Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.
- Luke 7:11

In this week’s passage, Jesus rode the tide of popularity all the way down to small-town Nain.

He had a group of dedicated followers, a cadre of financial backers, and the extraordinary endorsement of the popular public opinion. He could have – in this moment – ascended the hill to Jerusalem and made some real noise. Instead, he went to Nain.

Earlier in the Gospel narratives we read that Jesus saw his purpose in this specific season of his ministry as being that of a travelling teacher, preacher, and prophet. He went from town to town spreading the good news about the coming kingdom of God and performing signs that signaled the coming of that kingdom (healings, exorcisms, etc.). His itinerant ministry slowed his rising popularity didn’t stop it.

Nain wasn’t an exotic locale. Nain was ordinary. Nain was just okay. But Jesus went there anyways.

We love Chatham County. We’ve found corners of our community that are truly extraordinary, weird-in-a-good-way, and full of adventure. But we know that to most people our local community is about as exciting as Nain. Celebrities rarely show up here (and some of us like it that way!).

We need to know that Jesus is no stranger to our ordinary places. He’s just as present when you’re at your kitchen sink as when you’re anywhere else. Every inch of ordinary ground is made new by Jesus’ presence. Every inch of ordinary ground is made extraordinary when Jesus meets, blesses, and renews us.

Take a few minutes today to find some excessively ordinary place and allow Jesus to meet you there. Picture him right there beside you. Talk with him and rest in his presence.