1. Lesson One of the Book of Daniel, Introduction to the Book of Daniel

The Book of Luke, The Raising of the Widow’s Son  – Lesson 84

Luke 7:11- 18,  And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. ¹²Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. ¹³And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. ¹⁴And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. ¹⁵And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. ¹⁶And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. ¹⁷And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

In this passage Luke gives us an account of the activities of Jesus’ the day after he healed the centurion’s slave.

Jesus and his disciples have left Capernaum and, accompanied by much people, are traveling toward a City called Nain. 

This mention of Nain by Luke is the Bible’s only reference to this city.

Nain, which means, green pastures, or lovely or pleasant, was a village in southwest Galilee situated on a slope of the hill of Moreh, a hillside overlooking the Plain of Esdraelon where the battle of Armageddon will be fought during the Great Tribulation. 

This city was about 25 miles southwest of Capernaum and about 5 miles southeast of Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus.

Nain was a good day’s journey from Capernaum.

As Jesus and his followers neared the gate of the city they met another crowd coming out of the city of Nain.

No doubt the group that accompanied Jesus was a joyful crowd, a crowd that had come with him expecting to witness new miracles. 

Jesus healed the slave of the centurion yesterday and everywhere he went something unusual happened. 

What would he do this day?

Accompanying Jesus during this time was wonderful for wherever this man went miracles occurred.

Because of this, most likely there was a feeling of expectancy by his disciples and the people who came with him to Nain.

But this cheerful crowd now came face to face with a group of people of a different spirit. 

For this rejoicing crowd now faced a crowd that was accompanying a dead man and the dead man’s mother who Luke is careful to tell us was a widow. 

This crowd was mourning the death of a widow’s only son, most likely her only means of support.  

There was no joy, there was no hope, there was no expectancy in this group; they were there to bury the only son of this widow. 

So the two groups met head-on, outside the city of Nain.  

This put Jesus face to face with a grieving widow, a widow who was weeping. 

There is nothing given by Luke to indicate that she knew who Jesus was, or if she did it did not change her grief.  

She did not ask for, nor expect anything, except perhaps that Jesus and His followers stand aside in order for the  funeral procession to continue.  

Yesterday in Capernaum the disciples and the crowd heard Jesus honor the faith of the centurion but here there is no faith expressed by this widow, only grieving and weeping for her only son. 

There was no initiative on her part to seek the favor of Jesus.   

There was no crying out for the healing of a sick son for her son had already died. 

We see that all of the initiative was taken by the Lord Jesus, but it was not in response to faith as it was with the centurion. 

But it was in response to the grief and the need of a widow who had lost her only son.    

How this shows us that our Lord cares and has compassion on us!    

Jesus Christ has no patience nor allowance for death in his presence for he is life.  

¹³And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 

Weeping is a proper thing in response to the death of a loved one and is to be expected.   

The Bible, in Romans 12:15, tells us what is to be our proper response to those who rejoice and to those who weep. 

We are to: Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 

We are not to tell those who weep in mourning to stop weeping. 

No, we are to weep with them for their loss.   

We are to feel their loss as our loss and thereby be a comfort.   

That is what compassion is; the feeling of another’s loss.   

It is a suffering with another, not a attempt to relieve that suffering.   

It is suffering with them.   

And likewise when there is rejoicing we are to rejoice and bolster that rejoicing instead of bringing weeping by our presence or our comments. 

So many times we put the damper or constraint on another’s rejoicing by our negative comments.   

Oh, what a lovely day this it!  Sure, but it looks like rain is coming. 

I sure enjoyed that meal; it was so tasty and well presented.  Sure, but look out for the calories and the carbs. 

The job picture in the country is looking up isn’t it?  Sure, there are lots of jobs but most of them are low paying jobs. 

I’m so glad that the Lord has blessed me with good health.  Sure, but wait until you get a little older, then you’ll feel it. 

If I am rejoicing rejoice with me.  Don’t put a damper on my rejoicing!   

If I am weeping weep with me, there is a need for weeping. 

We are to rejoice with those that rejoice and to weep with those who weep. 

But in spite of knowing to weep with those who weep Jesus told the widow not to weep.  

Only Jesus could be right in telling this widow to weep not

For Jesus knew what this occasion would demand. 

Jesus told her not to weep because it was unnecessary and inappropriate.   

She was not to cry because her son was not to remain dead.  

Rejoicing was to be the appropriate response. 

Jesus then touched the coffin, bringing the procession to a halt.  

This must have caught the pall-bearers off guard because this would normally defile anyone who touched the dead.  

But without ceremony or without prayer, Jesus simply said:  Young man, I say unto thee, Arise, and with the life he was given by Jesus Christ he was able to comply for he sat up and spoke. 

The simplicity of this raising is in contrast to that of Elijah’s raising of the son of the widow of Zarephath. 

Elijah cried unto the Lord, he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried again for the Lord to let the child’s soul come into him again.   

And in the life of Elisha the prophet there was labor required on the part of Elisha to raise another son, the son of the Shunammite woman.   

³²And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. ³³He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. ³⁴And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. ³⁵Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. ³⁶And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. ³⁷Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.