“Do Not Weep” (Luke 7: 13): In the Footstep of the Compassionate Jesus
- 1 Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Abstract
The divine image, which every human being bears as a result of God’s benevolence at creation, attracts us to the Divine. Human beings are religious by nature and in order to fully realise themselves as humans they have to be and live out the divine qualities instilled in each of them by the Creator. The opposite is often the case when human actions are critically evaluated. One of the divine qualities, which we ought to acquire and practice in order to enhance good human relationship, is compassion. This singular divine feature characterised Jesus earthly ministry in words and deeds. In this paper, the writer focuses on an episode in the life of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospel according to Luke 7: 11-17. Jesus had compassion on the widow who lost her only son; he consoled and restored her son back to her. In following Jesus’ footsteps we can make our world better and be able to bear and live with others.
- Abbot-Smith, G. (1999). A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T & T Clark.
- Aharoni, Y., et al. (2002). The Bible Atlas. Jerusalem: Carta.
- Bauer, W. (1979). A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago, London: The University of Chicago.
- Bock, D. L. (1994). Luke 1:1-9:50. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books.
- Bradley, M. (2007). The Relevance of the Story of the Widow of Nain for Today. http://www.overend-methodist.com/widow%20of%20Nain.htm
- Bullinger, E. W. (2003). Figures of Speech Used in the Bible Explained and Illustrated. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House.
- Clendenin, D. (2013). Jesus and the Widow of Nain. http://www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20130603JJ.shtml
- Fitzmyer, J. A. (1981). The Gospel According to Luke I-IX. Anchor Bible 28, New York: Doubleday.
- Harris, X. (1991). Ministering Women in the Gospel. In The Bible Today 29 (p. 111). Collegeville: The Liturgical Press.
- Hendrickx, H. (1998). The Third Gospel for the Third World (Vol. 2: B). Ministry in Galilee (Luke 7, 1-9, 50), Collegeville, MN: A Michael Glazier Book, the Liturgical Press.
- Karris, R. J. (1992). The Gospel According to Luke. In The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (pp. 675-721). London: Geoffrey Chapman.
- Kodell, J. (1982). The Gospel According to Luke. Collegeville Bible Commentary New Testament Vol.3, Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press.
- Kopas, J. (1986). Jesus and Women: Luke’s Gospel”, Theology Today, 43, 195.
- Köster, H. (1995). Splanchnizomai. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Vol. 7: pp. 548-559). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
- Lenski, R. C. N. (1998). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel. Commentary on the New Testament, Hendrickson.
- Liefeld, W. L. (1995). Luke: The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids Michigan, Zondervan Publishing House.
- MacHaffie, B. J. (1988). Her Story: Women in Christian Tradition. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press.
- Menken, M. J. J. (1988). The Position of splangnizesthai and splagchna in the Gospel of Luke. In Novum Testamentum 30 (pp. 109-110). Leiden: Brill.