Sonship of Jesus is heard and the cloud surrounded them all as the fell before His glory. 

"While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud enveloped them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear you him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only" .Matt:17:5-8

This moment of seeing the glory of Jesus in the cloud is again an affirmation that Jesus is the one who led the Children of Israel in their Journey toward the Promised Land. 

The cloud would have invoked within the minds of the first Disciples, all who were Jewish, the racial memory of the cloud that their ancestors followed. They would have understood the message of Jesus being enveloped by the cloud.

This told them, and tells us, that the one whom protected, provided for, and led Israel will do the same for the Church. That Israel, as St. Stephen called them "the Church in the Wilderness". As the Lord was with Israel before the incarnation, so Jesus is with his people the Church in the wilderness of this world after the resurrection.

 Jesus Hid By Cloud

Acts records that the cloud hid Jesus from the Apostles view, this teaches us all, that we are to walk by faith and not by sight, to trust our Lord Jesus that he is and will always be with us. And it is when we worship in unity giving Jesus praise, it is then, that we come to discern his abiding presences within the Temple of the Church.

"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him" Heb:10:38

Jesus, in his accession, is demonstrating that he will lead his Church, protect and provided for it in all of its wanderings throughout the ages just as he did with the Children of Israel. 

In all that the Church faces, Jesus is with us, with all Christians. Jesus will lead us forward moving us ever onward, overseeing the Church's journey to the Promised land of his Kingdom, and even when we enter times of the encampments of little progress, where the cloud of his leading makes no sign of moving, even as with Israel, Jesus will be there as our Shepherd in times of hardship, whatever occurs, he is there with us by way of the Holy Spirit.

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you." Jhn:14:15-20

 Jesus' ascension, and being hid by the cloud speaks volumes, it tells us that Jesus will lead us onward to the conclusion of His purpose for each and all and is far from being an abandonment of his people, it is rather, a powerful affirmation that Jesus is ever with us as he was with Israel, and that he will do more for us than we can even begin to grasp.

None need to fear, Jesus is with us, his eyes are upon us, he will lead us onward. Jesus is the one in the cloud who is ever present in each of our lives. The cloud tells us all that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us he will lead us all to the Promised Land of his glorious Kingdom.

Jesus is as he spoke to the Disciples in Matt: 28:20b. "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age".

Benediction: May we each and all ever trust our Lord to lead us and guide us ever in life, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

 

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

Topinabee Community Church

Topinabee, Michigan 

If You Would Like to Know More About or to Support the Ministry of Topinabee Community Church You Can go to Our Web Site.

https://topinabeechurch.org/index.html

You Can Follow Topinabee Community Church on Face Book 

https://www.facebook.com/Topinabeecommunitychurch

                    "If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"

A House for All Nations

“My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” Mk: 11:17

After his glorious entrance into Jerusalem, which was in many respects an Apocalyptic moment, our Lord Jesus  Christ entered the Temple of God and into the court of the gentiles. This outer court was the part of the Temple where the gentiles were confined to stay. This area had become a “marketplace”, and some people used it as a short cut to cross the Temple courts to get where they wanted to go.

It was here in the gentile court that shops and animal pens, which stank of dung, had been set up for the selling of animals which were to be used in the sacrifices which were offered at the Temple, also, money changers had set up tables to exchange real currency for “Temple coinage” which had no value outside of the Temple complex. This Temple coinage was to be used in the purchase of the animals, the exchange rate was very disproportion in favor of the money changers and the Religious leaders of the day.

The Zeal of the Lord’s House

The abuses of the religious system and exploitation of the common people all for the profit and gain of the religious leaders and their business allies ,the unsavory lot of persons which always abound where such enterprises are being conducted,  and the stench and filth of the penned animals causes a holy anger to arise within Jesus.

Jesus is moved by a holy zeal. Jesus then acts and boldly confronting the money changers, he overturned their tables and scattering them and drove out the “merchandisers” scattering them from the Temple and put an end to persons using the Temple as a short cut to get where they wanted to go.

“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. Mk: 11:15-16

The Court Stank

This part of the Temple, the court of the gentiles, was the place where non-Jews were given very limited access to participation of the Worship of God. It was in this court that the religious leaders in conjunction with money changers set their tables and booths to exchange money and to sell animals.

The presence of the animals with this area would have created an abundance of filth and a bad stench. This would have kept some persons out of the Temple all together and cosigned the non-Jewish worshipers to a rather unpleasant experiences and discouraged many to stay away all together.

  This why Jesus declared in his sermon that he preached there that the worship of the true God, that the Temple at Jerusalem was to symbolize was intended to include people from all nation. None were to be kept out.

“And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? (17a)

The type of legalistic application of the Covenant quite literally stank and keeps people out and away from the worship of God. Legalism stinks and keeps people away.

 The Religious leaders had exploited the Covenant which God had formed with Israel and used it to make themselves rich at the expense of the people and the virtual exclusion of non-Jews who wanted to worship God.

 “But you have made it ‘a den of robbers” (17b)

Jesus, in overturning the tables, was acting out why he, as the Messiah, had come. Jesus had come to overturn the tables of the Covenant. Jesus had come to do away with religion, which limited the access to God and bring relationship.

 The Religious leaders had developed an “exclusive” merchandising mind set. This “exclusivism” kept some of the people confined in the court of the gentiles did not have access to the court of the Priest or the Sanctuary and ultimately the Holy of Holies, these areas belong  only to the people of Israel and the religious leaders which was reserved only to them.

Jesus proclaimed powerfully by word and action an end to that system and it’s purging. Now, through the work of Jesus all peoples from all nations could offer the sacrifice of prayer and participate in the worship of the Great God  as priest of God under the New Covenant of Grace.

Not a Short Cut

Jesus also shut down the uses of the Temple as a short cut for those who wanted to get where they wanted to go and sealing their merchandise as they went it was no longer a means for their self-advancement.

“and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts”(16)

In Our Temple Courts

St. Paul tells us that we, the Church, Christians, are the Temple of God.

“we are all the Temple of God”1Cor:3:16

 Do we Christians find the same “merchandising” attitude in the Temple courts of our own lives, individually and collectively? Do we have a “money changer” attitude? Are we using the Temple Court of the Church as means to get to where we want to go, socially, financially for our own gain and advancement? Do we each and all have a legalistic “religion” that stinks and keeps some out of and excludes them from the worship of God? Do we have an unequal exchange rate, that is, what we give in return is useless coinage?

Jesus has come to drive out the “merchandising” attitude in our own lives.

As we are all the Temple of God, Jesus Christ has entered all our lives and has turns over the tables of our lives all to rid us of system which cannot even bring us real transformation and salvation.

Jesus rather drives out the “merchandiser” attitude, the “getting attitude” in each one of us. We need to let go of the old ways and become priest of God to offer the sacrifice of prayer, to be a house of prayer ,so that no one need be excluded out in the court of the gentiles. All are welcome in the Lord’s house.

Jesus has entered in and turned over our tables so that we can be house of prayer for all nations.

Benediction: May each and all fully be that Temple where God is worshiped without “money changers” a house of prayer for all nations today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

 

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

Topinabee Community Church

Topinabee, Michigan 

If You Would Like to Know More About or to Support the Ministry of Topinabee Community Church You Can go to Our Web Site.

https://topinabeechurch.org/index.html

You Can Follow Topinabee Community Church on Face Book 

https://www.facebook.com/Topinabeecommunitychurch

                    "If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"

No Stones Thrown

 "And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you." John: 8:11

The religious crowd, moved by the religious leaders of the day, brought a frighten woman to Jesus, she had been caught in not just an act of sin, but a life of sin.

There is no doubt as to her guilt, she was discovered in sin, there is offered no defense on her behalf. There is no mistake she was guilty, and now she was brought to Jesus as he taught in the Temple.

The religious leaders whose whole function was to safe guard and follow the Law wanted to see what Jesus would do with such an obvious sinner as this woman.

"Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him" Jhn:8:2-6

 Obvious Guilt 

We see in St. John’s Gospel narrative that Jesus does not dispute this woman's guilt and apparently nor does she. This woman seems to be aware that the charges brought against her are legitimate. She is guilty of sin there is no way to deny it.

Jesus himself does not argue her case, he seems to understand who and what this woman is. Jesus also does not inquire as to the where-abouts of the man involved either, after all, it is the woman whom the religious leaders have brought to Jesus, not the man who was involved as well.

Jesus, also is very much aware as to why the religious leaders have brought this accused woman to him. Jesus understands their motivation and true intent. Jesus knows that they are uninterested in justice or holiness, he knows that they seek power and are attempting to discredit Jesus or gain control over him.

What the Law Says

The Scribes and Pharisees leave no doubt as to what they want. This woman’s accusers immediately quote the Law which is from both Deuteronomy: 22:22 and in Leviticus: 20:10, which says that adulterers, such as her, should be put to death. 

In religious leaders understanding, it is clear as to what should transpire next. It is strange, given the Scriptures to which the religious leaders turn to , that somehow the man who was involved in the sin is not present or is being overlooked for some reason, for the Law calls for the death of both man and the woman to face punishment.

 "they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" (4-5)

Jesus' reaction however was not what they expected nor wanted. Jesus knew their intent.

"But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (6b-7)

Jesus then turns his attention back to the dirt in which he had been writing. He lets the force of his words settle into the hearts and minds of the assembled crowd. Each of them is silenced by Jesus and begin to remove themselves from the scene leaving only Jesus and the woman alone in the center of the court.

"Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” (8-11)

Not Condemned

After the woman's accusers are gone, it just Jesus and her in at the center of the temple court. Jesus then straightens up and address her personally.

 Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” (10)

 She answers Jesus, realizing that she has been spared from death as the Law would have dictated.

 She said, “No one, Lord.” (11a)

Jesus' answer to her is simple but powerful. Jesus does not lecture her, nor in any way berate her, but simply confirms what is now true for her; she is saved from a terrible death all through grace in spite of her sin and guilt which was obvious in light of the Law.

 She is now un-condemned as fast as the Law would have condemned her, Jesus saved her. Jesus however, tells this woman, that her now being free from death calls upon her to be transformed and live anew a life which has abandoned death and is now free from the condemnation of the Law which would have claimed her life.

"And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more." (11b)

Who was/is This Woman?

Many have wondered over the years as to who this woman might have been and what her name may was. Who was she? The answer is she is all of us, this is why, St. John does not record her name in his narrative of the Gospel so that we might insert ourselves into her situation which in light of the Law we all would have found ourselves if it were not for Jesus.

 Each and all of humanity have sinned. We have all been caught in the sin of spiritual adultery against the great God who alone is worthy of our worship and love. We are all sinners and as such the Law, just as with the woman, would have claimed our lives. 

The Law, Our Need for Jesus

 The religious leaders, the Scribes and the Pharisees, acted out just what the Law with its demands was designed to do in the first place; it defined sin.

The religious leaders brought an obvious sinner to Jesus. In spite of their motives this was the very best thing that possibly could have happen to this woman, and to each of us as well.

The Apostle St. Paul wrote of the Law's purpose to the Church Galatia. There were some who had entered the Church and were attempting to merge tenets of the Old Covenant Law with the grace of Jesus Christ. The Apostle found it needful to write to them and clarify the purpose of the Law to them, and to us. 

"But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." Gal: 3:23-25

 The Law with its demands brings us to Jesus, the Law lays bare all of our obvious sins. Many may shrink back from the idea of this stark revelation of their sin, but being confronted with Jesus is the greatest blessing that we could possibly experience. 

Jesus knew exactly who and what this woman was and had done just as he know each of us. Jesus was not shocked by her or us. Jesus knows just what we all are, yet he say's to us when we are brought before him stands before us.

The Law which defined sin, has, like the religious leaders left the scene, and the voices which called for death and condemnation have now fallen silent. We are like, the woman, are left alone at the center of the Temple courts with Jesus. 

 The Law which called for justice and the death of sinners has now fallen silent. For the letter of the Law would have claimed her life and all of us in our sins.

"But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones" 2Cor:3:7

St. Paul mentions as well, that now the Law which would have brought us death has been replaced by the Spirit which brings life; we like the woman are not condemned ;the Law has no power over us.

"not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (6)

At the Center of the Court

After the religious accusers have left, this woman finds herself in the center of the Temple court alone with Jesus. 

"and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court".(9b)

This is where she, and all of find ourselves, when the demands of the Law have been silenced, we are alone with Jesus at the very center of the Temple court. It was for this woman, and should be for all of us a very privet personal encounter with our Savior Jesus. With Law now gone we have Jesus alone.

 I Do Not Condemn You

Jesus' grace has saved her and us. But having been saved does not free us to continue our past patterns of behavior. The Grace of God does not give us license to sin without responsibility, on the contrary the grace of God leads us to be transformed in our living.

 Jesus admonished this woman, and all of us to live anew to put the past sins behind us.

Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” (10-11)

Jesus is telling us all that grace should transform us and lead us to righteousness, not grant us freedom to sin as we will. St. Paul speaks of this same transforming grace in his Epistle to the Roman Christians.

 "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" Rom:6:1-4

 St. Paul then assurance us of the position of being un-condemned which we have through Jesus and the new life which we have in him. Jesus has given to us what the law could never give.

"there is now no more condemnation to those who are in Christ" Rom: 8:1-3

We all, like this woman caught in adultery, are now free to live and a new life; free of the condemnation of the Law which would have claimed our lives after showing each of us our needs for our Lord.

But the Law like the religious accusers has left the scene; we are alone with our Lord and Savior Jesus who extends to us a new life in his grace.

We are, now like the woman, with Jesus and he gives us his reassurance that we all are the recipients of his grace as Jesus speaks these words to any who would hear them. "I do not condemn you", for with Jesus there are no stones thrown.

Benediction: May we each and all as we are brought to Jesus and hear his assurances that we are not condemned, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen

 

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

Topinabee Community Church

Topinabee, Michigan 

If You Would Like to Know More About or to Support the Ministry of Topinabee Community Church You Can go to Our Web Site.

https://topinabeechurch.org/index.html

You Can Follow Topinabee Community Church on Face Book 

https://www.facebook.com/Topinabeecommunitychurch

                    "If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"

A Gentle Touch

 

In Luke: 7:11-17 Jesus and His Disciples Encounter the Funeral Procession of a window's son as they are about to enter the town of Nain.

Jesus and his disciples, as they are about to enter the Galilean town of Nain, encountered a funeral procession for a windows' only son coming out through the gates of the town in their direction.

Jesus is moved and looked with compassion upon the mourners. As the procession and Jesus intersect one another, Jesus reaches out and touches the funeral pallet on which the dead young man is lying.

Jesus gently touched the pallet and miraculously the young man is raised to life, whole and well and restored to his mother. All those who walk in the funeral procession see it and they all praised God.

Only a Gentle Touch 

The whole world, around Christians, walk along in the procession of death, living in ignorance, or misunderstanding of who Jesus is.

It may be possible that all that might be needed, is to have someone show compassion upon them as they walk along in this life, and with just a gentle touch enter their lives, if but for a moment, and reach out and touch them to bring life and restoration to the procession of death in which they walk.

The people around us may not need confrontational evangelism or accosted on the street corners or the intrusive pounding upon doors of their lives, but maybe, only the gentle touch of Jesus which brought that funeral procession to a standstill and allowed him to raise the dead and restore a widow woman's son to her.

Jesus brought life to a dead situation and caused people to praise God and a powerful witness of God’s love and Grace was demonstrated powerfully to many. The touch of Jesus was motivated out of his compassion for the "lost”, the lonely, the broken, the suffering.

Jesus didn’t halt them to engage them in a heavy theological lecture or debate on the "Indeterminate State" and or the resurrection, nor did Jesus rebuke their grief, nor bring judgmental criticism to bear against them, our Lord simply reached out with compassion and gently touched the situation.

That gentle touch brought them to a stop which allowed Jesus to bring life again and the restored the relationship between the widow and her son whom she thought was lost to death.

The Funeral Procession of the World

The world walks in a mournful procession, as we encounter those who drudge along in grief or uncertainly, or the difficulties of this life, do we, as Jesus, did, and does, looked at them with compassion? Can we reach out with just a gentle touch, not heavy handedness or confrontation?

Jesus’ gentle touch brought the whole possession to a standstill, that is; Jesus got their attention and brought life out of death. Jesus can use each of us today and reach out and gently touch the lives of those around us to bring life. Scripture calls this same gentleness that the Lord has, as evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives.

 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith," Gal:5:22

This gentleness, the fruit of the Spirit, is the kind of gentleness Jesus showed at Nain it is life giving. It is the kind which touches the lives of those around us can get their attention and bring life to their situations. 

The Apostle St. Paul encouraged the young pastor St. Titus, as well as all Christians down through the ages, to show gentleness to those around us.

 "To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness to all men."Titus:1:3

Jesus could have this compassion toward all because he understands our all of our pain and suffering first hand, he came as one of us, and is even in his glorified humanity is still one of us.

Jesus has compassion upon us in our times of grief. Jesus touches our lives gently.

"For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; Heb:2:14

"For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness." Heb:5:1-2

Jesus knows and understands our struggles and can, and does touch our lives with his gentleness. Jesus brings life and restoration to us, we, as Christians, should do likewise as our Lord did that day at Nain, and touch the lives of others with gentleness; so that there can be life and restoration, and they too may give to glory to God.

Benediction: May we each and all, like Jesus, touch the lives of others with a life-giving gentleness, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen

 

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

Topinabee Community Church

Topinabee, Michigan 

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                    "If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"