Luke 7 records in Jesus’ ministry a visit to the city of Nain. Nain was located southwest of the sea of Galilee about 8 miles south of Nazareth. There is no indication it was a large city, but verse 11 of the text indicates that when Jesus entered the city, he brought both His disciples, “and a large crowd” with Him.
The city is only known from this account, where Jesus raised a young man from the dead. His mother is famously known as “the widow of Nain.” Perhaps the most significant aspect of this notable miracle Jesus performed is the motivation behind it. We are told the young man was the only son of his widowed mother, and “When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her” (13).
Jesus told the woman (who had a large crowd from the city with her), “Do not weep.” He touched the open coffin and said to the corpse, “Young man, I say to you arise” (13-14). There was power in Jesus words. It was not an incantation, there was nothing mystical or magical inherent in the words. The effectiveness came from Christ’s power on earth.
Jesus was God’s Son. He had power over the elements (cf. Mark 4:39); He had the power while on earth to forgive sins (cf. Matthew 9:6). It is not surprising that He could perform miracles of healing, and even raise someone from the dead.
We are told the man “sat up and begin to speak,” and by Jesus was reunited with his mother. The miracle of restored life was significant to the widowed woman. In Palestine at that time a widow was wholly dependent upon family. Being a “widow indeed” would have been a hard life for the widow of Nain, (cf. 1 Timothy 5:16).
We often talk about the purpose of Christ’s miracles. They were done to establish as true His claims to be God’s Son. For example Jesus said in John 4:11, “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” One who witnessed some of Jesus’ mighty works testified, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2).
But, we must not overlook His motivation in the healings. We constantly read of Jesus’ compassion and love. He healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the hungry, and showed his love for Jew and Gentile alike. His compassion for the spiritual state of Israel is especially notable. Notice His lament, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37).
Jesus Christ loves you and me. For this we rejoice! Should we not also love one another? (1 John 3:16).
