Luke 7:11 - Meaning and Application

Here we have the story of Christ raising a widow’s son to life at Nain. Matthew and Mark do not mention this event, though Matthew does note, in Jesus’ reply to John’s disciples, that “the dead are raised up” (Matthew 11:5). This miracle happened the day after Jesus healed the centurion’s servant. Christ was doing good every day, and he never wasted a day.

It happened at the gate of a small town called Nain, not far from Capernaum. The miracle had many witnesses, which made it all the more convincing. Two crowds met there, one following Jesus and his disciples, and the other following the funeral procession of the dead young man. So there was enough public proof for this miracle, which showed Christ’s divine authority even more clearly than his healing sickness. Human power, or any natural means, cannot raise the dead.

The man who was raised was a young man, cut off in the first part of life, which is common in this fallen world. He was truly dead, and no one could claim this was arranged beforehand. Jesus was just entering the town and had not seen him until the funeral procession came near. The young man was being carried out of the city, since the Jews buried their dead outside the city walls. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. She had leaned on him for support in her old age, but he failed her. Human help, at its best, is fragile. How many troubles fill the lives of suffering people in this world. It is truly a valley of tears. The mother’s grief was deep, because she had lost her only son, and she was already a widow, broken by one loss after another. Many people from the city were with her, sharing her sorrow and trying to comfort her.

Christ showed both his pity and his power in bringing the young man back to life. In this, we see a glimpse of both qualities, which shine so brightly in the work of redeeming people. When the Lord saw the poor widow following her son to the grave, he had compassion on her (Luke 7:13). No one had asked him to help her. He was moved entirely by his own kindness. The situation was sad, and he looked on it with pity. What he saw touched his heart, and he said to her, “Do not weep.” Christ cares for those who mourn, for those who are miserable, and often meets them with his kindness before they ask. He carried out our redemption in his love and pity (Isaiah 63:9). This gives us a sweet picture of the Lord Jesus, full of tender mercy. It can comfort us when we are in sorrow. Poor widows may take heart in this, because Christ pities them and knows their troubles, even if others ignore their grief.

When Jesus said, “Do not weep,” he could give her a reason that no one else could: her dead son would soon be living again. That reason belonged to her special case. But there is also a truth that applies to all who sleep in Jesus, and it should keep grief from becoming bitter or hopeless, they will rise again, and rise in glory. So we must not sorrow as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Like Rachel weeping for her children, we should remember that there is hope for the end, and that the children will return (Jeremiah 31:17). At such times, Christ’s compassion should steady our hearts.

Then Jesus showed his authority even over death itself. He came near and touched the bier, or coffin, on which the body lay. To him, that could not make him unclean. By touching it, he signaled to the bearers to stop. He had something to say to the dead young man. It was as though he said, “Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom” (Job 33:24). So the bearers stood still, and likely set the bier down. Then, with full authority, Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

The young man was dead and could not rise by any power of his own. That is also true of people who are spiritually dead in sin. Yet it was no mistake for Christ to command him to rise, because power went with the word and put life into him. The gospel call to young people, and to all people, is, “Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light and life.” Christ’s rule over death was shown at once: the dead man sat up (Luke 7:15). If we have grace from Christ, let us show it. Another sign of life was that he began to speak. In the same way, when Christ gives spiritual life, he opens the lips in prayer and praise.

Jesus did not keep the young man with him as a servant, though he owed him even his own self. He did not use him as a spectacle to win honor for himself. Instead, he gave him back to his mother, so he could care for her as a dutiful son. Christ’s miracles were acts of mercy, and this was a great mercy to the widow. Now she was comforted according to the years of sorrow she had endured, and even more. She could now think of her son as one specially favored by heaven, and that gave her more joy than if he had never died.

This miracle affected the people deeply. A sense of fear came over them all (Luke 7:16). It startled them to see a dead man sit up and live again in the open street at the command of one man. They were filled with wonder and glorified God. We should fear the Lord and his goodness, not only his greatness. From this miracle they concluded, “A great prophet has risen among us.” They believed he was the long-awaited prophet, one sent from God, because he could breathe life into the dead. They also said that God had visited his people to redeem them, just as had been expected (Luke 1:68). For those waiting for the comfort of Israel, this was indeed life from the dead.

When spiritually dead people are raised to new life by God’s power working through the gospel, we should give God glory. We should see it as a gracious visit to his people.

News of this miracle spread in two ways. First, it went all through the countryside (Luke 7:17). Reports about him, that he was the great prophet, spread quickly through all Judea, even though it was far away, and through all Galilee, the nearby region. Many people heard about him, but few believed in him or truly gave themselves to him. Many hear the message of Christ’s gospel, but never taste its sweetness in their hearts.

Second, the news was carefully carried to John the Baptist, who was in prison at the time (Luke 7:18). His disciples came and told him all these things, so he would know that, though he was bound, the word of the Lord was not bound. God’s work was still going forward, even while John himself had been set aside.