Luke 7:11
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. 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.
The day after leaving Capernaum Jesus went to Nain on the tableland overlooking the plain of Esdraelon, accompanied by many of His disciples and much people who joined along the way eager to hear Him, to bring their sick for healing, and hoping He would reveal Himself as Israel's King. As He and the expectant crowd approached the city they met a funeral procession coming out, carrying to burial the only son of a widow. Moved with compassion for the grieving mother, He took the young man by the hand and called him back to life and gave him alive to her, bringing rejoicing and glorifying of God and spreading of the news. The act shows He is touched by a bereaved mother's grief and sympathizes with mourners, bringing comfort and help in grief and need to those who trust in Him, demonstrating that death is subject to His power and the power of His word over death remains undiminished for He is still a living Savior. The son returned only to earthly, mortal life and remained subject to death and decay, unlike the everlasting resurrection of the faithful when Christ rose, so lasting hope comes through His victory over death, and as woman's best friend He knows the burden of every mother and will uphold her with His everlasting arms and give peace and strength and wisdom and aid in every emergency if she will go to Him and trust in Him.
Journey to Nain
The day after leaving Capernaum, Jesus went into a city called Nain, with many of His disciples and much people accompanying Him. Nain lay more than twenty miles from Capernaum on a tableland overlooking the plain of Esdraelon. People joined Him along the way, eager to hear His words, to bring their sick for healing, and hoping He would reveal Himself as Israel's King.
As Jesus and the expectant crowd approached Nain, they met a funeral procession coming from the city, carrying a widow's only son to burial with mourners accompanying the dead. Beside the grieving mother He took the young man by the hand and called him back to life, giving him back to her alive, which brought rejoicing and glorifying of God and spreading of the news of what had happened.
Compassion and Restored Life
Jesus met the widow of Nain as her only son was being carried to burial and gave him back to her alive, because He is touched by a bereaved mother's grief and sorrow. Standing beside that grieving mother He showed His sympathy for mourners and brought comfort to her sorrow. His care brings comfort and help in grief and need to those who trust in Him, and He is ready to help those in need who trust in Him. He could do for them more than they could ask or imagine, restoring life and comforting the bereaved mother.
His raising of the widow's son on the way into Nain with His disciples and a large crowd is an example of His compassionate medical missionary work. In that act He demonstrated that death was subject to His power, so that the people glorified God and spread the news of what had happened. The power of His word over death remains undiminished, for He is still a living Savior. That same power is present today to help the afflicted.
The young man was called back only to earthly, mortal life and would face death again, remaining subject to death and decay. His restoration differed from the everlasting resurrection of the faithful who came from their graves when Christ rose. Lasting hope comes through Christ's victory over death. As woman's best friend He knows the burden of every mother, sympathizes with her in her work, hears her earnest prayers, and upholds her with His everlasting arms. He does as much for the afflicted mother today, ready to welcome her and give her peace and joy, and to give her strength, courage, wisdom and aid in every emergency and most trying hour if she will go to Him and trust in Him.