When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
—Ps 56:9

As he approached the town-gate, a dead person was being carried out - the only son of his mother, and she was a widow…
—Luke 7:12 (NIV)

How did you spend your Christmas? I trust that it went very well. Thanks to all who remembered my birthday on Thursday and prayed for me or sent their goodwill. Today’s piece is an excerpt from a publication of mine titled He Still Visits The Manger. It’s a powerful message for the season. Enjoy!

The tears that welled up in her eyes were not just for the present loss but for the hopeless future thereafter. People who saw her assumed that the forlorn look on her face was that of momentary grief. But no. This was not just sorrow that would pass with time. For this woman, from the moment her son died, hope died. So, what lay in the coffin was more than a human corpse. In that coffin was buried the dreams of a lifetime, the very reason left for living. As it turned out, this woman was no stranger to calamity. A couple of years earlier, she had lost her husband in no less tragic circumstances. The presence of her son had helped cushion the effects of the attendant loneliness. Over time, the dreams she shared with her husband, she began to see being fulfilled in their son - her son! For some strange reason, she decided to remain unmarried, thus foreclosing the possibility of mothering another son. For some stranger reason, she was content with putting all the eggs of her future inside this one basket. And he grew to become a full-grown man. Then death put this tragic spanner in the works; leaving a sour taste in the mouth.

However, no matter the depth of her grief, this woman had to accompany the funeral train to the burial site outside the city gates. At that same time, through some divinely orchest-rated arrangement, Jesus and his company were entering the city through the same gates. As the funeral train proceeded towards the gate from within, the Life train approached it from without. Death met Life at the city gate! At the head of the Life train was the Resurrection and the Life Himself, Jesus Christ. One look at the bereaved widow was all He needed. What the Master saw through the tear-moistened eyes had more to do with future hopelessness than present loss. Being Himself “a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief”, He was no stranger to whatever the woman felt. His heart went out to her. How profound the thought! God became Man, just to help Man!

However, the one who is well doesn’t need a doctor. This regal Ambassador of the Godhead did not come for the self-conceited man who believes he has need of nothing and no one. No. The King came specifically for the one who has no qualms acknowledging his humanity and the attendant shortcomings. To such, He becomes a willing Saviour. The conquering Lion became a ransoming Lamb! This is why this KING was not born in a palace but in a manger!

Piercing through the wall of despair the woman had fenced herself with, Jesus utters what, to her at that time, must have been the most preposterous statement she had ever heard;

“Woman, weep no more”

The statement assaulted her sensibilities like the jangling of a thousand bells. Except that there was a strangely soothing dimension to this sound. And before she could recover from the shock of it all (every previous sympathizer had simply joined her in crying), this strange man walked up to the coffin and touched it even as the pallbearers stood still, more out of amazement than expectation;

“Young man, I say, get up!”

Only that this was not an appeal. It was a command.  And in that instant, death bowed to the authority of life. And while everyone was still awestruck, the young man sat up in the coffin and began to talk!

That vision you thought was dead shall yet speak! And for your sake, men shall yet be filled with amazement. That dream of God, which you had agreed with men to bury, shall yet speak in Jesus’ name.

He that was dead sat up. Jesus handed him over to his mother. The consensus among the onlookers was;

“God has visited His people”

At that moment, the widow’s tears flowed more freely, but now for a different reason;

“Surely, there is a future…”.

I see Him visiting you in 2012. I see your hopes rising. I speak to every dormant potential in your life; “Rise up in Jesus’ name.”

Men may have agreed with you to bury your dreams. But I see the power of Life being injected back into those dreams.

Surrender them to Him. Let Him empower you afresh. You shall not go under. God has invested so much into your life. He will not let you fall!

Have a prosperous New Year!

Remember, the sky is not your limit, God is!