Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.
- Luke 7:11-12

Picture this scene shot from above: two crowds on a collision course.

The one crowd is leaving Nain and full of pain and sadness. They weep and wail. Waves of grief roll off of them and echo off of the rocks and hills. The trees bend under the weight of their sadness. The whole earth sinks into mourning.

The other crowd couldn’t be more different. They leap and dance with joy. Everyone’s eyes blaze with the intensity of hope; here’s Jesus who makes all things new. They stand straighter than they have in year, walk taller than ever, and maybe even strut. This company is marching and leaves life in its wake.

What will happen when these two crowds meet? Perhaps they will pass uneasily. The revelers might quiet for a moment and lose momentum. The fringe members of the mourning crew may look longingly at the other crowd’s joy. After a few moments, the uncomfortable encounter would be over and everything would go back to the way it was.

What will happen when these two crowds meet? Perhaps Jesus will decide to skip Nain altogether. The funeral has turned it into a ghost town. And no one wants to crash a funeral.

What will happen when these two crowds meet? Perhaps Jesus’ crowd will join the mourners. In a show of compassionate solidarity, they will change their dancing into wailing.

What will happen when these two crowds meet? Light overcomes the darkness. That’s what happens. Joy overwhelms sorrow. Beauty conquers brokenness. Life overshadows death. All things are made new.

Who wins? Spoiler alert: Jesus wins. Always. In the end, Jesus makes all things new.

Write this phrase somewhere where you’ll see it and can be reminded of it today: Jesus wins.