561. LUK 7:11, LUK 7:17. THE RESTORATION OF THE WIDOW’S SON

Luk_7:11, Luk_7:17. The Restoration of the Widow’s Son

"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. 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," &c.’97Luk_7:11, Luk_7:17.

Our subject introduces us to one of the most affecting scenes the evangelists record. Death is ever solemn, and, to friends and relatives, a distressing event. But some bereavements are much more afflictive than others. The loss of the wife is described as the removal of the desire of our eyes. Hence, how sad and afflicted must Jacob have been, when his beloved Rachel was no more. The loss of an only child is a deep affliction, but even then the parents may condole with each other; and, by mutual sympathy, lessen the grief of both. But our text introduces us to a widow who had lost her only son, and whom she was now following to the house appointed for all living. Happy for that daughter of sorrow, Jesus was passing by’97his compassion was excited’97his wonder-working arm was employed in giving back to her her only son. Observe in the miracle Jesus wrought on this occasion,

I. That it was unsolicited. On other occasions, sometimes the afflicted persons, at other times the friends of the afflicted, came and sought the merciful interposition of Jesus. But on this occasion the funeral train was moving towards the place of sepulchres, Luk_7:12. The widow was too absorbed in grief to notice any thing which passed by; and though Christ, and his disciples drew near, his aid was not sought, his pity not implored.

II. This miracle was performed in the most public manner. All Christ’s miracles were performed in the presence of competent witnesses. When he raised the ruler’s daughter there were three of the disciples present. Often he wrought his miracles when multitudes surrounded him. So on this occasion, the funeral procession was just passing out of one of the public gates of the city. Here was the widowed mother, and also "much people of the city with her," Luk_7:12. Christ too was attended by his disciples, and much people were also with him, Luk_7:11. So that in the most public manner possible did Jesus display his almighty power on this occasion.

III. The manner of its performance was most signal and striking.

1. He touched the bier. He stepped forth towards those who were bearing the corpse, and then stretched forth his wondrous hand, and touched the bier. No doubt some would recognize him, and probably the bearers would be impressed with feelings of reverence and awe. Hence it is added, they "stood still."

2. He proclaimed the life-giving word. "And said, Young man, I say unto thee, arise!" Luk_7:14. And immediately the spirit resumed its former habitation’97the heart began to heave’97the blood to circulate’97the senses to resume their functions, and at Christ’s omnific bidding he "sat up, and began to speak," Luk_7:15. Here was unquestionable evidence of the reality of the miracle. Here was the dead attesting by a new given being, and by an audible voice, the glory of him who was the resurrection and the life.

IV. It was a miracle of tenderest compassion. When Jesus first saw the funeral procession, he beheld the sorrow of the afflicted widow. He saw that the fountains of her soul were broken up. He beheld the tears which suffused her care-worn cheeks. He heard the deep plaints, and the distressing sighs of her burdened spirit. And it may be said of the gentle and affectionate Jesus, that his eye affected his heart. He resolves therefore to interpose his power in giving back to the widow her son from the regions of the dead. Hence, before he exercised his infinite energy, he said,

(1.) Weep not. Let thy tears cease to flow,’97for thy adversity and mourning shall be turned into joy and gladness. When he said, Weep not’97it implied that the occasion of her grief should be taken away. How significant of Christ’s great mission into our world. He came to dry up the tears of a sinful and afflicted world.

"Change, then, O sad one! grief to exultation,

Worship and fall before Messiah’s knee:

Strong was his arm, the bringer of salvation,

Strong was the word of God to succor thee."

When he had wrought the miracle,

(2.) He delivered him to his mother, Luk_7:15. What a gift! How infinite the power, and how boundless the grace of the donor. No other gift would have met the weeping widow’s need, and such a gift as this, none but the anointed Messiah could bestow. What the mother felt, or said, or did, is not revealed. What the young man uttered when he sat up, or what he spake to the Saviour, or to his mother, or to the multitude, is not made known. The miracle, in all its grandeur, has been performed’97the widow has received her son brought to life again’97and now the curtain falls, and silently closes the august and wondrous scene. But,

V. The effects on the multitude are declared.

1. A spirit of sacred awe pervaded their minds. "There came a fear on all," Luk_7:16. They felt they were in the presence of a great and glorious power. That he who could raise the dead must be an extraordinary person. One sent from God’97one on whom the Spirit of God eminently rested. The two worlds had been very forcibly connected in the death of the young man, and disconnected in bringing him again to life.

2. They glorified God. And they did this by admitting the Messiahship of the Saviour. By confessing that God, according to the sayings of the prophets, had indeed visited the people. Would not the event remind them of the recorded miracles of Moses and Elijah, and would not they see in Christ, him of whom Moses had written,’97"A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me, him shall ye hear?" Yet we fear that the awe and the confession of Christ’s Messiahship were only temporary impressions. We fear that they did not retain the emotions excited, and that they did not adhere to Christ, or follow him as his disciples. Learn,

1. How brittle and tender are the cords by which the relationships of life are bound together. And often the young die before the old, the apparently strong and vigorous before the aged and enfeebled. Here was the corpse of the young man, and the aged widow following him to the tomb.

2. What exalted views we should have of the Lord Jesus. What majesty and power can be compared to his? And how evidently do these, miracles testify to the divinity of his nature. He called not for the power from on high to do this mighty deed. No; it dwelt inherently in him. He did it not in the name of the Father, but in his own name. He said, "I say unto thee, arise."

3. How it familiarizes to us the sublime doctrine of the resurrection. Here we see the power efficient for the mighty work. He who brought this young man back by his word, will, by his almighty fiat, raise again the slumbering millions at the last day.

4. How it should teach us to cherish tenderness and compassion for the sorrowing. Let the kind address of Jesus to the widow of Nain, be remembered and imitated. "Weep not." You may not have the power to remove the cause of sorrow as Jesus did, but labor to assuage the griefs of the afflicted and distressed. Labor to sympathize with the suffering, and. be it your earnest desire to convey, on every possible occasion, tender consolation to the bosom heaving with anguish and distress. "Weep with those that weep," and "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." How much misery and suffering might be dried up in our sad and dreary world, if all the disciples of Jesus would tread in the footsteps of the benevolent and merciful Saviour, "who went about doing good."

Autor: JABEZ BURNS