-THE LIFE OF CHRIST - GALILEAN MINISTRY

-The Widow’s Son of Nain is Raised

-Luke 7:11-17

-In Luke 7:11, the KJV says, “the day after” while several other translations say “soon afterwards”.

-As Jesus and the many people following Him approached the city of Nain (the only reference to
 this city in scripture), they encountered a funeral procession as it exited the city.  The son of a
 widow had died.

     -“The burial of bodies within the town or city was forbidden, hence the sepulchers and tombs
       were located without the limits of the cities and villages” (Boles, pg 149).

-When Jesus saw the widow He had compassion on her.  When Jesus saw other hurting, He hurt.
 He then told her, “Weep not.”  He then touched the bier so that the procession would stop. 
 NASB – “And He came up and touched the coffin”.

     -“The word here translated ‘bier’ may mean a bier or a coffin, and the authorities are about
      equally divided as to which it was.  It was more likely a stretcher of boards, with the pallet
      or bed upon it, and the body of the young man wrapped in linen lying upon the bed”
      (McGarvey/Pendleton, p276).         

-What a sight this must have been for both groups of people when Jesus stopped the procession.

  Undoubtedly, every eye would have been focused on Him and silence would have prevailed.  Then

  with the statement of, “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise”, the son was brought back, sat up and

began to speak.

     -Jesus had given this son back to his mother. 

-What an occasion!  The solemnity was replaced with rejoicing and awe.

-The people proclaimed that a prophet had come.

      -Remember, it had been a little more than 400 years since a prophet of God had been sent to
       the people (prior to John and Jesus).

      -Not only was Jesus a prophet, He was the Prophet.  See Deut 18:18.

-Word concerning Jesus continued to spread “…throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region

  round about” (Luke 7:17).