Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep." (Luke 7:12-13, NASB).
Jesus came to a place called Nain. Although Nain means pleasant, it was anything but pleasant this day. A funeral procession was proceeding out of the city’s gate accompanied by a large crowd. A large crowd was also following Jesus and his disciples into the gate. The two sizeable groups intersected, forming a bottleneck of human traffic. Here Jesus, in timely fashion, meets a grieving mother at the gate of her suffering. Likewise he sets up divine appointments for his people, so he can comfort the grief-stricken through them.
The Scripture says Jesus felt compassion. The scene was gut-wrenching. A mother had lost her only son. She was a widow, meaning she had previously buried her husband. Not only did her losses create a tremendous void relationally, but also her security was gone. The most vulnerable in that society were the orphans and widows, and without her husband or son great hardship would surely befall her. This woman lost everything, perhaps even her hope. However Jesus was there! Although we may not realize it, God is the closest in the darkest hours. “In all their affliction he was afflicted,” being “grieved by their misery.” (Isaiah 63:9; Judges 10:16). God feels our grief and is greatly moved by it.
There was a contest that sought the child who had shown the most compassion. The winner was a four-year-old boy. His elderly neighbor had recently lost his wife of many years. As the old man sat in his chair on his porch the lad rushed over and climbed up onto his lap, sitting there for sometime. When the four-year-old returned home his mother inquisitively asked what he said to the grieving widower. The child replied that he said nothing to the aged man; he just helped him cry! Let us share God’s compassion to others. In this we may lessen his tears.
Jesus next touches the dead son’s coffin. The Greek word translated as touch means to fasten to, indicating he grasped the open casket. This abruptly halts the death train. The Law of Moses stipulated that by touching it Jesus would become ceremonially unclean. What an incredible picture of the cross, where Jesus “tasted death for everyone” and he “who knew no sin was made to be sin on our behalf” (Hebrews 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus took all our uncleanness upon himself (our sin, guilt and condemnation). In turn he gives us his life and righteousness, received by faith. Because of his atoning sacrifice and resurrection, Jesus also purchased the right to wake his children who slumber in death’s cradle.
The blessed hope is the Second Coming of Christ (Titus 2:13). “The last enemy that will be abolished is death” (1Corinthians 15:26). At Nain Jesus gives us a glorious glimpse of this. He commands the lifeless son to rise and his life is miraculously restored by the power of Jesus’ word. Jesus then gives the risen son back to his mother. An astonishing reunion! Likewise, it will be when Jesus returns. Until then be compassionate and comfort one another with this hope (1Thessalonians 4:13-18).
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