Luke 7:11-17 | Kathryn Alban

God’s Victory

Luke 7:11–17 ESV

Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

Romans 8:37–39 (ESV)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Part 1: THE TEXT

I feel like this miracle is not mentioned alot. Atleast I have never heard it mention besides reading in Luke. the gospel of Luke is the only gospel that contains this story.

This scripture begins right after Jesus heals the centurions servant without even going to his house…The crowds surrounding Jesus have seen his miracles already and are excited about this man who could be the long awaited messiah.

They, along with the 12 disciples follow Jesus to a city called Nain. Nain is located near Nazareth and this is the only time this city is mentioned in scriptures.

As Jesus and this enthusiastic crowd approach Nain, they meet another crowd.

This one, very different. One of sorrow and mourning. A crowd carying a dead young man to be barried. (This young man had probably died earlier that day) it was custom during this time to quickly go to bary the dead and not let the body sit. So here we have a crowd facing the difficult reality of death.

Amongst this group of people was the young man’s mother…a widow.

Now biblical times were very different than today. Women could not easily gain income or get jobs. They were reliant on their husbands and if they were a widow then they would be reliant on their sons.

Here we have not only a widow who lost a son…BUT a widow who lost her only son.

Meaning she had just lost it all. She was alone and life would be difficult for her from now on. She would struggle to make ends meet and have to rely on the mercy of non-family members.

For her, with the heartache of loosing a child, also come the reality of instability.

Jesus sees this woman and has compassion on her.

Part of me wonders if Jesus sees what is to come for himself when looking at this sight. Although he was not Mary’s only son, he was her first born. I wonder if as he looked at this widow next to her son, he saw his own mother next to him.

Regardless Jesus, the bread of life, confronts death and sarrow.

And when this happens…LIFE has the Victory.

“Do not weep” Jesus says to the widow.

I almost picture Jesus calming the storm, but instead of physical waves and winds, here he calms the emotions and grief.

In biblical times people did not hold back their emotions when it came to mourning. They actually had individuals who were professional wailers (people who actually had the job of mourning loudly with crying and singing during funerals (interesting enough, these professional wailers or mourners still exist in the chinese culture today).

So it is not like our funerals where it is usually quiet with the soft cries of family and friends…this crowd would have been wailing, crying loudly and distraight.

And here the life giver, first speaks peace into this situation…vs 14

Luke 7:14 ESV

Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

He gently quiets the mourning widow…then walks and touches the bier.

Now a beir is a stand that the coffin contianing the dead body was placed on in order to the bearers to carry the body. Touching the beir would cause Jesus to be cerimonaly unclean.

So here we have Jesus, silences the unrest…then starts walking towards what is concidered unclean (causing the bearers and I am sure everyone else to stand still). All eyes were on Jesus.

Not fearing what is unclean, Jesus touches the bier (similar to how he touches the man with leprosy before healing him).

Jesus says “Young man, I say to you, arise”

Hearing those words must of caused shivers to run through all of those watching. Then at that moment the life giver commands life back into death.

Not just that but

hope back into hopelessness

Stability into instability

and

victory over dispare.

Luke 7:16 ESV

Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”

Fear here is not a negative fear.

One commentary puts it like “ “fear” mentioned here, is the same as the OT statement: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge” (Prov 1:7; cf. Job 28:28; Ps 111:10; Prov. 9:10; Eccl 12:13). The first followers of Jesus were discovering this truth and growing in their faith, recognizing that “a mighty prophet” had arisen among them and that God had “visited his people” , this was “a deep sense of awe,” , “a solemn fear,”

PART 2: THE MEANING:

This historical account points to Jesus’ victory in every situation.

Jesus walked with those who were excited and rejoicing because they had already experienced his mighty power.

How many of your have experienced God’s power and are yearning for more? Christ walks with you. Keep walking and you will see even greater things.

He also came to visit those who were heartbroken and defeated.

In the moment for this widow, when nothing seems to be going right. Hardship is a whirlwind that seems to have no end…There was Jesus.

Again fast foward to Jesus’ persecution and death…a moment of defeat. dispare. confusion. A moment when even those closest to Jesus…those who vowed to live or die for him…turned and ran from him…

BUT WITH CHRIST “DEFEAT” IS NOT THE END.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LHid-nC45k

***Are you feeling defeated?

Are there parts or maybe even the whole of your life that seems just hopeless or confusing?

Jesus looks upon those struggling and has compassion…but just like the widow…but he doesn’t leave us crying.

“Do not weep” he said to the widow.

I htink he sometimes says the same to us… “Don’t cry and turn to me. And watch”.

Do you still not trust?

Do you still not believe?

**Christ is not afriad of the mess. He is not afraid of the distress. In our scripture today he walks up and touches what was considered unclean by humans. If we trust Christ to give him what troubles us…He will face it with us head on.

Not even death has the victory over Christ. What makes us think our momentary difficulty will?

Deuteronomy 20:4 ESV

for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’

Romans 8:37–39 (ESV)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Victory is found in non other than God and God alone.

No one can take that away from us.

PART 3: APPLICATION

Luke 7:16 ESV

Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”

I love this verse.

First I hope that we have the fear for God that recognizes his might.

The fear that says…Lord I know you are soveirgn over my struggles.

But also how the people in this scripture said “God has visited his people!”

The people in this scripture were not as fortunate as we are. They did not yet have the Holy Spirit. Here they were finally encountering Gods presence in Jesus Christ.

The word visited is so temporary right? These individuals had the chance to have God with them, and when death was turned to life they recognized this.

Ephesians 3:17–19 NLT

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

How many of you have ever said you are visiting your home?

No…none of use becasue home is a permanent thing.

WE HAVE AN EVEN GREATER opportunity THAN THE INDIVIDUALS IN THIS SCRIPTURE.

In our distress…if we trust God. He wont just visit us and momentarily show his power…He will make his home in our hearts.

I pray that we have allowed him to do so.

Conclusion

Today, whatever it is that you are struggling with...Do not accept defeat.

It is not the end.

Stop your weeping and see Christ who is willing to take your difficulty head on with you.

Allow for him to make his home in your heart and HE WILL HAVE THE VICTORY.