Jesus Raises a Widow's Son

Timeline

Luke 7:11-17 (CSB)

Luke 7:11–17 CSB

11 Afterward he was on his way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. 12 Just as he neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was also with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said, “Don’t weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And he said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people.” 17 This report about him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.

Nain

This was not the first time this region had seen the dead the miraculous. It was in this general area that the O.T. records for us in 2 Kings 4:8-36 that Elisha after being treated very hospitably asked what he could do for Her. She had no son and her husband was old. So Elisha prophesied, she conceived and had a son. Sometime later the boy while working in the field collapsed and dies. Elisha attempted to raise the boy to life first by giving his staff to the father to place on the dead boy’s face. This seemed to do nothing. Then Elisha went and prayed and laid on the boy and it seems that his life returned but yet the boy did not awake. Elisha left paced for a while. Returned laid on the boy a second time. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. He was made whole.

Keep this story in the back of your mind. We see again an O.T. story that foreshadows Christ’s

we see a prophesy about a promised child delivered by a messenger of God

We the the fulfillment through his birth

Lastly we see his death and resurrection.

A Hopeless Situation

Luke 7:11–12 CSB

11 Afterward he was on his way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. 12 Just as he neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was also with her.

A. Widow had lost her only son

B. She would now be destitute without any means to raise herself from this situation.

Trans: The only thing that could change her situation was an encounter with the Savior.

This was not a chance encounter. Jesus was lead by the Spirit through the father. He was not just wondering at random. We see this idea throughout the gospel narratives.

A Compassionate Savior

Luke 7:13–14 CSB

13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said, “Don’t weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And he said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!”

A. The first thing I want you to notice was that this miracle was unique because it did not happen at the request of the mother, but was motivated by the compassion of our Lord.

We have a compassionate savior!

Matthew 9:36 CSB

36 When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 14:14 CSB

14 When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

Matthew 20:34 CSB

34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed him.

We can stand confident that through the trials and pain that we have a compassionate Savior

Q: Why would a Holy God have compassion on sinners? The answer is recorded for us in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 2:17 CSB

17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 4:15 CSB

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

A: Because he lived like one of us, yet without sin.

B. “Don’t weep” - As Jesus approached the coffin He say’s something very odd. He tells the woman not to weep. In any normal situation this would not only be an unrealistic request, but a foolish one. Even Jesus wept at the news of his dear friend lazerus passing.

Who can go to a grieving mother and tell her to dry up her tears during the funeral?

Only the one that has the power over life and death.

A Temporary Resurrection

Luke 7:15 CSB

15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

I can’t imagine the overwhelming feeling of losing a child to death, only to have them restored back to life. I am sure that the mother had to be overjoyed.

As great as this Resurrection was…It was only temporary. This young man would still one day, grow old and die.

In fact, there is a Jewish tale ,probably myth, about Lazarus. At some point after Lazarus was raised from the dead. He went to the Lord and asked him. Will I need to die again. The savior answered him, yes. From that point on Lazarus never smiled again.

While this may or may not of happened the point is this all those who were raised from the dead experienced a temporary resurrection. They would still , one day, die again.

But there is coming a final resurrection that will not be temporary.

A Superior Prophet = A Superior Resurrection

Luke 7:16–17 CSB

16 Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people.” 17 This report about him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.

At the very beginning of this sermon we referenced the miracle wrought through Elisha of raising a boy to life. We can see through this account that while God allowed Elisha to perform this miracle, even Elisha had no real power over death. The miracle wrought through him was not instantaneous, but Just at the words of Jesus life was restored to this young man. Jesus was showing that He is superior to Elisha. Only he has the power to defeat death Only Jesus could truly conquer the grave.

And we know that one day all those who have passed from this life that are in Christ, will one day experience the final resurrection and the death of death itself. This is the Hope that we find in Christ Jesus.