Did you know? (The dead boy's funeral.)

Tears.
She was very familiar with them.
She thought she had cried enough before.

She thought she had exhausted her ability to cry after losing her husband.

She thought her heart could bear no more pain.

Mourning was draining her.

But the tears came again. As a flood.

Her boy, her only son ... was gone. 

"Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?" And through Him, "the dead will live again?"

Sorrow overtook her, yet she had to walk, had to be strong for the funeral procession.

She was grateful for her friends and family; for her community.
They surrounded her, walking solemnly along with her. 

They mourned with her. 

And the tears poured down her face.

Her boy, her only son ... was dead.

"Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?" And through Him, "the dead will live again?"

Jesus saw. 
He saw her.

Compassion overflowed from His heart.

He loved her.

Her pain caused His heart to ache. 

And then it happened.

He walked over and He touched the coffin, causing the coffin bearers to stop in their tracks.

"Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?" And through Him, "the dead will live again?"

She was stunned.
Who was this man, interrupting the funeral of her son?

Who was this man, who stopped and spoke to her son as if he was only sleeping?
Who was this man?

"Young man," He said to the boy, "Get up."

She couldn't believe it!
She was shocked at the man's actions and then His words.
Did she really hear Him tell her dead son to get up?
Who ...? How ...? What???

And even more shocked when her precious son sat up and began to speak to those around him!

"Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?" And through Him, "the dead will live again?"

Tears.

They soaked her son's hair. 
Her kisses pressed into her son's cheeks.

Her arms circled her son's shoulders.

He was alive!

The man ... He did it! 

"Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?" And through Him, "the dead will live again?"

Did you know?

Did you know that the life of the widow's son was restored, and through that same power, the dead bodies of countless others would one day live again? 

Did you know that Chrismas's baby boy would raise people from the dead?

Did you know that in being the Lord of all creation, this baby boy became the authority of life and death? The Master of all things that breathe? 

Did you know that this baby boy was sovereign, even before His birth?

Did you know that the deepest compassion and overwhelming love were at the core of His being?

Did you know that He is passionately compassionate for you too? 

Did you know?

(Jesus raising a boy from the dead is found in Luke 7.)

("Mary, did you know?" ~ a Christmas song written by Mark Lowry.)