Luke 7:11-17
The compassionate Lord confronts death and restores the widow’s son to life.
11 Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him.
12 Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her.
13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, “Don’t cry.”
14 He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
15 He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.
16 Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!”
17 This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea, and in all the surrounding region.
The compassionate Lord confronts death and restores the widow’s son to life.
Luke records Jesus raising the only son of a widow at Nain to reveal the Lord’s compassion toward the helpless, his authority over death, and his prophetic identity as the one through whom God visits his people.
Following distance healing through spoken word, Luke now shows physical proximity and touch. Authority escalates from sickness to death.
After healing the centurion’s servant from a distance in Capernaum, Jesus travels to Nain with his disciples and a large crowd. As he approaches the town gate, a funeral procession comes out: a dead man, the only son of his widowed mother, is being carried out, accompanied by a large crowd from the town.
The Compassionate Lord Who Heals, Raises, Confirms, and Forgives
Jesus is the compassionate and authoritative Messiah whose word heals, whose mercy raises the dead, whose works confirm God's promises, and whose forgiveness creates humble love.