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Luke 7:11-17   The widow of Nain’s son is raised!

Introduction.

            The gospel of Luke contains more about people and human interactions than any of the other gospel writers. He is the only one to mention Zacharias, Simeon and Anna in connection with Christ’s birth, and the only one to record the Lord’s encounter with Zacchaeus  too. One writer has suggested that Luke records interaction with over one hundred individuals not counting indefinite groups such as “some Pharisees” (Luke 13:31), “the chief priests” (Luke 19:47; 20:1,19; 22:2,4,52; 23:4,10,13; 24:20), and so on.

            Luke also seems to be particularly concerned with the outcasts of society, such as prostitutes, tax collectors, Samaritans, and the poor such as widows. Matthew uses the word “widow” only once (Matthew 23:14), Mark uses this word three times (Mark 12:40,42,43), John doesn’t use it at all, but Luke uses it nine times (Luke 2:37; 4:25,26; 7:12; 18:3,5; 20:47; 21:2,3). Another rather distinctive word used in Luke is the word “crowd.” This word is used inly twice in Matthew (Matthew 9:23,25), three times in John (John 7:32,40,49), seven times in Mark (Mark 2:4; 5:27,30; 7:17; 9:17; 15:11,15), but sixteen times in Luke (Luke  4:42; 5:19; 6;17; 7:9,11,12; 8:19; 9:18; 11:27,29; 12:13; 13:14; 19:3,39; 23:4,48).

            In Luke we have two distinct types of crowd. There are general references to “the crowd” meaning all that were present in a given location, (for example: Luke 4:42; 5:19; 8:19; etc.), and then we have crowds mention in connection with the Lord’s disciples, such as:“a crowd of His disciples” (Luke 6:17), and “the crowd that followed Him” (Luke 7:9). These two distinct crowds are particularly notable in our text of Luke 7:11-17. A literal translation of verses 11 and 12 of Luke 7 highlights these two groups:

Luke 7:11 –     and were going with him the disciples of Him sizeable and a big crowd

Luke 7:12 –     and a crowd from the city sizeable went with her

Both crowds were large! It also puts the whole encounter at “the gate of the city” (Luke 7:12) thus emphasising the Lord’s timing, (which is very interesting), and we finally, get a distinct set of statements showing what happened after this event. We shall use four key phrases as headings:

[1] “And a large crowd.” [When two tribes meet]. Same text used in verses 11 and 12 but meaning different things.

[2] “When He came near the gate of the city.” [The incredible timing of God]. Found in verse 12.

[3] “He touched the open coffin.” [Death defeated!]. Found in verse 14.

[4] “God has visited His people.” [The fruit of His coming]. Found in verse 16.

[1] “And a large crowd.” [When two tribes meet].

            As we have already noted, there were two distinct crowds meeting on that day. We have a large crowd of disciples and those who followed the Lord Jesus, with Him at the head of this group. And then we also have another large crowd from the city who were behind the coffin and the widow on their way out of the city to the burial place. One group is described in the Greek as being “with” the Lord, and the other is described as being “with” the widow. Both were sizeable. Let us consider the atmosphere and environment of each crowd, and then considered their meeting!

[a] Those “with” the widow.

            First let us take a view of the city and its environs. The name “Nain” means ‘beauty,’ or ‘pleasant.’ Apparently the views from this site were breathtaking. The International Bible Encyclopedia makes this assessment: “The site commands a beautiful and extensive view across the plain to Carmel, over the Nazareth hills, and away past Tabor to where the white peak of Hermon glistens in the sun”  It was, perhaps, just like many cities of the ancient world. A place of trade and commerce, of life and marriage, and of all things this earthly life affords. However, we only know of Nain from this account in Luke which highlights the death of the only son of a widow. The  International Bible Encyclopedia informs us that: “In the rocks to the East are many tombs of antiquity,” and so Nain is always to be associated with death. The first thing we encounter in verse 12 is “a dead man” being carried out, and the second thing we are confronted with is that his mother was “a widow.” Twice then our attention is drawn to a procession headed by death. Nain may have been beautiful and full of earthly life, but what emanates from its centre is death.

            Notice also that this city seems to have stopped. It may have been a custom in those days to stop work when a dead person was buried. Or she may have been a notable person in the city. We do not really know. What we do observe is that death has this habit of stopping us in our earthly pursuits. In my early days growing up in the 1960s and 1970s people stopped what they were doing when a hearse drove by. That does not seem to happen so often today which is sad, if not a little worrying. Death is something we all have to take thought of surely?

            We must also note that this encounter whilst recorded faithfully as a true and real historical event by Luke (who was painstaking in his research – see Luke 1:1-4), is similar to two other historical events recorded in the books of 1 & 2 Kings. In 1Kings 17:17-24 we have an account of Elijah raising a dead boy. Both this account and our account start with a similar introduction. The widow of Elijah’s time had only the one son as did the widow of Nain. In both accounts we have the raised boy being presented to the mother (Luke 7:15 & 1Kings 17:23). Finally the outcome of both accounts reveals a new understanding. In the record concerning Elijah, the widow recognises Elijah as “a man of God” whose word was “the word of the Lord” (1Kings 17:24). In our text we read that people glorified the Lord and were sure that “God has visited His people” (Luke 7:16,17). But there are also a number of stark contrasts between these two events too. In 1Kings 17:17-24 the location was in Zarepheth in the region of Tyre and Sidon, whilst Nain was in Galilee. With Elijah there is only the widow present, but with the Lord there are two great crowds. In our text it is the Lord who takes the initiative, but with Elijah the woman accosts the prophet with a question. Whilst our Lord acts out of deep compassion, Elijah seems to act in desperation. Whereas the Lord simply issues a command, Elijah cries out twice to the Lord for help. Here in Luke the Lord Jesus simply touched the coffin but Elijah stretched himself out on the dead boy three times.

            The account concerning Elisha and a boy raised from the dead as recorded in 2Kings 4, took place in a site very close to Nain (Shunem was also close to mount Tabor), but again there are some marked differences. I should point out here that the following thoughts have come from an article written by Mark Barnes in the Evangelical Magazine. The Lord Jesus approached the dead man and his mother, but the Shunammite woman in 2Kings 4 raced to fetch Elisha back who appears to have been rather reluctant to come. Elisha appears to be very aloof to this poor woman whereas the Lord Jesus was moved with compassion and addressed the widow with great care. Elisha first looked to the power of his staff to perform the miracle but without success, whereas the Lord Jesus merely touched the coffin. Elisha’s miracle is dependent upon prayer whilst the Lord Jesus simply spoke a word. Reaction to Elisha’s miracle is rather weak whereas the crowds who saw the widow of Nain’s son raised glorified God.

            Clearly these two historical accounts in the Old Testament are eclipsed by the miracle at Nain. The Lord Jesus was demonstrating to the crowds present at that time that He was greater in power than either Elijah or Elisha. He was the promised Messiah, which truth the crowds seem close to appreciating y the end of this event.

            It is worth reflecting a moment upon this widow who had lost her only son. She had lost her husband, so her son would have inherited the place of responsibility. As a widow she had no status and no easy means of support. Her son would have taken over her husband’s status and was the heir, and so could provide for his mother. But now he too had died and she was left with nothing. It is hard to miss this pointed fact that this man was “the only son” of this widow. Luke has focused our attention here by using the opening word “behold” in verse 12 which instructs us to pay close attention. The “only son” of that which focuses on death (represented by the widow and her only son in his coffin) is meeting the “only begotten Son” of the Father (John 1:18; 3:16,18), of whom it has been said: “In Him was life” (John 1:4).

[b] Those “with” the Lord.

            Reading through Luke’s account prior to this event we discover that the crowds have been growing throughout the Lord’s ministry. In Luke 4:32 we read that the people who heard Him preach “were astonished at His teaching” because “His word was with authority.” In this same chapter we hear the people cry out: “what a word is this!” and an assertion that Christ ministered “with authority and power” (Luke 4:36). In consequence large numbers brought those who were sick to the Lord for healing and “He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them” (Luke 4:40). When Jesus sought some solace in a deserted place the next day, we read that “the crowd sought Him and came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them” (Luke 4:42). In chapter 5 we discover that “the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God” (Luke 5:1). Then after He arranged a miraculous catch of fish the people “were all amazed,” “they glorified God,” and being “filled with fear” said “we have seen strange things today” (Luke 5:26). In chapter 6 we read of the Lord choosing the twelve, and then we hear that there was “a great multitude of people” not only from “all Judea and Jerusalem,” but also from “the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon” (Luke 6:17). These “came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases” (Luke 6:17) and then we find that “the whole multitude sough to touch” on account of His power (Luke 6:19). These statements show clearly the immense feeling of hope and excitement that accompanied the Lord as He ministered in Israel.

            So the crowds with Christ were full of excitement and expectation. Apart from the twelve chosen of the Lord, there would have been those who had been healed by the Lord, and those who were accepted by Him despite their lowly status. This crowd that followed the Lord Jesus were certainly expectant. They had witnessed many miracles thus far. What was the Lord Jesus going to do now?

[c] Christ our Head meets death!

            It is hard to miss the incredible contrast between these two crowds. Nain was a city that earthly beauty and earthly life but was subject to death which puts a halt to all. Christ comes as the Head of His procession bringing life, resurrection power and eternal hope.

            Just to repeat the main point. Christ our Head brings life. And He meets head-on the world with its procession lead by death. I want to emphasise here that Christ is our only Head. We have no need of anything else. He is the One who stands among us and by His Spirit and through His word exclusively He will lead us and build us up. He alone is the Head of the church. And what a Head! We have no need of a pope, an archbishop, a synod nor anything like that. The Saviour comes with life abundant (John 10:10) and our task is simply to follow Him and be a part of His crowd. In stark contrast the head of the city procession is a coffin followed by a widow. Christ comes face-to-face with a dead man being carried out followed buy a widow. There is no contest here!

[2] “When He came near the gate of the city.” [The incredible timing of God].

            We have noted that Christ led a crowd and was approaching the gate at just that point where a dead man in his open coffin led a procession of the man’s mother (a widow) and the crowd from the city. In Luke 7:11 we are told that “He went into a city called Nain,” and then in verse 12 it was “when He came near the gate” that at that moment “behold  a dead man was being carried out.” Picture the scene! There must have been many people and quite a crush!

[a] Hope gone?

            Many cities had walls with gates at set intervals to control who came in and for defence. In most cities, because of this concern for safety, it was not permitted to bury the dead within the walls, excepting kings and distinguished persons (1Samuel 28:3; 2Kings 21:18). Dead bodies were ceremonially unclean according to the law, (Leviticus 11:31,32; Numbers 19:11). They were obviously a health hazard too. Apparently dead bodies were buried within a few hours of death and on the same day that they died. This was on account of the hot climate and the rapid decay of the body. Coffins were not used. Usually the bier on which the body was carried had a pole each side enabling them to carry the body on their shoulders. It appears, then, that the moment the body left the city through the gates, it would no longer have any hope of resuscitation or of the soul returning to the body. There are some first century Jewish traditions which hold that the soul lingers in the body until the third or fourth day – which is perhaps the reason Jesus delayed going to raise Lazarus. But here the point is that this dead man was about to leave the city – which represented all earthly and physical life.  Life had come to an end – and the widow and the people in procession cease activity!

[b] The Lord’s timing is perfect!

             It is perhaps a truism to state this but it nevertheless needs repeating: God’s timing is always perfect! We establish this first on account of the character of God. Since God is perfect – absolutely – it follows that all His actions and all that He does is perfect too. This applies equally to all three persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. At just the right time Jesus came to this widow woman who was about to bury her dead son.

            Time is very important to God – after all he created it (Genesis 1:1). We  learn that God has “made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11a). The NASB rendering has the word “appropriate” which is perhaps a little more organised and tidy! We also learn that there is “an appointed time for everything” and further that “there is a time for every event under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NASB). There is a set time for an event (for all events) and a specified duration for that event. In the Acts of the apostles we find Paul preaching the same thing: “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings” (Acts 17:26). But the Lord is also concerned with eternity:  “He has put eternity in their hearts.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11b). Regarding our time on earth we ought to recognise that God holds all in His power. Consider these important truths:

My times are in Your hand. (Psalm 31:15a).

The steps of a man are established by the Lord. (Psalm 37:23a, NASB).

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27).

1 “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. … 5 Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass. (Job 14:1,5).

# Just as the Lord set the precise date for the Exodus (Exodus 12:41) so also the Father determined with precision the dates concerning His Son:

You will arise and have compassion on Zion; for it is time to be gracious to her, for the appointed time has come. (Psalm 102:13, NASB).

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law. (Galatians 4:4).

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14,15).

Jesus’ death on the cross occurred at a precise time. Throughout John’s gospel we are constantly being informed of “His hour,” the time when He would be given up for men, (John 2:4; 4:21,23; 5:25,28; 7:6,8,30; 8:20; 12:23,27; 13:1; 16:21,32; 17:1). When He prayed to His Father just before He died, for example, He uttered these important words: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You” (John 17:1). Paul taught this idea that Christ came and died at the “right time” even when we were still sinners (Romans 5:6, NASB), and at the “proper time” (1Timothy 2:6, NASB). From John’s gospel we find that Christ was sacrificed at the time when the Passover lambs were being slain on the day of preparation (John 19:14,20,41 cf. Matthew 27:62). Thus Christ’s death on the cross occurred the same day that the Israelites left Egypt. How wonderful is God! He keeps perfect timing, and is never late for any appointment.

            The next most important date on God’s calendar is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The timing of this event will, needless to say, be perfect. It is a date that has already been fixed by God: “… until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which He will bring about at the proper time …” (1Timothy 6:14b,15a, NASB). Thus times and seasons, dates and durations are all highly important to God. He knows the best time, for He is God! How can a good and great God not be timely? Although times and seasons have all been fixed by God, this does not mean that we are privy to such information. Jesus told His disciples (and thence to us who follow also) that: “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Acts 1:7, NASB).

[c] The Lord’s timing is often at the last minute!

            But from a human perspective it might seem that the Lord’s timing is rather late! Both Mary and Martha (sisters of Lazarus) said: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21,32). Of course the Lord delayed for good reasons. He told the disciples before they set off: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”  (John 11:4). In our text it seems that the widow is on the point of no return. Once out of the city her son would be very soon buried in the tomb. But there are many examples in Scripture of God acting at what we consider to be the last minute:

[i] The Red Sea Miracle. The Israelites trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army, God parted the sea (Exodus 14:21-22).

[ii] The Fiery Furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s idol – delivered (Daniel 3:25).

[iii] Peter’s Rescue. Peter was delivered from prison the night before his scheduled execution (Acts 12:6-11).

[iv] The Woman with the Issue of Blood. After 12 years of suffering, she received healing by touching Jesus’ garment (Mark 5:25-34).

Why then does God wait until the last minute or beyond? There are at least 4 reasons the Lord does this:

[i] To Display His Glory. His interventions reveal His power and sovereignty to all (John 9:1-3).

[ii] To Test and develop our Faith. God allows us to reach the end of ourselves to strengthen our reliance on Him (James 1:3).

[iii] To Humble Us. Last-minute miracles remind us that we cannot succeed without God  (Deuteronomy 8:2-5,15-17).

[iv] To Build a Testimony. Delayed interventions create powerful testimonies that inspire others (Psalm 40:1-3). Daniel’s rescue from the lions’ den demonstrated God’s supremacy to King Darius and his kingdom (Daniel 6:22-27).

God is sovereign over all (Psalm 46:10), and His ways and thoughts are higher than ours(Isaiah 55:9,9).

[3] “He touched the open coffin.” [Death defeated!].

            We might ponder what the situation of these two crowds might have been like. The crowds following Jesus who was marching towards His divine appointment with this widow and her son, meet the sorry sight with a crowd from the city following on. What will happen now? Well the Lord takes the initiative. This is no mere coincidence or happenstance. The Lord knew precisely what He was doing in marching towards Nain. Just as He had an appointment with the woman from Samaria as recorded in John 4, so too He had a divine appointment with this poor widow. We need to consider what happened here carefully. In verses 13 and 14 we find that when He saw the woman, He:

• “had compassion on her”                                          (v13)
• “said to her, “do not weep””                         (v13)
• “came and touched the open coffin”              (v14)
• “and he said, “young man,I say to you, arise”          (v14)

[a] “had compassion on her.”

            Love. It was when the Lord actually saw the woman that love was His immediate response.  Literally the text reads: “And the Lord having seen her, was moved with compassion towards her, and said to her, `Be not weeping” (YLT). The Greek word is: σπλαγχνίζομαι splagchnizomai, from the root from splanxna, ‘the inward parts,’ especially the nobler entrails – the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys’ and so has the meaning: ‘to have the bowels yearn, i.e. (figuratively) feel sympathy, to pity:—have (be moved with) compassion.’ We could spend an eternity thinking about love but here are a few points to note:

[i] God is love:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. (John 3:16a).

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us. (Ephesians 2:4).

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. (Revelation 1:5).

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1John 4:10).

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1John 3:16).

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13).

[ii] The kingdom of God exudes an atmosphere of love.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. (Colossians 1:13).

And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:26).

… rooted and grounded in love. (Ephesians 3:27).

… being knit together in love. (Colossians 2:2).

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2Timothy 1:7).

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. (John 14:23,24).

[iii] Without love we are nothing.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal … and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1Corinthians 13:1,2).

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come! (1Coritnians 16:22).

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1John 4:8).

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1John 2:15).

[iv] Love is active and works.

… your work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus. (1Thessalonians 1:3).

… your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name. (Hebrews 6:10).

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:6).

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1John 3:18).

[v] Love described.

Love does no harm to a neighbour. (Romans 13:10).

Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” (1Corinthians 8:1).

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.  (1Corinthians 13:4).

Love never fails. (1Corinthians 13:8).

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” (1John 4:18).

This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. (2John 1:16).

… those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth. (2Thessalonians 2:10).

[vi] How we get and express this love.

Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. (2Thessalonians 3:5).

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you. (1Thessalonians 3:12).

… the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5).

For the love of Christ compels us. (2Corinthians 5:14).

Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me. (Romans 15:30).

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. (Galatians 5:22).

But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. (1John 2:5).

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. (1John 4:12).

[vii] Exhortations to love.

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment”. (Philippians 1:9).

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith. (1Timothy 1:5).

… speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9).

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8).

Pursue love. (1Corinthians 14:1).

Let all that you do be done with love. (1Corinthians 16:4).

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us. (Ephesians 5:2).

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (Colossians 3:14).

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart. (1Peter 2:22).

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” (1Peter 4:8).

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (1John 4:7).

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1John 4:11).

… keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:21).

[viii] The purpose of love.

… to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19).

[b] “said to her, “do not weep.””

            When the Lord said “weep not” to this woman, He was thereby making a pledge to her (and all who believe) for He was saying this on the basis of what He was about to do. Imagine someone owed you a large sum of money and they said “fear not you will get it all back.” We would hope that such a statement was ground for certainty that we would not be out of pocket! But it would all depend upon the character of the person, their reliability, and their action to do so. Where Christ is concerned we have ample confidence for His character is wonderful indeed. No man on earth can say to those grieving ‘weep not’ for we have no power to do anything to allay their grief but Christ can. This statement by the Lord Jesus is a kind of prophecy for it indicates that He will indeed take away the occasion for weeping by His death on Calvary. This command to “weep not” not only speaks of the compassion of the Lord in raising her son, for it also points us to glory too. We should “weep not” because Christ has dealt with sin and death once for all.

            This phrase “do not weep” also comes at the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:52), where it points to the hope of resurrection. It was on the lips of the Saviour as He approached the cross spoken to various women whose sympathy the Lord said was misplaced (Luke 23:28). It is a phrase spoken to John in his vision so that he would know that the “Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” had power to “open the scroll” (Revelation 5:5). In all of these incidents we see Christ Jesus as ‘the drier of tears!’ Such a ministry of the Lord was prophesied in Isaiah (Isaiah 25:8; 65:18,19). It is also revealed for us in Revelation, first on account of the presence of the Lamb (Revelation 7:17) and second in connection with glory (Revelation 21:4).

[c] “came and touched the open coffin.”

The young man was not in a coffin as we might imagine it, but an open bier which is defined as: “a platform or frame used for carrying a corpse to its burial place.” The bier had two poles for carrying it , somewhat like a stretcher. The corpse was wrapped in folds of linen and lain on this bier and so to touch it meant that you could not avoid touching the dead person too. The Old Testament states explicitly that anyone who touches a dead body or a grave will be unclean for seven days (Numbers 19:11,16). It is therefore no wonder that when the Lord touched the bier those carrying it stopped at once (“and those who carried him stood still” (Luke 7:14).  They were surprised that Jesus touched it, for the Rabbis would have avoided such on account of being polluted, and they naturally stopped wondering what would happen next. Perhaps they had some measure of faith and were expecting the Lord to do something?

            We know from other events that the Lord Jesus often touched people who needed healing. For example: the healing of a leper (Matthew 8:3), the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:15), and the healing of two blind men (Matthew 9:29; 20:34). He also touched the three disciples who fell to the ground in fear on hearing God speak of His Son at the mount of transfiguration (Matthew 17;7). There were other occasions too and all show His intimacy and deep concern! He is no distant God! But deeply involved with us. The incarnation speaks to this idea too. Christ was willing to leave heaven’s glory and come to this earth with all its sin and degradation. He came to His own and was made like them (excepting sin) and was in amongst the people, not distant and separate or aloof like the other religious leaders. In that He touched the dead, it also leads us to the thought that He was not afraid to taste death for us (Hebrews 2:9). The touch of Christ! It makes alive! We have no power over sin or death but Christ does. He calls us to be amongst the people, to be in amongst them, to rub shoulders with them, so that through us and by the move of the Spirit of God He can touch the people with a word, with healing, with assurance (John 13:35).

[d] “and he said, “young man, I say to you, arise.”

            The Lord uttered a single word: “arise” and the man was brought back to life. One writer notes that there are different levels of faith in each of the three accounts of people being raised from the dead. Lazarus (and his two sisters as well) had faith. Jairus’ daughter had parents who believed. The widow of Nain’s son has no thought whatever of Christ here. Here in this instance we see the sovereign electing choice of God in bringing about life. It was not out of her faith that her son was raised, but all because the Lord had compassion when He saw her. The Lord is still speaking this word “arise,” but He is speaking to awaken souls from their slumber and death in trespasses and sins. There may well be people raised from physical death at the Lord’s command in places across the globe – we do not doubt that – but what is far more important surely is the spiritual resurrection to life eternal seen in people being born again of the Spirit. After all, Lazraus, the widow of Nain’s son, and the 12 year old daughter of Jairus all died again in a physical sense, but they were raised spiritually never to die again (if they had personal faith in Christ). Augustine, bishop of Hippo, has a beautiful comment on the 3 miracles where Christ raised the dead. All the Lord’s works of mercy have a spiritual significance and are:

… illustrations of Christ’s Divine power and love in raising the soul, dead in trespasses and sins, from every kind of spiritual death, whether the soul be dead, but not yet carried out, like the daughter of Jairus; or dead and carried out, but not buried, like the widow’s son; or dead, carried, and buried, like Lazarus. He who raised himself from the dead can raise all from the death of sin. Therefore let no one despair” (St. Augustine, ‘Sermon’ 98, quoted by Bishop Wordsworth).

[4] “God has visited His people.” [The fruit of His coming].

            What was the outcome and result of this event? Well it is obvious that the widow and her son were surely praising God! When the son died, the widow was at her lowest ebb (speaking in human terms). But now there is life and there is reconciliation. Mother and son reunited when no hope of such may have been expected. What joy they must have experienced! But there are three other things which resulted from this public miracle which are worth our thoughts:

[a] Fear of God.                      Then fear came upon all,

            The first real result of this miracle was fear of of God. Greater respect and reverence for God is always a sign of the work of God.  The 17^th century Baptist pastor  John Gill comments:

Not a fear of dread, and terror, and of punishment, as in devils and wicked men; but a fear and reverence of the divine majesty, whose power and presence they were sensible must be there at that time

A new knowledge of God’s character, will, and perspective.

[b] Glory to God.                    and they glorified God, saying, ….

            What do we mean by this term “glory”? Surely God is glorious and so His glory is infinite? How can we give “glory” to God? Obviously we cannot make God more glorified than He already is. He dwells in inapproachable and radiant light because He is God (1Timothy 6:16). Psalm 29 gives us a clue: “Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29:1,2). We give glory to God when we worship Him in spirit and truth and when we give our all, our own ‘glory’ and strength, and all that is due Him in the arena of this earth and this present time.

            Now the glory given to God here is by no means perfect. They said two things. First they said: “A great prophet has risen up among us” (Luke 7:16). It may be that they had in mind the Prophet that Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 18:15. This maybe their conception that Jesus was the Messiah. Or it maybe that they thought He was a prophet coming like all the other prophets of old (Matthew 16:13,14). Second, they said: “God has visited His people” (Luke 7:16). This word “visited” is also used twice near the beginning and end of Zacharias’ prophecy (Luke 1:68,78). The key point about Zacharias’ prophecy is that the Messiah “the Dayspring from on high” has come to bring redemption, salvation, deliverance, light, the bestowal of mercy. The word signifies more than a mere meeting, but an inspection or a an encounter which bestows some form of care, blessing, or remonstrance. See, for example: Genesis 21:1,2; 39:5;  Psalm 8:4; Acts 6:3; 7:23; 15:14; Hebrews 2:6; James 1:27. Here the word surely has the meaning that God has come to bring His blessing. This acknowledgement of God’s coming may not have been seen and expressed in its fullest sense – did any realise that God was actually there in Jesus Christ the very incarnate God? But it is clear that new knowledge is dawning on the people. Do you not see in your own life a gradual increase in appreciation and understanding of whom God is?  Such growth in the knowledge of God is seen in the experience of the disciples, and it is something we should seek – to know God better – to know God deeper – to know Him more.

[c] Publish the word.               And this report about Him went throughout

            The news of this miracle was not kept to Nain. We are informed by Luke that “this report went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region” (Luke 7:17). The word “report” is actually the Greek word: λόγος logos, more frequently translated as ‘word.’ We see such a spread of the ‘word of the Lord’ or the good news about Christ in Acts (Acts 6:7; 12:24; 19:20). And isn’t this the case when the Lord visits His people with blessing and salvation? The two on the road to Emmaus are a wonder example of this (Luke 24:30-35). It is hard not to see the urgency and excitement in these two disciples record of what happened. The publishing and spreading of the good news of the Lord Jesus is not something we need to work up and direct! These two had the word burning in their hearts and they made haste to return to Jerusalem and tell the disciples! This is God’s work. Christ is the Head. He determined to meet with this widow at Nain. And He is hear among us now with His plan and purpose. What is required is true encounters with God making our hearts burn with joy! If we are moved by the compassion, the forgiveness, the mercy, and the life-bringing God so that our hearts burn with holy fire – full of the Holy Spirit – we will not be stopped from publishing the word!  I know that we must plan and organise too – that is important. But we are to be utterly dependent upon the Lord.  Let us have no truck with Egypt – with this world’s way of doing things. Let us ensure that it is out of our devotion to Christ, to God, that we are animated and motivated to declare the great, goodness, glory, and graciousness of the Lord.