“A Widow’s Son is raised.
Luke 7 : 11 – 17 Linked
THE GIST OF THE STICKING INCIDENT
Jesus went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. When He came near the gate of the city, He saw a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still and He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And Jesus presented him to his mother.
Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.
THE STICKING INCIDENTS IN THE HOLY BIBLE
According to the Bible, Jesus raised three people from the dead during his earthly ministries: Lazarus, the daughter of Jairus and the son of the widow at Nain. The Bible also says that Jesus rose from the dead himself and performed many miracles.”
BIBLICAL REFERENCES
∗ “The name Nain is a Biblical baby name. In Biblical the meaning of the name Nain is: Beauty, pleasantness.”
∗ It happened in a small town called Nain which was located in the South east of Nazareth.
∗ He was the only son of the widow, as the demonic son and Jairus’ daughter mentioned in the Bible.
∗ This is My beloved Son – (Matthew 3 : 17) – that’s Jesus.
∗ We understand that’s the miracles happened mostly to the single child.
∗ It shows that they are precious for the family.
BIBLICAL REFERENCE TO THE SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
Jesus’ raising the widow’s son calls to mind two similar incident.
1. From Elijah’s ministry (1 Kings 17: 17 – 24)
* Both involving the widowed mothers.
* Both happened in Nain.
* Both were the only sons.
* Both were raised from the dead by the prophets of God.
* Both Jesus and Elijah presented the resurrected boys to the mothers.
* Both were the true prophets of God.
2. From the Ministry of Elisha (2 Kings 4 : 18 – 37)
* He was the only son of his parents.
* The mother was not a widow, but a barren woman, who was blessed with son by the promise of God’s Prophet, Elisha.
* She had great faith on Elisha and she failed to understand that it was the God given power to Elisha.
The Key Difference
* The most laboured and time consuming resurrections performed by Elijah and Elisha were overshadowed by Jesus’ instantaneous demonstration of supernatural power.
∗ Even though the widow obeyed in faith to Elijah by providing him food in her scarcity, the death of her son made her to worry about the loss of her only son, the only hope for her future. So faith played no role over there.
* The shunammite woman offered her hospitality to Elisha expecting nothing in return. But when the woman’s son died, She shows faith by fetching Elisha and she prepared for resurrection of the boy and not the burial.
∗ But, when Jesus saw the widowed mother weeping He had compassion on her and said to her, “Weep not; He touched bier and said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.” It was done. The widow had neither hope nor faith. But Jesus was compassionate.
THE REACTION OF THE PEOPLE
∗ There was fear among the people.
∗ They glorified God.
∗ They felt a great prophet has risen up among them.
∗ The crowd felt God had visited His people.
∗ At the same time, the good news spread throughout Judea and throughout the region round about.
JESUS………
…is compassionate in comforting the widowed mother, raising up the dead son by touching the bier and handing over the son to the mother.
….walks away expecting nothing from the people.
…..reflects His resurrection through these miracles; but are we willing to believe and trust the compassionate God?
Let’s pray…….
Lord, give us the strength and power to believe you with no doubt. Amen.
Glory be to God
0
0
0
0
0
0