The Widow of Nain

This is a great meeting of Jesus and people this day, for during this time we will see something special take place, the healing of a young man, raising him from the dead and the restoration of a family.

Now all of these things are important, but friends I want you to know that only Jesus can arrange and help during the great and difficult times of our life.

So this evening I want us to see 4 great meetings that take place as Jesus come to the little city called Nain.

Nain was about twenty-five miles from Capernaum, a good day’s journey away, yet Jesus went there even though He was not requested to come. Since the Jews buried their dead the same day. Jesus and his disciples most likely are coming through the city late in the afternoon.

So lets look at our text and then move on today.

Luke 7:11–17 ESV

11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

The first thing to see and pay attention to is the meeting of two crowds...

I want to express a thought here that we must understand, I do not believe that Jesus just happened to show up at the right time.

This without a doubt is the providence of God, only Jesus could meet a funeral procession at just the right time as it was heading for the cemetery, But this was all part of the Father’s plan, we know and can see this with a doubt.

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John 6:38 ESV

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Now look at verses 11-12

Luke 7:11–12 ESV

11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.

And think about the two groups these crowds make up. You have the widow, the ruler of the synagogue, and those people mourning with her. They are heartbroken, they are sad, they see a mother whose life has been turned upside down. It is a complete picture of grief.

Yet on the other hand you see Jesus and his disciples, they are rejoicing, they are happy and blessed for they are walking in the will of the Father. Jesus is leading the group not death. and those disciples are happy because they are following God.

Jesus and His followers were heading into the city, and those with the widow were heading for the cemetery, One group depicts life and the other death.

And these two groups represent life and death, one has salvation and one does not. In the same way if we are followers Christ, we have life. If you are not a follower of Christ then you are dead in your tresspasses and sin.

Hebrews 11:10 ESV

10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

John 3:36 ESV

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Hebrews 11:13–16 ESV

13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Two only sons met this day.

What a contrast between the crowd that was following Jesus and the crowd following the widow and her dead son. Jesus and His disciples were rejoicing in the blessing of the Lord, but the widow and her friends were lamenting the death of her only son. Jesus was heading for the city while the mourners were heading for the cemetery.

One was alive but destined to die, the other dead but destined to live.

Jesus was the called the only son of the Father. He was one of a kind, Jesus is not only a son, in the sense that I am a son of my Father, But he is also God, the one who has always existed. The term son speaks to his divine nature. He came for a specific purpose.

Spiritually speaking, each of us is in one of these two crowds. If you have trusted Christ, you are going to the city (, ; ). If you are “dead in sin,” you are already in the cemetery and under the condemnation of God (; ). You need to trust Jesus Christ and be raised from the dead (; ).

As a natural son, I want you to know that the young son who has passed had a purpose in life as well. He was destined to meet the Son of God this day, but his larger purpose like ours is to bring glory and honor to the Father in heaven

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1 Peter 2:12 ESV

12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

But the last group to meet is the truth of life today,

Who are the two enemies?

Life and Death

Jesus is life and the Devil is the theif who comes to kill, steal and destroy.

Death is the one thing that causes so much grief, so much suffering and so much pain. This day it has robbed a young man of his life and future. His pruposes if you will. But it has also robbed his family of hope and help and provision.

For this mother, her son was all she had and now he is gone. Well until death faces Jesus. Jesus is life and life eternal and dearth has no power in the presence of Jesus

Jesus faced death for us once and for all upon the cross.

1 Corinthians 15:26 ESV

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

When you consider the pain and grief that it causes in this world, death is indeed an enemy, and only Jesus Christ can give us victory.

When you consider the pain and grief that it causes in this world, death is indeed an enemy, and only Jesus Christ can give us victory (see ; ). Jesus had only to speak the word and the boy was raised to life and health.

1 Corinthians 15:51–58 ESV

51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Hebrews 2:14–15 ESV

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

We also know that Jesus loves his creation, his world and all those in it.

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:ule 7:13

Luke 7:13 ESV

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

The word compassion is that he was moved deep in his bowels, he was hurt for her, sad for her sad that death was reigning in the lives of this world.

Jesus had only to speak the word and the boy was raised to life and health.

Luke 7:14 ESV

14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

The boy gave two evidences of life: he sat up and he spoke. He was lying on an open stretcher, not in a closed coffin; so it was easy for him to sit up. We are not told what he said, but it must have been interesting!

Jesus had only to speak the word and the boy was raised to life and health.

Luke 7:15 ESV

15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

What an act of tenderness it was for Jesus to take the boy and give him to his rejoicing mother. The whole scene reminds us of what will happen when the Lord returns, and we are reunited with our loved ones who have gone to glory ().

The boy gave two evidences of life: he sat up and he spoke. He was lying on an open stretcher, not in a closed coffin; so it was easy for him to sit up. We are not told what he said, but it must have been interesting! What an act of tenderness it was for Jesus to take the boy and give him to his rejoicing mother. The whole scene reminds us of what will happen when the Lord returns, and we are reunited with our loved ones who have gone to glory ().

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The people gave glory to God for all they have seen… we should as well for we witness daily the goodness and mercy of God.

What an act of tenderness it was for Jesus to take the boy and give him to his rejoicing mother. The whole scene reminds us of what will happen when the Lord returns, and we are reunited with our loved ones who have gone to glory ().

Because of this, people longed to see Jesus all the more, the question is do we long to see Jesus as well.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: Compassion in Action (Luke 7)

Two crowds met. We can only marvel at the providence of God when we see Jesus meet that funeral procession just as it was heading for the burial ground. He lived on a divine timetable as He obeyed the will of His Father (John 11:9; 13:1). The sympathetic Saviour always gives help when we need it most (Heb. 4:16).

What a contrast between the crowd that was following Jesus and the crowd following the widow and her dead son. Jesus and His disciples were rejoicing in the blessing of the Lord, but the widow and her friends were lamenting the death of her only son. Jesus was heading for the city while the mourners were heading for the cemetery.

Spiritually speaking, each of us is in one of these two crowds. If you have trusted Christ, you are going to the city (Heb. 11:10, 13–16; 12:22). If you are “dead in sin,” you are already in the cemetery and under the condemnation of God (John 3:36; Eph. 2:1–3). You need to trust Jesus Christ and be raised from the dead (John 5:24; Eph. 2:4–10).

Two only sons met. One was alive but destined to die, the other dead but destined to live. The term only begotten as applied to Jesus means “unique,” “the only one of its kind.” Jesus is not a “son” in the same sense that I am, having been brought into existence by conception and birth. Since Jesus is eternal God, He has always existed. The title Son of God declares Christ’s divine nature and His relationship to the Father, to whom the Son has willingly subjected Himself from all eternity. All the Persons of the Godhead are equal, but in the “economy” of the Trinity, each has a specific place to fill and task to fulfill.

Two sufferers met. Jesus, “the Man of Sorrows,” could easily identify with the widow’s heartache. Not only was she in sorrow, but she was now left alone in a society that did not have resources to care for widows. What would happen to her? Jesus felt the pain that sin and death have brought into this world, and He did something about it.

Two enemies met. Jesus faced death, “the last enemy” (1 Cor. 15:26). When you consider the pain and grief that it causes in this world, death is indeed an enemy, and only Jesus Christ can give us victory (see 1 Cor. 15:51–58; Heb. 2:14–15). Jesus had only to speak the word and the boy was raised to life and health.

The boy gave two evidences of life: he sat up and he spoke. He was lying on an open stretcher, not in a closed coffin; so it was easy for him to sit up. We are not told what he said, but it must have been interesting! What an act of tenderness it was for Jesus to take the boy and give him to his rejoicing mother. The whole scene reminds us of what will happen when the Lord returns, and we are reunited with our loved ones who have gone to glory (1 Thes. 4:13–18).

The response of the people was to glorify God and identify Jesus with the Prophet the Jews had been waiting for (Deut. 18:15; John 1:21; Acts 3:22–23). It did not take long for the report of this miracle to spread. People were even more enthusiastic to see Jesus, and great crowds followed Him (Luke 8:4, 19, 42).

Luke 7:11–17 ESV

11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

“Then the people who were already in the land discouragedthe people of Judah.”

The people of God started the process of rebuilding the Temple, but not everyone was pleased. Enemies of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin surely wanted to be a thorn in the process, even though they offered to help with the building. Others who remained in the land “discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build” (). Their opposition continued, and the work of rebuilding the Temple was delayed for about twenty years.

This was not the last time, of course, when enemies of God’s people sought to cause discouragement. Think about some of the ways Satan and his forces seek to discourage us today:

Challenging our faith when God takes His time in responding to our prayersReminding us of our past-tense and present-tense sin to cause us to question whether God will ever use usTrying to convince us that nothing we do is really going to make any difference Continually directing us to others that God seems to be using more

And, the enemy has a history of sowing tares among the wheat (), of raising up people who continually oppose anything we do to try to remove any sense of joy we have in following God. Sometimes they even begin with a show of support (not unlike the enemies of Judah and Benjamin in today’s reading), but they reveal their true heart as their opposition mounts. Frankly, they often succeed at least temporarily, thus causing a diversion and delay in the work of God in our churches.

In those times, we must remember that the opposition is not bigger than God. Even with the opposition that begins today’s reading, this part of the story concludes the reading: “This house was completed on the third day of the month of Adar in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.Then the Israelites, including the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy” (). God’s plan was accomplished.

ACTION STEPS:

If you are discouraged today, trust that God is not worried about whatever is distracting you. He will accomplish His plan in His time. Celebrate God’s love and leadership today. Pray throughout the day. Sing His praises.

PRAYER: “God, I celebrate Your grace with joy today.”

The Widow of Nain

Introduciton

1. Two Crowds....

2. Two Sons

2. Two Enemies....