Miracles of Jesus - Part 11

Raising a Widow’s Son
Luke 7:11-15

The raising to life a widow's son at Nain occurred the next day after Jesus had healed the centurion’s servant. It was done at the gate of Nain. Two groups witnessed the raising to life of the widow’s son; the disciples and the people following Jesus, and the relatives and neighbors of the widow who were attending the funeral of the young man. Thus, there was a sufficient number to attest the truth of this miracle, which furnished greater proof of Christ's divine authority than his healing diseases; for by no power of nature, or any means, can the dead be raised.

That he was dead was universally agreed. There could be no collusion in the case; for Jesus was entering the town, and had not seen him until now that he met him upon the bier. The young man was carried out of the town; the Jews' burying-places were without their cities, and at some distance from them. This young man was the widow’s only son. She was dependent upon him to provide the necessities of life; how numerous, how various, how very calamitous, are the afflictions of the afflicted in this world. What a vale of tears this life is. Jesus shows both His pity and His power in raising to life the son of the widow.

When Jesus saw this poor widow following her son to the grave, He had compassion on her. There was no appeal made to Him for her, not so much as that he would speak some words of comfort to her, but, purely from the goodness of His nature, He was troubled for her. The situation was piteous, and Jesus looked upon it with pity. His eye affected His heart; and He said to the widow, “Weep not.” Jesus has a concern for the mourners, for the miserable. What assurance this gives us of the compassions of the Lord Jesus. He comforts us in our sorrows; He knows the souls in adversity; and, if others despise our grief, He does not.

It is one thing to tell the widow not to weep; it is another to do something to something about the cause for the weeping. Jesus, alone, could give this widow reason for not weeping; He touched the coffin and bearers came to a halt; Jesus had something to say to the son of the widow. He said, “Young man, I say to you arise” (Luke 7:14).

The young man was dead, and could not arise by any power of his own, no more can those that are spiritually dead in trespasses and sins; yet it was no difficult thing for Jesus Christ to bid him arise, than it was to tell the paralytic to get up and walk. Just as the centurion understood, there is power in the words of Jesus. The gospel call to all people is, “Arise,” arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light and life." Christ's dominion over death was evidenced by the immediate effect of his word, “The dead man sat up and began to speak” (Luke 7:15). Whenever Christ gives us spiritual life, He opens the lips in prayer and praise.

Lastly, Jesus gave the young man back to his mother.
Jesus’ miracles were miracles of mercy, and a great act of mercy this was to this widow; now she was comforted. She could now look upon this son as a particular favorite of heaven, with more pleasure than if he had not died.

Note, the influence upon the people, “Fear gripped them all” (Luke 7:16); it frightened them to see a dead man sat up and speak at the command of a man; they were all struck with wonder at His miracle, and glorified God. The Lord and His goodness, as well as the Lord and His greatness, are to be feared. The inference they drew from it was, “A great prophet has arisen among us,” the great prophet that we have been long looking for; “God has visited His people” (Luke 7:16), to redeem them, as was expected; this would be life from the dead to all that waited for the consolation of Israel.

When dead souls are raised to spiritual life, we must glorify God, and look upon it as a gracious visit to His people. The report of this miracle “went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district” (Luke 7:17). In particular, it was carefully brought to John Baptist, who was now in prison (Luke 7:18). John’s disciples gave him an account of all things, that he might know that though he was bound yet the word of the Lord was not bound.

The two miracles, the healing of the centurion’s servant son and the raising of the widow’s son testify to the fact that Jesus is who He claimed to be, Israel’s Messiah. No prophet had ever surpassed these miracles. Second, these miracles are the backdrop for the questions of John the Baptist. Third, these miracles were the basis for the faith of men and women. Finally, these miracles are samples of the kind of faith that we should have today.

The centurion’s faith both pleased and honored God. God delights in men’s faith. God is honored by faith when He is the object of that faith. What greater compliment to the character of God than to have men demonstrates that they have confidence in Him. Men find God trustworthy because He is worthy of men’s trust. Faith honors God. Faith pleases God. God commends faith.

Too often, we focus our attention on our faith, rather than on God, who is the object of our faith. The centurion was not guilty of such self-consciousness. In fact, he did not mention his faith at all. Jesus pointed out the great faith of this man. The centurion had fixed his attention of Jesus, on His compassion, His mercy, His power. The centurion was preoccupied with the person of our Lord, not his possession of faith.

Some Christians lose the focus of their faith by concentrating on the promises of God, rather than the person of God. Promises are only as good as the person. Promises alone are worthless. A healthy faith is a faith in the person, which then enables us to believe the promises. If our faith in the person of God is sufficient, we hardly need promises, for we know that God is greater than those promises He has given. The difference here is subtle, but important. It is the difference between God as the gift and God as the giver. The centurion’s faith was focused on God.

The centurion not only asked our Lord for a miraculous healing, the servant was about to die, but also for a healing that was out of the ordinary. The centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant “long distance.” His God was so great that He need not be present to heal, and thus he asked Jesus merely to speak the word. Faith in a great God is evidenced by requests that are out of the ordinary.

The centurion’s petition was a request for grace, and thus he totally rejected any worthiness on his own part. The faith of the centurion was not only faith in the power of our Lord, but in His character, specifically His mercy. He knew that Jesus was not only able to heal from afar, but willing, because of the great suffering of his servant. Faith cannot be divorced from mercy and grace. God’s gifts to men are not the result of man’s worthiness, and not even the result of man’s faith, but of God’s goodness and mercy. In the case of the raising of the widow’s son, no faith was demonstrated, no request was made, but Jesus saw the need and met it.