Reading: Luke 6-7
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. Now 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. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not(Luke 7:11-13).
Miracles were a natural extension of Christ’s earthly ministry. From the examples gifted to us through Scripture, we have learned that He was moved to perform them for a wide variety of reasons. We have seen miracles granted in response to the deep faith on the part of the person asking (7:1-10), out of a desire to strengthen the faith of people that were struggling (Matt. 8:25-27), in an effort to establish His identity (Mark 2:3- 12) and in response to widespread need (Matt. 14:13-21). The miracle we witness here in today’s reading stands apart from all of these in that it seems to have sprung only from a deep sense of compassion on the part of our Lord.
The Creator of life stood face to face with the pallbearers of death, yet no one recognized Him. The procession was headed out of the gates and away from the city walls when Jesus drew near. No one in the procession of death pleaded with the Savior. No request was presented to Him. Jesus simply looked upon the deep sorrow and desperate emptiness which filled the mother's heart and was moved by compassion. This miracle, perhaps more than any other that occurred throughout the ministry of Christ, should provide hope and comfort to those of us living today. The plight of this grieving, widowed mother demonstrates to us that our need, helplessness, and sorrow deeply touch the heart of Christ even when we are so despondent that we cannot pray.
And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. Nothing seems emptier to the newly bereaved than platitudinal attempts at comfort when the cause of weeping remains, and Jesus offered none. Indeed, the mother didn’t even have time to wonder at the stranger’s words before He was in motion. And He came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And He said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise (Luke 7:14). Even though he had been taken by death, the young man heard and obeyed Christ's voice. By reviving this young man, Jesus demonstrated his total power over the last enemy, death (I Cor. 15:22,26; Rev. 1:18).
This miracle provides us with hard evidence that, in Christ, death need not be the end. It encourages us to move beyond the trials and tribulations of our day-to-day lives and cling to the promise of salvation in Christ as we anxiously await His return. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thess. 16-17). That chance meeting in Nain stands forever as an enduring symbol of Jesus' purpose on earth.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live(John 5:25).
Thought For Today:Through God, death is a transition; only through the world is death the end of life.
Cross Reference:For Luke 7:22: See Is. 61:1. Luke 7:27: See Mal. 3:1.
Word Studies:6:11 communed = discussed; 7:14 bier = a stand on which a corpse or casket is laid.
Pray For Staff:Tifany Parisi • Country: Falkland Islands (2,840) South America • Major Language: English • Religious Freedom • 66% Christian; 32% None; 2% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord to reveal what is not pleasing to Him (Ps. 139:23-24).