HOLY FEAR

Peter knew the stories of Elijah raising the widow’s son from death to life (1 Kings 17:17-23) and of Elisha bringing the Shunammite’s son back to life (2 Kings 4:18-37). Every Israelite knew of these miraculous resurrections. Elijah and Elisha were historic national heroes!

Did Peter think it could ever happen again. Dead is dead, right?

Long before Jesus called Lazarus from the grave (John 11), Jesus led His disciples from Capernaum, up the hill to the little town of Nain. The village, about six miles south of Nazareth, sits on the rocky slope overlooking the Valley of Jezreel.

As Jesus and His disciples approached the village, a funeral procession was making its way through the city gate, headed for the cemetery. Utterly alone, a grieving widow walked beside the casket bearing the body of her only son. Where was the husband? Apparently, dead or gone. And other children? None. Surrounded by a crowd of mourners, the weeping widow was alone.

“When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said, ‘Don’t weep’ ” (Luke 7:13).

Then Jesus did the unthinkable. He walked up and touched the casket. Obviously, He wasn’t concerned about becoming ceremonial unclean (Numbers 19:11, 16). His concern was for the mourning momma.

The breathless crowd stood still, surprised, shocked, stunned at the Master’s next words. “Young man, I tell you, get up!” (Luke 7:14).

As the boy sat up, “fear came over everyone” (Luke 7:16). “Fear seized them all” (Luke 7:14, ESV). Everyone, including Peter and the rest of the disciples, trembled as they looked upon One with power over death.

That’s what’s missing today. The church in America needs to fall before a Holy God, trembling at God’s might and majesty!

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” (Proverbs 9:10).

“… think on these things”(Philippians 4:8, KJV).