Lord’s Day, Vol. 14 No. 8

Power to Restore Life

Luke 7:11-16 (KJV) 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. 12 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. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

Nain was a town of Galilee in the tribe of Issachar, not far from Tiberias. Jesus had just healed the servant of the centurion the day before who was nigh unto death. It was the day after that He was ascending to the town of Nain with His disciples when He would meet with a company coming out of the city gate descending in a funeral possession to bury a young man who has just died. It was a sad scene of great grief. A widow had just lost her only son! To be bereaved of her husband was grief enough but to lose also her son, is very great grief. Her son was to be the one to supply her necessities and cheer her loneliness and now he too is gone!

In her hour of desolation and grievous loss, she met Jesus! This meeting with Jesus will turn all her mourning to joy, the consolation of her compassionate Saviour was all she needed! And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her “Weep not.” Only Jesus, only He can satisfy! All her burdens were turned to blessings when she knows her Lord was nigh!

Jesus is the Lord of life – John 1:4-5 , 9-13 (KJV) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not…. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

He, therefore, has the power to restore life – “14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.”

Jesus has the power to give eternal life. Deliverance from the curse of sin which is death. This young man was brought back to life. As CH Spurgeon well puts it, “This was a rehearsal upon a small scale of that which shall happen by-and-by, when those who are in their graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God and live—then shall the last enemy be destroyed.” Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. Amen.