Jesus Raises a Deceased Boy to Life

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Wednesday July 03, 2024}

Luke 7:11-17

Father, may it not be said of me that I lack compassion for people suffering grief. I want to do more than simply express my condolences. I want to be alongside the grieving person for as long as it takes until they are back on their feet again. Father, sharing the gospel in 21st century America is like fanning out from the scene of the resurrection of the young man from the dead and telling everyone what happened. What is the gospel in its simplest description? Jesus died for our sins, rose again from the dead, and offers resurrection to all who believe that these things are true. Father, give me feet and a mouth eager to share the story of the miraculous resurrection of both the physically and spiritually dead. Amen.

Father, Jesus, and a now large crowd of His followers, walked southwest from Capernaum to a town called Nain. The text does not share with us why Jesus traveled to this town. We do learn in Luke 8:1-3 that Jesus was traveling around the region, from town to town, preaching the good news of the gospel. Perhaps Nain was the next stop on the journey. However, it is also likely that Jesus chose Nain as His destination intentionally – He was well aware that He would encounter a funeral as He approached the city.

I can imagine Jesus walking up a road that is on a long slope that leads into the city. As He arrived in Nain, a funeral procession was proceeding out of the city to bury a young boy who had passed away. His mother, who was beside herself in grief, was also a widow. Jesus had an abundance of compassion on her.

The text tells us that a large crowd of mourners were in procession with her. It is interesting to note that, since Luke has emphasized her vulnerability without a male family member to take care of her, it must have been that no one from this crowed had offered to take care of her. How often do we grieve with someone but actually never take care of their practical needs? The phrase “I’m so sorry for your loss” falls on empty ears when the people who say this never step up to the plate to help in the weeks and months after the funeral is over. It is logical to suggest that had this woman had a great support system, she could have recovered from the loss of her child and moved on with life. She obviously didn’t have that support system within the large crowd of mourners who were with her, and this is why Jesus had compassion on her.

Jesus approached her and told her not to cry. Why? Because Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). It is He who raises people from both physical death and spiritual death. Jesus was telling her not to cry because He was telling her what He was about to do – raise her son from the dead. I can imagine Jesus touching a tear on her cheek while He is telling her not to cry. I can imagine Him telling her to watch what He does.

Jesus walked up to the funeral bier that her son was on, touched it as the bearers stood still, and then commanded the young man to get up. The man sat up and began to talk. I can imagine Jesus reached out His arms for the young man to jump into and then He put him down next to his mother.

The now large crowd consisting of both followers of Jesus and mourners of the young man were all filled with awe and praised God. They praised whom? You. Jesus couldn’t have been more pleased with their response, as His mission in life was to give honor to You.

“‘A great prophet has appeared among us,’ they said. ‘God has come to help his people’ (NIV).” It served no purpose for Jesus to tell this woman to keep this healing to herself. Hundreds, if not thousands, of witnesses would certainly not keep this healing to themselves. News of the healing spread throughout the region. Amen.