“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
Jesus raised three people from the dead in the New Testament: the son of the widow of Nain, the daughter of Jairus, and Lazarus. These three individuals had left this earth, and Jesus called each of them back to life with a commanding word that included the phrase “I say to you…” followed by “get up” (or, in Lazarus’s case, “come out!”).
The Christmas story is fundamentally about bringing life from death. God sent His Son as a babe in Bethlehem to live a perfect life—because how He lived truly matters—and to die a criminal’s death. Three days later, He rose again. Why were the disciples so surprised? Didn’t Jesus repeatedly predict His resurrection? (Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22–23; Matthew 20:18–19; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31; Mark 10:33–34; Luke 9:22; Luke 9:44; Luke 18:31–33; John 2:19–22; John 10:17–18; Matthew 12:39–40; Matthew 16:4; Luke 11:29–30)
Didn’t He also demonstrate through these three miracles that life could be restored from death?
Many focus during this season on Jesus’ birth—and rightly so—but His death and resurrection are equally important. The miraculous raising of the widow’s son, in particular, is powerful evidence of God’s great authority over death and the grave. This miracle left people filled with awe and praising God, yet it ultimately points to God’s supreme power to give life.
It was an extraordinary event when the dead were brought back to life—something never seen before on this scale and never repeated since. Yet in the New Testament we have four instances (including Jesus’ own resurrection) of God doing the impossible through the power of Jesus.
As I said, Christmas celebrates the new life of Jesus in the manger, but it also reveals the profound significance of the One who came from heaven, bringing new life to everyone He encountered.
And He is not finished yet! Will you allow Him to bring life to your mortal soul? Are you far from God? John 3 says you must be born again. Call out to God today! Invite Jesus into your life to save your soul. Then you, like so many others, will be brought from death to life in the name of Jesus.
“O Lord God, you are a faithful Lord. Your name is exalted in the heavens. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with your power and love. Help me know the truth of your promises this day. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen