For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
Introduction
- Today we return to a rather conventional reanimation.
- The event takes place not in Sidon or Zarephath (modern Lebanon), not in the Holy City of Jerusalem, but in the central Israelite town of Nain—mentioned only here in the Bible (Luke 7:11).
- Today Nain is an Arab village in Lower Galilee. (And a town in Jamaica, Australia, Canada—and Virginia. There are even towns called Nain in Iran and Pakistan.)
- We join an immensely sad situation.
Scripture study: Luke 7:11-17
- Imagine the scene: great solemnity, sadness, pain, and devastation.
- People everywhere, including Jesus’ entourage that accompanied him from Capernaum, as well as much of the population of Nain (v.12).
- The widow has lost her “social security.” Her husband first, and now her sole son, have passed away. In an economic sense, she was vulnerable and unprotected. At least that was the situation with most widows—which explains why the Bible—in both testaments—constantly emphasizes our responsibility to take care of widows.
- Notice how Jesus inserts himself into the situation.
- “Do not weep” (v.13). Weeping is a normal and necessary part of the mourning process. This isn’t Jesus telling her, “Stop crying and man up.” She may soon weep for joy, but there will be no need to weep tears of sadness.
- Jesus’ words are result from his compassion, not just his knowledge that the son will be reanimated. (John 11:35 reveals a similar dynamic.)
- Jesus interrupts the procession. He hardly stands on tradition! He speaks to dead man directly (v.14).
- The son was not spiritually or metaphorically dead (as in Luke 15:32), but literally and biologically dead.
- There is no doubt about the miraculous nature of the event; the dead man has not only moved, but also spoken (v.15)!
- Imagine the joyous reunion of mother and son!
- The reaction among the people is not only joy or wonderment, but fear—hopefully fear of God. They perceive Jesus a prophet, though not necessarily as Messiah.
- Everyone feels and acknowledges the presence and working of God. (“God has visited his people” may or may not refer to the divinity of Christ.)
- And naturally the report spreads... By the time of Jesus’ execution, a huge proportion of Israel knows about this miraculous deeds (Acts 2:22).
In summation
- God cares about us in our loneliness, our desolation, our pain, and our despair. Whether we receive concrete assistance or answered prayers, we can be confident of his love and concern. This passage and many others attest to God’s love.
- When we have a strong faith in Christ, there are times when we might not stand on tradition. We do, after all, believe in miracles and answered prayer. Be bold. Step out, dare to be uncool / politically incorrect. Follow the Lord's example!
- The reanimation of the widow’s son provided a new lease on life not only for him, but also—and possibly even more—for her. We too may experience a new lease on life. Is our faith sickly or moribund? Has our personal outreach died? In the fellowship, are you distant and dead, superficial and stagnant? God’s resurrection power (Eph 1:19-20) can renovate our faith and reenergize our walk with the Lord.
- As we continue to examine the reanimations of the Bible, we grow in our knowledge of God and our faith in his mighty power to cleanse, purify, reanimate, and transform our own lives!
