You're listening to Mountain View Church Audio, Christ-centered teaching from the Wilderness City, Whitehorse, UConn. Here's this week's message.
Cause all that I have is a hallelujah, hallelujah. And I know it's not much, but I have nothing else but for a king. Except for a heart singing hallelujah. I've got one response, I've got just one move. With my arm stretched wide, I will worship you.
So I throw up my hands, praise you again and again. Cause all that I have is a hallelujah. And I know it's not much, but I've nothing else fit for a king. Except for a heart singing hallelujah. Oh, don't you get shy on me. Lift up your song. Cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs. Get up and praise the Lord. Oh, come on, my soul. Oh, don't you get shy on me. Lift up your song. Cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs. Get up and praise the Lord.
Oh, come on, my soul. Oh, don't you get shy on me. Lift up your song. Cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs. Get up and praise the Lord. So I throw up my hands and praise you again and again. Cause all that I have is a hallelujah. Hallelujah. And I know it's not much, but I have nothing else fit for a king.
Have you ever been in so much sorrow that you didn't even have the words to pray? Maybe it was grief or anxiety or fear, and you sit there and you feel numb, seemingly unable to know how to ask God for help. In the Gospel of Luke, we read an account of a woman in this type of situation. She lost her one and only son. She doesn't cry out to Jesus, but he sees her and has compassion on her.
I'm Jeremy, and I'm the lead pastor of Mountain View Church, and today's message is titled Jesus Compassion. This spring, we're on a journey, a series called Jesus Like No Other. We're walking through key moments in the life of Jesus to discover what sets him apart. So far, we've learned about his victory, his authority, his power, and today, we're going to look at his compassion. Hi, I'm Dagmar, and I'm reading from Luke 7, 11 to 17.
Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and the great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, Do not weep. Then he came up and touched a bier, and the bearer stood still. And he said, Young men, I say to you, arise. And the dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all. And they glorified God, saying, A great prophet has arisen among us, and God has visited his people. And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
Nain was a small village in Galilee located just a few miles southeast of Nazareth, which was Jesus' hometown. This village still exists today in roughly the same spot. It's fascinating that Jesus chose to perform one of his most compassionate miracles in such a small, out-of-the-way place, which, as a side note, should be taken as a reminder that Jesus doesn't just show up in big cities or famous places. Jesus steps into the quiet corners of forgotten towns and grieving homes. This is important.
Luke notes that a great crowd was with Jesus as he approached Nain. This isn't just a throwaway detail. By this point in Jesus' ministry, he had developed a reputation. Healing the sick, performing miracles, teaching with unmatched authority. People were following him in droves. There was a buzz in the air, and people were wondering, could this be the Messiah? So, when Jesus nears the gate of Nain, it makes sense why it's not just him and a couple of disciples. There's a huge group of people who had seen him do the impossible, and we're expecting more. At the same time, another crowd is forming. This one centered around sorrow.
Luke tells us there was a considerable crowd with the grieving widow. This was a funeral procession, which in the first century was a community event. Mourners would walk through the town, often with wailers and flute players, making their grief a public spectacle, for lack of a better word. The bier, which was an open frame holding the body, would be carried slowly, and the body would be wrapped in linen, and people would follow the family from the home through the village to the burial site. When we read the words considerable crowd with her, it likely means that the young man or at least the family was known and potentially well-loved in the village. So two crowds are convergent. One is full of excitement and hope and anticipation around Jesus, and the other is filled with sorrow, loss, and mourning. Whatever Jesus chooses to do in this moment, it's going to be on full display of a lot of people. Whatever happens next will be public, intentional, and unforgettable. There will be lots of witnesses and lots of people to tell the tale.
So let's center for a moment on the widow. Note the word widow so that we don't miss the full weight of what this woman is experiencing. She had already walked through the grief of losing her husband. Now she's burying her one and only child, her last remaining family. And verse 14 tells us that he was a young man, which means he died under tragic circumstances, perhaps an illness or an accident. This is a terrible situation. He should have had years ahead of him. Years would have included caring for his mother. Adding to this tragedy, in that culture, without a male provider, no husband, no son, this widow was headed toward extreme poverty. The level of loss that this woman had experienced is greater than anything we can really relate to in our modern Western era.
Clearly from this account, Jesus must have felt all of that as he looked at this widow. Although he's fully human, he's also fully God and he's able to see her heart, her future, and the terrible tragedy of this circumstance. Moved by her grief and her sorrow, Jesus approaches. Verse 13 tells us, And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, Do not weep. From the Christ Center commentary, we read, the woman's grief moved the Lord. Her suffering touched him. He saw her and felt for her. He was not so smitten with popularity and adulation that he didn't have time to mourn with a widow. Note that Jesus saw her. That might seem like a small thing, but for someone who feels invisible in their pain, being seen is everything.
Then after seeing her, he had compassion on her. We need to pause and look at that Greek word used for compassion in this passage. It's so important here. You see, in the New Testament, there are several Greek words that can be translated as compassion or mercy, each with a significantly or slightly different nuance. For example, one word refers to tender mercy or gentle concern. The second word points to covenant mercy, acts of forgiveness or rescue. But the word that Luke chooses to describe Jesus' response is unique and it's powerful. He doesn't just feel pity or mercy for the widow. He's moved with the deepest level of internal compassion.
The word chosen is to feel something deep in your gut. Jesus experienced a visceral emotional reaction. It struck him at the core of his being. We need to think about that. Try to envision it. And from the deep compassion, he tells her, do not weep. Those words would have sounded hollow coming from anyone else, but not from Jesus. Not based on what he was about to do. Jesus is about to match his compassion with the victory and authority and power that we've already highlighted throughout this series. You see, in verse 14, Luke writes that Jesus touched the beer. And he said, young man, I say to you, arise.
Before we get to the resurrection that was about to take place, we need to address that Jesus touched the beer. This action alone would have stunned the crowd. You see, in Jewish law, this would have made him ceremonially unclean. Considering that Jesus was a rabbi, this action was unthinkable. But Jesus isn't concerned with defilement. That's not what he's about. That's not his focus. He willingly crosses the line, breaking religious norms, interrupts the funeral, driven by his compassion for the widow. In a way, this is a pointer to the gospel.
As Jesus halts death's procession, speaking life into a dead body, young man, I say to you, arise. And with that single sentence, Jesus confronts the finality of death and reverses it. In verse five, we read, and the dead man sat up and began to speak and Jesus gave him to his mother. Don't miss that beautiful and very intentional phrase, Jesus gave him to his mother. This account has deep gospel roots.
uniting resurrection and restoration. Jesus restores the bond between a grieving widow and her one and only son in a society where everything depended on family, inheritance, and male provision for security. He hasn't just given her back a son. He's given her a future. This powerful moment points ahead to an even greater restoration through the resurrection of Christ.
we are restored from sin and death and brought back into the loving arms of our heavenly father, where we find true spiritual provision and protection. And one day we'll experience eternal resurrection and enter the father's kingdom, secure in his glory forever. Before we get too far, it's also worth remembering that this wasn't the only time Jesus raised someone from the dead. He also raised Jairus' daughter and his friend Lazarus. And each time he was moved, not only with a divine power, which resurrected the body, but also with a human love, a very human feeling, emotional, moved inside love.
With Jairus' daughter, he gently took her hand and said, little girl, arise. At Lazarus' tomb, he wept for his friend, feeling the full weight of human grief around him, with him, in him, although he's divine as fully God. With each resurrection, we witness a Christ who is deeply personal and full of compassion. And all of them point forward to his own resurrection. Yet, unlike the others, Jesus rose never to die again. In his resurrection, there is both earthly restoration and eternal victory.
He doesn't just return what was lost. He offers everlasting life to all, everyone who believes. His resurrection is the ultimate act of compassion for you and me. He's defeated death and sin once and for all. Now, let's come back to our account of the widow. We see Jesus' deity in the resurrection of the Son, but we can't forget the starting point, his humanity displayed in deep compassion for the widow.
Jesus sees you. He cares for you. And he will restore you when you're in pain. The compassion of Jesus is like no other. No other on earth who has ever existed or whoever exists now. Jesus is the one and only who can fill the gap of your pain and sorrow. Bring a compassion that's beyond understanding. Theologian James Edwards highlights how unusual and powerful this moment is. Jesus now illustrates how he, as the Lord of life, is the true fulfillment of his commandments. For he will turn the widow's mourning into laughter.
Jesus displays a divine intolerance of death. This account reveals the heart of God. We live in a world where many feel forgotten, almost invisible, especially those quietly carrying pain. We're talking about single moms or widows or caregivers or those who are experiencing deep loss. And they often wonder, does anyone see me? Does anyone even care that I exist? And this story gives us the answer. It answers with a resounding yes. Jesus sees us. Jesus cares for us. And he moves to restore what has been broken.
He wants to bring you restoration. He wants to provide peace and healing in the sorrow and the pain. Because this account isn't just about a grieving widow. It's about all of us. Again, we live in a world that's broken, but it's been broken by sin and death. And like the widow, we often feel helpless and alone. But Jesus came to change all that. He stepped into our world, faced death on the cross, and rose again to bring us life. Life abundant here on earth and life eternal in the next life. Let Jesus' compassion change you.
and flow through you. Don't just experience the change of Jesus. You need to help others experience it. Remember, he sees you. Be honest with him about the pain you're carrying. You are not invisible to him. Then receive his compassion. Let him speak to your grief. His heart is moved by your sorrow and he wants to meet you in it. And then once you have healing, make the choice to reciprocate his love to others. See others as Jesus sees you. Show them Christ-centered compassion.
So ask yourself, who in your life might be feeling invisible right now? Maybe it's a single parent at school pickup. Maybe it's the widow sitting alone in a church pew. Maybe it's a friend who always says, I'm fine. But deep inside, there's something. I would suggest the Holy Spirit telling you, no, they're not fine. They're not fine at all. This is why we need to take Jesus' example seriously. His compassion started with seeing the widow. And so our compassion begins with seeing.
Once we truly see others, we step toward them, just as Jesus did. That might mean bringing them a meal, sending them a message, or simply being present. Not even talking, just being near them and with them. Don't underestimate, in times of grief and sorrow and pain and heartache, don't underestimate how much just sitting with someone, even in silence, how much that can impact them. Being present. That's compassion. Even that. It's the least we can do. So as we close, I realize that perhaps you're the one who's hurting.
If you hear nothing else today, hear this. Jesus sees you. He sees you. He sees your pain. He sees your sorrow. And he wants to walk with you through it.
You can right now in this moment, pause this video and you can cry out to him. He is listening. Don't wait until you have it all together. There's no perfect person. There's no right time or wrong time. The right time is really now. It's in the moment of the pain and the sorrow. Jesus didn't wait for perfect prayers or a polished emotions to address people as he went about the countryside and in the cities and towns. He met them where they were at. And so he will meet you where you're at. He saw the widow in her raw grief and moved toward her. And he will do the same for you.
Bring him your sadness. Bring him your depression. Bring him your anxiety. Bring him your fear. Bring all of it to him. He will meet you in the mess, in all of it, in all the mess, and he will love you and he will show his compassion on you. And whether you're the one in sorrow or you're praying for someone else, as we close, we're going to go to prayer and let's just lay the sorrow down at the foot of the cross and let's just ask Jesus to move either for us if we're in sorrow or for those we know and those we're praying for in our mind's eye who we see because he sees them.
Would you pray with me this prayer? Dear Jesus, thank you for seeing us and for noticing the hurt that others overlook. Thank you for meeting us in the sadness, anxiety, and fear. We come to you just as we are. Meet us here in the mess of it all with your love and compassion. Remind us that we are not alone. Walk with us. Bring comfort where we despair and healing where we are broken. For those we are praying for, our friends, our family, our loved ones,
wrap them in your mercy. Then help us reflect your heart as we carry your compassion into the lives of others. We ask this in the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. Thank you so much for joining us today. If this was your first time or you're looking to make the next step in faith and connection, we would love to get to know you. You can visit mountainview.church slash connect or you can PM us on social at Mountain View White Horse. Send us your prayer requests. Send us your thoughts. Send us your questions. We're ready to answer. We're ready to pray for you. Just let us know. Speaking of social, if this message has been helpful, please like and follow.
maybe share it with a friend or family member, a loved one, and make sure to subscribe to our social channels at Mountain View White Horse so that you get reminders the next time we release content. It's a great way to stay connected with our church community, and it's a great way, as you pass it on, to share the hope of Jesus with others. We are a Christ-centered church sharing the gospel every week, and so you can help us do that. Good morning, everyone. We are excited to share a wonderful opportunity to make a real difference in our community through a simple yet impactful fundraiser called the Baby Bottle Campaign. This campaign supports Pregnancy Care Center UConn in its efforts to open a vital pregnancy resource center that provides life-saving and life-changing services right here in Whitehorse. Pregnancy Care UConn aims to work with women and families by offering support, education, and resources to those in need, helping them choose life and thrive. They address their clients' physical and spiritual needs while sharing the gospel and providing practical assistance. So today, we have the baby bottles for anyone wanting to participate at the Welcome Desk during the 9, 30, and 11 a.m. gatherings.
Each bottle has a number that corresponds to the person who signs it out. On the bottle, you will find a label with information about the Pregnancy Care UConn, which also includes options for donating online or by check to receive a charitable receipt. Additionally, the labels contain contact information for anyone interested in learning more or volunteering. Over the next few weeks, we ask that you prayfully fill these bottles with loose change or cash. The collection day will be on Father's Day, June 15th. Please remember to bring your filled bottles back to the church on Sunday. We will have a designated area for you to drop them off. If you forget or cannot return your bottle on June 15th, the Pregnancy Care UConn team will reach out to you.
We encourage you to take a bottle today. Your contribution, no matter the size, directly supports pregnancy cure UConn's mission to open a center dedicated to saving and changing lives. Thank you for participating in the simple yet powerful way to make a difference. Our Next Steps Discipleship Workshop is coming up on May 25th. Next Steps is designed to help you move forward in your faith journey. Whether you're just beginning to explore Christianity or you have a relationship with Jesus and you're ready to take a next important step, Next Steps is your next step. You can learn more at mountainview.church slash nextsteps. A reminder for families about our Base Camp Children's Program. You can find today's downloadable lesson and activities at mountainview.church slash base camp. And if you happen to be in Whitehorse on a Sunday, our full program runs at 9.30 or 11 a.m.
For any teenagers out there, our youth group meets on Sunday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. Junior youth is on the first and third Sundays and senior youth is on the second and fourth Sunday. Now it's time for our discussion and prayer focus. Drop a comment in the feed or gather with the people that you might be with right now and ask them this question. Who in your life needs to be seen and who needs compassion? Who in your life needs to be seen and who needs the compassion of Jesus? After you've talked about that or added a comment to the feed, please spend some time in prayer. Pray for the compassion of Christ to rise in our hearts and overflow to those who are hurting.
Again, let's pray for the compassion of Christ to rise in our hearts and to overflow to those who are hurting among us. Then plan on coming back next week. Join us as we continue our series by looking at Jesus' mercy. From John 8, we'll look at the account of the woman caught in adultery. Jesus responds with mercy instead of condemnation. Then a call to new life. If you've ever wrestled with guilt or struggled to forgive, this message is for you. Please come back next week. See you then.
If you prayed to receive Jesus today or would like to connect with our church community, visit mountainview.church and click the connect link. If this podcast and radio ministry has been a blessing to you, please consider partnering with us or making a tax-deductible donation at mountainview.church. Thanks for listening to Mountain View Church Audio. Join us next week for more Christ-centered teaching from the wilderness city of Whitehorse UConn.