#48 The Son of the Widow of Nain

#48 The Son of the Widow of Nain

Please first read; Luke 7:11-17

President J. Reuben Clark Jr:

“The day after healing the Centurion’s servant, Jesus goes to Nain with many of his disciples and much people; as he is entering the gate of the city he meets the people with the dead son, the only son, of a widow; having compassion on the woman, he touches the bier, the carriers stand still; he commands  he man to rise; he that was dead sits up and begins to speak, and Jesus delivers him to his mother; a fear comes on the people, they glorify God, pronounce Jesus a great prophet; this rumor of him goes throughout Judea and the region round about.”

Scriptural Terms:

   

·         Nain: Greek, desirable, beautiful. In Galilee, near Capernaum, Jesus’ home city.

·         Much people: Jesus now had large followings, many of whom were Gentiles of various races.

·         Gate of the city: In addition to the normal public traffic entering and leaving the city this was a place where merchandising and general business transactions took place. Also the hearing of small disputes at law where one could settle issues in a public setting.

·         Dead man carried out: For health reasons only a short time elapsed between death and burial. The tombs were outside the city.

·         Saw her and Funeral procession: Here in Galilee the women came first for as an ancient Jewish commentary explains, “woman, who brought death into the world, ought to lead the way in the funeral procession.” (“Jewish Social Life” Edersheim) The hired mourners and musicians followed after the bier. In Judea this order would have been reversed.

·         Touched: Jesus ignored the public belief (especially for a Rabbi or Jewish leader) that any contact with the dead was to become defiled.

·         Bier: The open coffin/stretcher/gurney on which Jews bore their dead to burial,

·         Delivered: Being dead the son no longer belonged to the mother. Jesus “delivered,” gave him back, to his mother.

·         There came a fear on all: Many Greek words have a number of meanings, depending on how they are used. “Fear” is one of those. In verse 16 the meaning “awestruck” or “amazed” would probably be more accurate here.

This picture is one of despair. A poor widows’ son is dead. She is now in a very vulnerable position … she may have no male relative to protect her and provide financial support. The only “social security” for a woman in those days was to have a man who would provide for her. Many townspeople have come to the funeral now in support of her, but afterwards?

Some of the attending Jews remember from the scriptures of Elijah raising the widow’s son in Zaraphath. The widow there was also met at the gates of a city and the son resuscitated.                       (1 Kings 17:10, 22-23)

The knowledge of Jesus’ healings in both provinces of Judea and Galilee is wide-spread, and with this restoring of life to one deceased many believed this to be a sign of the Messianic identity of Jesus.

Geike:

“As He came near, another procession met Him, descending from Nain, the dismal sounds rising from it, even at a distance, telling too plainly what it was. Death had been busy under these blue summer skies, and its prey was now being borne, amidst the wail of the mourner, to its last resting place. A colder heart than that of Jesus would have been touched, for it was a case so sad that the whole town had poured forth to show its sympathy with the broken heart that followed next the bier. It was the funeral of a young man, the only son of a widow, now left in that saddest of all positions to a Jew – to mourn alone in the desolated home in which he had died, doubtless only a few hours before. Moved with the pity as all times an instinct with Him, Jesus could not let the train sweep on. It was not meet that death should reap its triumph in His presence.   Stepping towards the poor mother, He dried up the fountain of her tears by a sweet appeal.   “Weep not,” said He, and then moved to the bier, careless of the defilement which would have made a Rabbi pass as far he could from the dead. Touching it, those who bore the body at once stood still. It was doubtless a mere open frame, like that still used for such purposes in Palestine.   “Young man,” said He, “I say unto thee Arise.” It was enough. “He that was dead sat up and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother.”

                                                                                            

Of the Jews traveling with Jesus at this time, many would recall from their scriptures the two events of Elijah (1 Kings 17:21-22) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:35-37) wherein the life of an individual was restored. In both of those instances it required much effort, time and prayer on the part of each prophet to bring it to pass. Jesus here restores life with a word, “Arise.” The contrast felt would be tremendous.  

The belief of many followers of Jesus has continued to grow, that he is the Prophet they have been praying and awaiting for so long. With this latest turn of events the hope and feeling is strengthening that he may truly be the Messiah.

Frederic Farrar:

“No wonder that a great fear fell upon all. They might have thought of Elijah and the widow of Sarepta; of Elisha and the lady of the not far distant Shunem. They too, the greatest of the Prophets, had restored to lonely women their dead only sons. But they had done it with agonies and energies of supplication, wrestling in prayer, and lying outstretched upon the dead; whereas Jesus had wrought that miracle calmly, incidentally, instantaneously, in His own name, by His own authority, with a single word.”

Other Insights:

Jesus has called the son back from the place of departed spirits so that mortal life continues … body and spirit are again temporarily reunited, he has not gained immortality, he must again die and will at a future time be raised to immortality in the resurrection.

News of this happening in Galilee is spread far and wide and into the province of Judea (Jerusalem.)

The Gospels give us three accounts of Jesus raising the dead: Lazarus, being dead three days;   Daughter of Jairus, dead in her sick bed; The widows son.

We have a number of different recorded events where Jesus healed many individuals, Jew and Gentile, of different sicknesses and diseases. There no doubt were many other days and places not recorded where he did likewise. Doing so was the pattern within which he taught his message of the Gospel.

Funerals often took place in the evening.

The popular idea of the time was that the spirit of the dead remained nearby the departed for a short time, which intensified the feelings of those involved in the burial.

Even for the poorest Jew and simplest funeral there would be mourning women who would chant strains of lamentation.

Having no other children the widows’ blood line will end on her death unless she remarries and has more children.

This event occurred in the small village of Nain, an otherwise insignificant and unknown place.

  

Only Luke records this event.

  

There were two crowds of people at the gate, Christ and his followers, and the townspeople attending the funeral.

John the Baptist, still in prison, learns what has happened from his disciples.

Glenn R. McGettigan

February 2016

References:  

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark  

“Biblical Library: Luke.” Geike

“Life and Words of Christ.” Geike 

“Life of Christ.” Farrar

“Study of the New Testament.” Ludlow

“Communicators’ Commentary: Luke.” Larson

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Edersheim  

“Smith’s Bible Dictionary.”   

“Commentary of New Testament.” Bethany

“Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament.” Volume 1

“Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.”