138. LUK 7:12-16. THE MIRACLE OF NAIN

Luk_7:12-16. The Miracle of Nain

"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," &c.’97Luk_7:12-16.

How splendid the career of Jesus! How sublime his works! How unparalleled his miracles! He spake and acted as a God! Every footstep displayed his divinity; almighty power and unbounded goodness distinguished all his acts. How applicable these observations to the narrative embodied in the text!

Observe,

I. What the Redeemer beheld.

It was a funeral procession: always a solemn and an affecting scene; often, however, excites no surprise, and produces no emotion. But this was,

1. A young man.

The old must die. We wonder not to see the sun go down in the evening’97the grass fade in autumn’97and vegetable nature expire in winter. But his sun had gone down at noonday; leaf withered in spring, &c.

2. He was an only son.

Loss of children distressing; but especially so, when there are none left, to whom our affections can be transferred. Mourning for an only son is represented in Scripture as the essence of grief; Jer_6:26.

3. He was the only son of a widow.

One who had lost her companion and bosom friend; left to travel through the dreary scenes of life alone. Her son therefore would be her earthly stay and comfort; her name and family would be handed down in him; he would be her protector, solace in affliction, and would gently close her eyes in death, and receive her last prayers and blessings. But behold! the aged afflicted widow lives; and the son is cut down as a flower in all his loveliness and bloom! It is observed, too, that the mother, with a large company, were following his corpse to its long home. Probably he had been well known and highly respected. Notice,

II. What Christ felt.

"He had compassion on her." His eye affected his heart: besides, the whole grief of her fainting heart was before him; he knew the whole of the matter. This was 1. Agreeable to his nature.

He is a compassionate High Priest His heart was full of tenderness; his bowels moved with pity and love.

2. Agreeable to all his works Compassion brought him from heaven. His addresses, his prayers, his miracles, were all full of compassion. His life, his sufferings, his death, displayed an overflowing of compassion. When he arose from the dead, and when he ascended, he manifested the greatest compassion. And now exalted at God’s right hand, as the Intercessor of man, he is still distinguished for his compassion; Heb_4:15; Heb_5:1, Heb_5:2. Notice,

III. What Christ said.

"He said unto her, Weep not." But was it not a very harsh and unreasonable demand? Might she not have reminded him, that to weep was,

1. In accordance with the feelings of our nature?

Has not God made our hearts soft? Did he design that we should be hard and insensible?

2. Have not the best of men wept?

Jacob for Joseph; David for Absalom. Did not Jesus weep at the grave of Lazarus? Besides,

3. This was an extremely afflictive case A friend; that friend a close relative a son; an only son: and that mother a widow; and a widow, too, in Israel; whose soul’s desire would be, to perpetuate her name and tribe. Still he insists that she must weep not. We shall soon perceive the reason: he was about to re move the cause of sorrow, and therefore he said unto her, "Weep not." Observe,

IV. What the Redeemer did.

1. He touched the bier.

Arrested it in its course; bearers felt it impossible to advance; finger of God was upon it. Hence, they stood still, astonished, amazed!

2. He commanded the corpse to arise "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise." Although dead, he heard the voice of the Son of God and lived. His spirit heard it in Hades’97the invisible state, and came hack. The heart felt the omnific power of it, and began to heave, and warm, and dilate; the blood circulated; the cheeks flushed; the limbs softened; the eyes opened; he sat up; and last of all, he began to speak.

3. He delivered him to his mother.

Christ might have insisted on the consecration of himself to his service, as a disciple, evangelist, or apostle. But his mother had need of him, and therefore he returns him back again to her arms and to her heart. Compassion commenced, and compassion gave the last finishing stroke to this splendid and divine scene.

4. The people glorified God.

The glory of God was the grand object and end of Christ’s undertakings.

Application

See in this young Man_1:1. A striking picture of the natural state of man. Dead in trespasses and sins; passing onwards to the dark gloomy regions of the second and eternal death. 2. Learn the only means of restoration. The powerful yet gracious word of the compassionate Jesus. "No other name," &c. He only is the resurrection and the life. 3. God is greatly glorified in the salvation of sinners. Yes: when souls are saved, all the purposes, and designs, and arrangements of redeeming love are answered; then Christ sees the travail of his soul, and receives a reward for his toils; and God rejoices over them; Isa_62:5.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS