Luke 7. As we read through scripture, we can always ask the question, “What is the character of God revealed in this passage?” In Luke 7, this is what stands out to me: “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her…” (7:13). Jesus and his disciples are making their way from town to town, and they encounter a large funeral procession. The deceased is a young man, the only son of a widow, and a great crowd is mourning with her because this is death brings not only great grief but also leaves the widow in a precarious socio-economic position.

Jesus sees her. Do you know what is it to be seen? It is not just a passing glance. This is an “I see you” and I linger long enough to grasp your situation and your suffering. He really sees the widow and all her anguish. The God Who Sees is a name given to God way back in the Old Testament, by another woman who was suffering in great distress. Hagar, the concubine of Abraham and mother of Ishmael, was struggling through family drama alone in the desert and God intervened. “So, she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You are the God who sees me’ for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me’” (Genesis 16:13). This is the character of God; He sees us in our suffering.

Jesus is moved to compassion repeatedly in the gospels. His heart is soft, and he even weeps occasionally, for the death of Lazarus or over the city of Jerusalem. Out of his compassion, he responded to the needs of those he encountered. In Luke 7 he healed the servant of a Roman centurion (7:1-10), he healed many people of their diseases, he set free those who were oppressed by evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind (7:21). Jesus brings the good news of the kingdom of God that he promised when he read the passage from Isaiah 61 (Luke 4:18-19, 7:22). This is the good news of the gospel; God sees humankind and God has sent Jesus the Messiah to bring restoration.

What in your life do you wish God “saw”? Are you comforted by His compassionate nature? How might you pray for His intervention, healing, and restoration for yourself or others? What stands out to you from Luke 7?