Luke 7:11-17 Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
“Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
Luke 7:18-35 Jesus and John the Baptist
“John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”
At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So, he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
“‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.’ For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
Jesus is walking toward the village of Nain when he meets a burial party. A tragedy has occurred; a poor woman has lost her only son, her sole source of support and encouragement. Now this poor woman is in despair. Luke tells us, “When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
Jesus has raised a young man from the dead, and his ministry is about to explode. By this point, John the Baptist has been thrown into prison by Herod for criticizing Herod for marrying his brother’s wife. John is desperate; he’s been announcing the coming of a Messiah but where is this Messiah? Has he come or not? Has John’s entire ministry been in vain? John is extremely worried, for he knows that any day, Herod could have him killed on a whim. John sends two of his disciples to investigate Jesus.
John’s disciples query Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”
At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So, he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
John’s disciples rush back to reassure their teacher that his ministry has not been in vain and that Jesus is the longed-for Messiah. Meanwhile, Jesus instructs the crowd about John the Baptist, assuring them that John is the messenger promised by the prophets. For the common people, Jesus’ assurances are no surprise, for they have already realized the validity of John’s teaching. But the religious leaders can’t make up their minds, criticizing John for being an ascetic while they also criticize Jesus for associating with undesirables and eating and drinking with them. As Jesus is saying these things, he is likely smiling and shaking his head over the foolishness of these self-styled religious experts.
Recently, I’ve been re-reading some of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books detailing miracles experienced by regular people. These stories describe miracles very similar to those listed by Luke. But what about raising someone from the dead? A pastor friend once told us of how he left the hospital after a young man had died, only for the Holy Spirit to order him to return to the hospital, lay hands on that young man, and pray for him. Feeling totally ridiculous, our friend obeyed. By this point, the young man’s body was being sent to the hospital morgue. Our friend stopped those pushing the stretcher, laying hands on the patient, and praying for him. The young man began breathing, coughed, opened his eyes, and began to speak. Our friend testified that after that, he never refused to pray for “hopeless” cases, for he never knew when God was going to do miracles!
As we journey through Lent, may God help us to remember that Jesus is Messiah and that he has lived, died, and has risen from the dead to bring in the Kingdom of God. Let us never lose hope but let us take hope that Jesus will continue to work in our lives just as he has in the past.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust that You can work miracles and that You will do so. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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