“11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” 14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.” Luke 7.11-17
Out of all the miracles of Jesus is there any greater display of God’s power than to raise someone from the dead? Every miraculous act Jesus performed is extraordinary, but to raise someone from the dead is exceptional. (Good job Jesus!)
Also, if I were asked about this miracle before, I would not have remembered it. Would you? I remember Jesus raising a young girl who was the daughter of Jairus in Mark 5.22-43, he raised Lazarus in John 11.1-44, and himself (as God the Father). I had forgotten about this widows‘ son from the town of Nain that Jesus rose from the dead. So in all, he raised three people not counting Jesus himself.
How could I forget about this widows son? Jesus certainly didn’t. He saw the dead person “being carried out— the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.” The scripture tells us “his heart went out to her and he said to her, “Don’t cry.”
Picture this with me — Jesus and his followers are approaching a town and as they near the gate they step aside for a funeral procession. Now Jesus has no obligation, duty or responsibility to help out. He does it merely out of compassion (i.e. his heart went out to her.) And then he speaks to her — a woman who had no husband who was in mourning. He was the only one who could speak because he offered a solution — life.
So Jesus walks up to the founders bier, and those who were carrying the man stopped. Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” And immediately the “dead man” sat up and began to talk. (Like we see that everyday!) People praised God and news about Jesus spread across the land.
Jesus stopped, he had compassion and he gave back to the widow what she had certainly prayed for the most sinced her son had died.
Although we might not have the power to raise someone from the dead, he do have the ability to help others in their time of need. None of us are qualified but with God, all things are possible.
What are you relying on God to do for you that only he can do? What kind of a miracle do you need him to perform in your life? What are you waiting for? Why not ask Jesus to do this for you this very hour?
“O Lord God, come Holy Spirit. Fill me with your truth and love. Help me know you fully. Forgive me when I stray, I confess my sins before you. Use me for your Kingdom and for the advancement of your Gospel. I praise you Lord for loving your people and allowing us to walk in the grace of your strength. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen