Luke 7:13-15
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.  And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.  And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

This miraculous act stemmed from Jesus’ compassion for a heartbroken widow, and He gave her a precious gift in delivering her son to her again alive.  Jesus’ love enters into the midst of her grief and goes beside her in it.  He knew with a glance the circumstances of this woman, her pain and sadness and the consequences of losing her only son.  And the only thing that would make any difference was His power over death.

This was Jesus’ cry to any who He raised from the dead: Arise.  Indeed, He Himself would also arise, for where God’s will is life, then death shall be overcome and left behind.  This is also His cry to any soul that dwells in the darkness of sin and spiritual death.  He comes with compassion and calls out to us, “Arise.  There is new life to live.  Arise out of death. Arise out of darkness.  Arise out of loneliness and hopelessness.  Arise from the toiling of trying to earn My favor.  Arise out of the world, the flesh, the prison and the chains.”

And so His voice rings out from beyond the grave that was our home, and our souls come forth and rise up out of the mire and look into the face of Jesus.  To know death and then have life again must have been an amazing feeling for this young man.  And indeed the difference we feel when we’ve known true death and then experience true life is indescribable.  So let us rise up from whatever is holding us captive and go forth into the newness of life that Jesus invites us into.

No matter what it is that has broken our hearts, Jesus can offer us restoration in the midst of our sadness.  Whatever it is that has seemingly overcome us can be overcome by Jesus.  There is indeed nothing more powerful than God, His love and His mercy.  His compassion draws Him near to us.  He is aware of everything that hurts us.  So let’s listen for His voice whenever we feel ourselves sinking low.  He bids us to arise, to get up and continue on, to live victoriously in Him.